Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to P V Kumar.
In this report we summarize 5 cases of kala azar with disseminated dermal leishmaniasis. All had fever, hepatosplenomegaly, and disseminated skin lesions on admission. Maculopapular, pustular, and maculonodular eruptions were present, located mainly on the face and extremities. Innumerable amastigotes were demonstrated in the bone marrow and in the skin biopsies. All patients responded to Glucantime therapy.
A case of a hydatid cyst of the testis is reported that was misdiagnosed clinically as malignant tumor. Echinococcosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of testicular masses, especially in endemic countries.
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Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
Explore the source record for details and available documents.
A detailed audiological study combined with certain haematological investigations which were never previously done was undertaken on Todas, a small vanishing tribe of Nilgiris, South India. Ten per cent of the Todas studied exhibited otosclerosis which, though lower than that of a previous study, is still a very high percentage when compared to the general population. The incidence of chronic suppurative otitis media in Todas is markedly low (1-6 per cent) and 13-3 per cent of Todas had sensorineural hearing loss. Evaluation of hearing thresholds at various frequencies in the different age groups did not show much variation from that of the general population. The incidence of presbyacusis is not found to be low as reported earlier. Blood pressure recordings did not show any age-related increase. The majority of Todas studied belonged to the blood group 'B' (63 per cent) and 16-6 per cent belonged to the 'AB' group, which is distinctly different from the distribution pattern seen in the general Indian population. There was no significant variation in the serum cholesterol level in Todas.
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OBJECTIVE: To describe some rare cytologic findings in medullary thyroid carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: Review of the fine needle aspiration smears from 15 cases of medullary thyroid carcinoma that were confirmed on histologic sections. The ages ranged between 31 and 67 years; 10 were female and 5 male. Thirteen were sporadic forms, and two were familial forms. RESULTS: Eight cases were classified as pleomorphic cell type and seven as monomorphic cell type. The smears revealed round, oval, triangular, polygonal and spindle-shaped cells, intracytoplasmic red granules, occasional intranuclear inclusions, amyloid, binucleated and multinucleated cells, and thick, granular chromatin. CONCLUSION: The rare cytologic findings in this study were grape cells, cytoplasmic nippling, elongated cytoplasmic processes, carrot-shaped nuclei, nuclear buddings, mast cell-like cells and a Burkitt's lymphoma-like appearance. These findings were rarely reported before.
BACKGROUND: Foreign body material (gauze sponges) presented as cystic abdominal masses and were confused with malignant tumors. CASES: Two females and one male presented with abdominal masses. They had undergone laparotomy 5-12 years earlier. Clinically the masses were diagnosed as benign or malignant cystic lesions. Fine needle aspiration revealed necrotic material, hemosiderin-laden macrophages, foreign body giant cells, cholesterol crystals and many fragments of birefringent material. The possibility of malignancy was ruled out. Cut sections of the excised cystic lesions revealed gauze sponges surrounded by a thick, fibrotic wall. CONCLUSION: This report underscores the usefulness of fine needle aspiration in ruling out malignancy.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the cytologic findings of medulloblastomas on intraoperative crush preparation smears and compare them with the findings of other central nervous system tumors. STUDY DESIGN: The intraoperative crush preparation smears of 19 cases of medulloblastoma were studied (6 undifferentiated type and 13 well-differentiated type). The findings were compared with those of a control group consisting of 31 astrocytomas, 22 ependymomas, 18 oligodendrogliomas, 27 meningiomas, 17 schwannomas, 17 pituitary adenomas, 3 lymphomas, 5 hemangioblastomas, 5 chordomas and 11 metastatic tumors. RESULTS: Medulloblastomas revealed clusters and isolated small, round malignant cells with hyperchromatic nuclei and indistinct cytoplasm. Typical Homer-Wright rosettes were seen in the well-differentiated type, but they were poorly formed in the undifferentiated type. Tumor cannibalism, target inclusions, cytoplasmic vacuoles and prominent multiple nucleoli were noticed frequently in the undifferentiated type. The control group (metastatic tumors and high grade astrocytomas) rarely showed tumor cannibalism or multiple nucleoli. CONCLUSION: Smears of the undifferentiated type of medulloblastomas frequently revealed tumor cannibalism, cytoplasmic vacuoles, target inclusions and prominent multiple nucleoli. These findings have been rarely reported. The prognosis of the undifferentiated type of medulloblastoma was poor.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the cytologic findings of localized Leishmania lymphadenitis and discuss the differential diagnosis. STUDY DESIGN: The study group consisted of 133 cases. All of them were diagnosed by fine needle aspiration (FNA) study. The ages ranged between 3 and 80 years, 102 were male and 31 female. Seventy lymph nodes were excised. RESULTS: The FNA smears revealed a polymorphic population of cells composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes, giant cells, abnormal plasma cells and tingible body macrophages. Leishman-Donovan (LD) bodies were identified in all cases, but their number differed from case to case. Granulomas, dendritic cells, mast cells and lymphoglandular bodies were identified in a substantial number of cases. Depending upon the presence of characteristic cytologic findings, the cases were divided into five major groups: acute inflammation with giant cells, histiocytic granulomas, epithelioid cell granulomas, plasma cell type and mixed histioplasmacytic type. CONCLUSION: Leishmaniasis is an uncommon cause of cervical lymphadenitis but should be considered in the differential diagnosis of unexplained lymphadenopathy in endemic countries. Demonstration of LD bodies is necessary for the diagnosis of this self-limited condition, for which no treatment is required.
OBJECTIVE: To describe the conjunctival scrape cytology findings in Iraq-Iran war veterans exposed to mustard gas and to detect malignant transformation at an early stage. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-two male war veterans (29-54 years old) who were exposed to chemical bombing about 14 years earlier, formed the base of this study. All of them had chronic eye problems, such as dryness, conjunctival scarring and decreased visual acuity. Conjunctival scrape cytology was performed for cytologic study. RESULTS: Among 22 cases of conjunctival scarring, 9 were diagnosed as dysplasia. Mild inflammation and squamous metaplasia were also noted. Squamous cell carcinoma was not identified. CONCLUSION: Conjunctival scraping cytology is useful for the diagnosis of dysplasia in soldiers exposed to mustard gas during of the Iraq-Iran war. This method is also effective for follow-up study.
BACKGROUND: Cystic lesions of the brain may have diverse etiologies, ranging from true cysts to malignant tumors with cystic degeneration. Preoperative determination of the exact nature of them as well as intraoperative diagnosis may be sometimes difficult or even impossible. Sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis will be improved by introducing new methods or combining traditional procedures. CASES: Three metastatic brain carcinomas with primary sites of breast, pancreas and prostate presented as cystic lesions and were confused clinically with abscess. Intraoperative frozen section was not revealing. Cytologic study of sediments of aspirated fluid uncovered malignant cells. CONCLUSION: When combined with frozen section, intraoperative cytologic studies in the form of crush preparation, fine needle aspiration or evaluation of aspirated fluid in cystic lesions (as in our cases) can improve diagnostic accuracy by detecting important diagnostic features that otherwise may be missed.