Ditzels
This article collects ditzels, which are, in the context of pathology, little specimens that are typically one or two slides and usually of little interest.[1]
The challenge in ditzels is not falling asleep... so one misses the unexpected (subtle) tumour.
A list of ditzels
Gastrointestinal
Neuropathology
- Vertebral disc - see spine.
Pediatric
- Bands of Ladd.
- Cholesteatoma.
Orthopaedic
Head and neck pathology
- Tonsil.
Cardiovascular pathology
Soft tissue
Gastrointestinal
Hernia sac
General
- Hernia repair.
- Pathologic findings are very unusual and if present known to the surgeon.
Microscopic
Features:
- Fibrous tissue.
- +/-Adipose tissue.
- +/-Mesothelial cells.
Notes:
- One should not see vas deferens.
- Things worthy of some comment: granulation tissue, inflammation.
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Incarcerated without mesothelium
SOFT TISSUE ("HERNIA SAC"), RESECTION: - FIBROADIPOSE TISSUE -- CONSISTENT WITH HERNIA SAC. - NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.
Micro
The sections show fibrofatty tissue with hemosiderin-laden macrophages, plump activated fibroblasts with pale staining nuclei, histiocytes with small nuclei and abundant grey vacuolated cytoplasm, fat necrosis and focal necrosis of the fibrous tissue.
Mesothelial lining present
SOFT TISSUE ("HERNIA SAC"), RESECTION: - FIBROADIPOSE TISSUE PARTIALLY COVERED BY MESOTHELIUM -- CONSISTENT WITH HERNIA SAC. - NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.
Stoma
- See: Colon and Small intestine.
General
- Reversal of ileostomy or colostomy.
Microscopic
Features:
- Colonic-type or small intestinal-type bowel wall.
- Lymphoid hyperplasia (abundant lymphocytes) - very common.
- +/-Fibromuscular hyperplasia of the lamina propria and submucosa.
- Skin.
Notes:
- One is looking for malignancy (e.g. colorectal carcinoma), especially if that is in the history.
Pediatric
Bands of Ladd
General
- Associated with intestinal malrotation.
- Removed by Ladd's procedure.
Microscopic
Features:
- Benign fibrous tissue.
Cholesteatoma
General
- Squamous epithelium in the middle ear - leading to accumulation of keratinaceous debris.[4]
Microscopic
Features:[7]
- Keratinaceous debris - key feature.
- Squamous epithelium.
- Macrophages +/- giant cell (containing keratinceous debris).
- Chronic inflammation (lymphocytes).
DDx:
- Cholesterol granuloma.[8]
Genitourinary pathology
Foreskin
General
Indications:
Main considerations:
- Squamous cell carcinoma.
- Lichen sclerosus, AKA balanitis xerotica obliterans.
- Lichen planus.
- Infection, e.g. syphilis.
Microscopic
Features:
- Usu. fibrotic dermis.
- +/-Inflammation.
DDx:
- See Penis.
Paraurethral cyst
General
- Rare.
- Benign.
Clinical:[9]
- Presentation: mass lesion, dyspareunia or dysuria.
- Multipareous.
Microscopic
Features:
- Cystic space with epithelial lining - diagnosis based on epithelial lining.
- Epithelial inclusion cyst.
- Müllerian cyst.
- Gartner duct cyst (AKA mesonephric duct cyst AKA Wolffian duct cyst).[12]
- Skene duct cyst.
Head and neck pathology
Tonsillitis
- Tonsil redirects here.
General
- Commonly removed (tonsillectomy) when enlarged.
- Very low probability of malignancy (<0.2%) in tonsilectomies in individuals <19 years old if no clinical suspicion.[13]
Gross
- Symmetrical and equal size.
Note:
- Gross exam is considered sufficient if there is no asymmetry.[14]
Microscopic
Features:
- Follicular hyperplasia - see lymph node pathology.
- +/-Colonies (clusters) of actinomycetes in the tonsillar crypts.
DDx:
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A. TONSIL, LEFT, TONSILLECTOMY: - REACTIVE FOLLICULAR HYPERPLASIA. - REACTIVE SQUAMOUS MUCOSA. B. TONSIL, RIGHT, TONSILLECTOMY: - REACTIVE FOLLICULAR HYPERPLASIA. - REACTIVE SQUAMOUS MUCOSA.
