Materials and Methods: We analyzed 101 cases of prostate adenocarcinoma diagnosed from January 2011 to June 2015 in 100 patients. Immunohistochemical staining of ER-beta and Ki67 was analyzed according to Gleason score categorized into prognostic groups of 1 to 5. Double-immunofluorescent staining of ER-beta and Ki67 was performed in a total of 20 cases to study the co-expression and the relationship between these markers within the same tumor.
Results: A total of 53 of 101 cases (52.5%) were positive for ER-beta expression. There was a positive correlation whereby a high percentage of ER-beta expression was seen in the higher prognostic groups (groups 4 and 5; p=0.007). High Ki67 expression was observed in the higher prognostic group, whereas low Ki67 or negative expression was found in the lower prognostic group (p<0.001). The majority of cases evaluated with double-immunofluorescent staining (14/20) showed co-expression of ER-beta and Ki67 at the individual cell level.
Conclusions: ER-beta and Ki67 are independent tumor markers in high prognostic groups. Hence, co-expression of ER-beta and Ki67 indicates a more aggressive tumor with a poorer prognosis.
Case presentation: A 56-year-old lady presented to us with progressive abdominal distension and right hypochondriac pain for two months. She was anemic with elevated liver enzymes. Urgent computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis showed a huge right supra renal mass. She subsequently developed respiratory failure due to splinting of diaphragm, of which successfully underwent an emergency exploratory laparotomy. Subsequent endocrine and histopathological work up showed an adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC).
Discussion: Suprarenal masses usually originate from the adrenal glands. They should be investigated to rule out phaeochromocytoma, which originate from the inner adrenal medulla or outer cortex to form ACC. The latter usually occur in women and of poor prognosis. Huge ACC may cause acute respiratory failure by way of splinting of diaphragm. Both anaesthetic and surgical teams should be well trained in handling patients who undergo adrenal surgeries.
Conclusion: A giant hemorrhagic functional ACC is extremely uncommon with very poor prognosis. Such conditions should be investigated to rule out phaeochromocytoma. Its potential neuro-hormonal interactions and anatomical correlations can cause fatal perioperative cardio-respiratory embarrassment. The anaesthetic and surgical teams should be capable in managing the hemodynamic instabilities that may present during surgical manipulation and resection of a large ACC.
CASE REPORTS: We describe a novel case where primary papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) was found after a trans-oral excision of a tumor containing ectopic thyroid tissue at the posterior pharynx, an area not known to be a location for ectopic thyroid. Delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in regional cervical metastases and multifocal PTC. The female patient successfully underwent total thyroidectomy, selective cervical and central lymph node dissection, followed by adjuvant radioactive iodine ablation, with no evidence of distant metastases.
CONCLUSIONS: Ectopic thyroid tissue is uncommon and may be in the posterior pharynx. The principles of management remain those of differentiated thyroid malignancy: complete surgical resection of any tumor focus, total thyroidectomy, and node dissection of involved lymph nodes, followed by adjuvant radioactive iodine in iodine-sensitive tumors.
PRESENTATION OF CASE: We report a 63-year-old lady with incidental findings of adrenal tumour on computed tomography (CT) scan during a routine medical check-up. She underwent tumour resection in view of a large tumour of 7 cm in size.
DISCUSSION: CT scan is sensitive to diagnose adrenal myelolipoma in view of its fat-laden property and useful to monitor the tumour progress. Even previously she opted for conservative management; the decision for surgery was made in view of enlarging tumour and risk of surrounding tissue compression.
CONCLUSION: With increased awareness, the detection rate of this tumour is improving, hence able to prevent the complications of a large tumour such as compression, bleeding and tumour necrosis.