Without squamous mucosa
A. TONSIL, LEFT, TONSILLECTOMY: - REACTIVE FOLLICULAR HYPERPLASIA. B. TONSIL, RIGHT, TONSILLECTOMY: - REACTIVE FOLLICULAR HYPERPLASIA.
Cardiovascular pathology
Vascular thrombus
- Venous thrombus and arterial thrombus redirect here.
General
- Uncommonly comes to pathology.
Risk factors - think Virchow's triad:
- Stasis, e.g. atrial fibrillation.
- Hypercoagulable states, e.g. cancer - see risks factors venous thromboembolism.
- Endothelial injury.
Gross
- See pulmonary embolism.
Features:
- Dull appearance.
- Laminations.
Microscopic
Features:
- Layers consisting of platelets and fibrin.
- Classically alternating with layers of RBCs - known as Lines of Zahn.[16]
Note:
- Multiple laminations (layers), in general, suggest that clot was formed in a dynamic environment, i.e. in the context of blood flow.
DDx:
- Tumour embolus.
- Thromboembolus.
- Fat embolism.
- Amniotic fluid embolus.
- Foreign body.
Images:
- www:
- WC:
Sign out
BLOOD CLOT, LEFT ILIAC ARTERY, THROMBECTOMY: - THROMBUS. - NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.
Micro
The sections show layers of red blood cells alternating with fibrin and white blood cells (Lines of Zahn).
Leg amputation
Overview
Comes in two basic flavours:
- Above the knee ampuation (AKA).
- Below the knee ampuation (BKA).
Etiology:
- Diabetes mellitus - most common - see atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease.
- Trauma.
- Infection - see chronic osteomyelitis.
- Drug use, e.g. cocaine.[17]
Atherosclerotic peripheral vascular disease
General
- Very strong association with diabetes mellitus.
Gross
- +/-Ulceration.
- +/-Gangrene - black skin - subclassified:
- "Wet" = moist/oozing fluid.
- "Dry" = shriveled, no moisture apparent.
- +/-Loss of hair.
Image:
Sections - grossing:
- Resection margin (check for viability).
- Gangrenous area.
- Blood vessels.
- Bone (check for osteomyelitis).
Microscopic
Features:
- Atherosclerosis.
- Coagulative necrosis (gangrene).
- Inflammation (wet gangrene).
- Neutrophils.
- Lymphocytes.
- Plasma cells.
- +/-Thrombosis.
- +/-Chronic osteomyelitis.
- +/-Reactive fibroblasts.
Note:
- Ischemia may be associated with marked nuclear changes. Uninitiated eyes may think they are seeing a sarcoma.
DDx:
- Vasculitis associated with a connective tissue disorder.
- Drug use, e.g. cocaine.[17]
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LEFT LEG, BELOW KNEE AMPUTATION: - MODERATE-TO-SEVERE ATHEROSCLEROSIS. - COAGULATIVE NECROSIS OF SOFT TISSUE. - NECROTIC BONE. - MARROW CAVITY FIBROSIS WITH SIDEROPHAGES. - RESECTION MARGIN WITH VIABLE TISSUE.
Orthopaedic
Femoral head
Bone reamings
General
- Taken during the surgical repair of a fracture, e.g. intramedullary nail placement.
- Done to rule-out a pathologic fracture; considered reliable for detecting malignancy.[18]
- Hassan et al.[19] advocate against their use, suggesting the yield is low and a biopsy should be preferred.
Microscopic
Features:[20]
- Fragments of bone (scattered trabeculae).
- Necrotic bone = bone with empty lacunae, i.e. lacunae missing osteocytes.
- Bone marrow.
- Megakaryocytes - large cells, multinucleated, eosinophilic cytoplasm.
- Nucleated RBCs - perfectly round, dense nucleus, bright red cytoplasm.
- Myeloid cells and precursors.
- Adipocytes.
DDx:
- Metastatic carcinoma.
Sign out
BONE, LEFT FEMUR, REAMINGS: - FEATURES CONSISTENT WITH A RECENT FRACTURE. - NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY.
See also
References
- ↑ Weedman Molavi, Diana (2008). The Practice of Surgical Pathology: A Beginner's Guide to the Diagnostic Process (1st ed.). Springer. pp. 37. ISBN 978-0387744858.
- ↑ Siddiqui K, Nazir Z, Ali SS, Pervaiz S (February 2004). "Is routine histological evaluation of pediatric hernial sac necessary?". Pediatr. Surg. Int. 20 (2): 133–5. doi:10.1007/s00383-003-1106-2. PMID 14986035.
- ↑ Partrick DA, Bensard DD, Karrer FM, Ruyle SZ (July 1998). "Is routine pathological evaluation of pediatric hernia sacs justified?". J. Pediatr. Surg. 33 (7): 1090–2; discussion 1093–4. PMID 9694100.
- ↑ URL: http://www.harrisonspractice.com/practice/ub/view/Harrisons%20Practice/141015/all/otitis_media_and_mastoiditis. Accessed on: 16 March 2011.
- ↑ Piepergerdes MC, Kramer BM, Behnke EE (March 1980). "Keratosis obturans and external auditory canal cholesteatoma". Laryngoscope 90 (3): 383–91. PMID 7359960.
- ↑ Shire JR, Donegan JO (September 1986). "Cholesteatoma of the external auditory canal and keratosis obturans". Am J Otol 7 (5): 361–4. PMID 3538893.
- ↑ Iino Y, Toriyama M, Ohmi S, Kanegasaki S (1990). "Activation of peritoneal macrophages with human cholesteatoma debris and alpha-keratin". Acta Otolaryngol. 109 (5-6): 444–9. PMID 1694387.
- ↑ URL: http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case273/dx.html. Accessed on: 14 January 2012.
- ↑ Isen, K.; Utku, V.; Atilgan, I.; Kutun, Y. (Aug 2008). "Experience with the diagnosis and management of paraurethral cysts in adult women.". Can J Urol 15 (4): 4169-73. PMID 18706145.
- ↑ Satani, H.; Yoshimura, N.; Hayashi, N.; Arima, K.; Yanagawa, M.; Kawamura, J. (Mar 2000). "[A case of female paraurethral cyst diagnosed as epithelial inclusion cyst].". Hinyokika Kiyo 46 (3): 205-7. PMID 10806582.
- ↑ Das, SP. (Jul 1981). "Paraurethral cysts in women.". J Urol 126 (1): 41-3. PMID 7195943.
- ↑ URL: http://webpathology.com/image.asp?n=3&Case=540. Accessed on: 5 February 2012.
- ↑ PMID 15963574.
- ↑ PMID 14608541.
- ↑ Wang, XY.; Wu, N.; Zhu, Z.; Zhao, YF. (May 2010). "Computed tomography features of enlarged tonsils as a first symptom of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.". Chin J Cancer 29 (5): 556-60. PMID 20426908.
- ↑ Kumar, Vinay; Abbas, Abul K.; Fausto, Nelson; Aster, Jon (2009). Robbins and Cotran pathologic basis of disease (8th ed.). Elsevier Saunders. pp. 124. ISBN 978-1416031215.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Dhawan, SS.; Wang, BW. (Feb 2007). "Four-extremity gangrene associated with crack cocaine abuse.". Ann Emerg Med 49 (2): 186-9. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2006.08.001. PMID 17059855.
- ↑ Clarke, AM.; Rogers, S.; Douglas, DL. (Dec 1993). "Closed intramedullary biopsy for metastatic disease.". J R Coll Surg Edinb 38 (6): 368-9. PMID 7509409.
- ↑ Hassan, K.; Kalra, S.; Moran, C. (Aug 2007). "Intramedullary reamings for the histological diagnosis of suspected pathological fractures.". Surgeon 5 (4): 202-4. PMID 17849954.
- ↑ Tydings, JD.; Martino, LJ.; Kircher, M.; Alfred, RH.; Lozman, J. (Mar 1987). "Viability of intramedullary canal bone reamings for continued calcification.". Am J Surg 153 (3): 306-9. PMID 3548454.