Evaluation and management of voice disorders: Our experiences

Background: Change in voice is one of the most common complains among patients visiting to ENT outpatient. The causes are numerous and need to be evaluated before approaching to curative intent of treatment. Aims and Objectives: The current study was designed with an aim to analyze the spectrum of voice disorders and their management option. Materials and Methods: Prospective study conducted between June 25, 2020, and November 30, 2021. Clinical, demographic profiles were recorded. Fiber-optic laryngoscopy was performed in all the cases. Radiology examination computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging was supplemented only in required cases. Treatment was executed based of etiological profile analysis. Minimum 3 months follow-up was collected post-therapy. Statistical analysis was performed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 24. Pearson Chi-square test was used for see the association between parameters. P-value was considered significant while being <0.05. Results: Out of 218 patients, the most patients (approx. 70%) occupied in the age group of 30–50 years. There was male predominance (76.6%). Voice change secondary to laryngopharyngeal reflux was seen in 56.4% of cases. Benign vocal fold lesions (nodule/cyst/polyp) were noticed in 26.5% of cases. Malignant lesions were seen in 1.8% of cases. Benign vocal fold lesions (polyp and cyst) were treated by microlaryngeal surgery (MLS). Pre-malignant lesion (leukoplakia) was treated with MLS stripping. Out of four malignant lesions, one was in early stage and underwent supraglottic laryngectomy while others were in advanced stage (T4) and treated by total laryngectomy. Conclusions: Voice disorders comprise wide etiological profile from reflux to malignant lesion. Timely proper evaluation followed by definitive management achieves good treatment outcomes.

Spectrum of Oral Cavity Lesions and its Clinico-Histopathological Correlation

Introduction: Oral cavity lesions comprise a wide spectrum of diseases that varies from non-neoplastic to neoplastic. The clinical evaluation alone is insufficient for proper diagnosis in most cases. So, histopathological examination is the gold standard method for diagnosis and management of patients accordingly. Objective: The present study was done to evaluate the histopathological spectrum of oral cavity lesions and compare them in relation to age, sex, site, clinical features, risk factors, and clinical diagnoses. Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study enrolled 127 cases of oral biopsies which were received at the Department of Pathology, Tribhuvan University and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu Nepal, from May 2018 to April 2019 for histopathological examination. Specimens were fixed in 10% formalin and subjected for tissue processing and Hematoxylin and Eosin stained sections. Data entry and analysis were done by using SPSS 24 version where frequency and percentile were calculated. Results: Total cases were 127 with slight female predilection and the age group of 50-60 years (mean age of 44.24 years) were commonly affected. The tongue being the most common site, frequently lesions presented as swelling. Most of the lesions were non-neoplastic comprising 45% whereas malignant lesions comprised 23.6%. Smoking increased the risk of malignancy by 2 fold. The most common benign lesions were squamous papilloma & fibroepithelial polyp whereas the malignant lesion was squamous cell carcinoma. Sixty percent of clinical diagnoses didn’t show correlation. Conclusions: Oral cavity lesions have a wide spectrum of distribution in age, sex, site, and clinical presentation. Initially, oral lesions may present with subtle symptoms which may cause underdiagnosis. Thus, histopathological diagnosis is a must to rule out malignancy. Keywords: Clinical presentation; correlation; oral cavity; risk factors.

Correlation of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB) with Thyroid Profile and Endometrial Biopsy

Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is defined as any change in the frequency of menstruation, duration of flow or amount of loss. Menstrual disturbances and different endometrial pattern may accompany and precede thyroid dysfunction. The objective of the study was to correlate thyroid profile with endometrial biopsy in cases of AUB. This study was conducted on 74 patients who presented with AUB, had undergone TFT and endometrial biopsy/hysterectomy. Among 74 patients, thyroid disorders were identified in 26 patients. Maximum number of patients with AUB belonged to the category of hypothyroidism (27%) and 8.1% of cases had hyperthyroidism. In the present study 29 (39.1%) had proliferative endometrium, followed by secretory pattern in 21 (28.4%) patients. Hormone induced changes was seen in 3 (4.1%) patients. Disordered proliferative endometrium and endometrial hyperplasia was observed in 6 patients (8.1%) each. Malignant lesion was not common and it comprised of only 1.4% cases. AUB is frequently seen in patients with thyroid dysfunction. Thyroid function test is a cost effective, easily available test and can detect a possibly curable cause of AUB and avoid unnecessary intervention like hormonal treatment and hysterectomy. AUB due to endometrial cause is an age related pathology. Histopathological examination of endometrial biopsy is a major diagnostic tool in evaluation of AUB. It helps the physician to plan therapy for successful management of AUB.

Clinicopathological study of non-malignant lesions of larynx: a prospective observational study

<p class="abstract"><strong>Background:</strong> Non-malignant lesions of the larynx constitute an interesting array of lesions. The significance of non-malignant lesions lies in the fact that it cannot only cause change in voice but, at times, can lead to breathing difficulty or life-threatening stridor.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Methods:</strong> This was a prospective observational study done between November 2019 - July 2020. All the details were filled up by the principal investigator in a structured study proforma. This proforma contains data regarding essential demographic details, clinical features, ENT examination, flexible video laryngoscopy findings, stroboscopy findings, voice handicap index, diagnosis and management. Statistical method and data analysis in this study we tried to describe the analysis process with appropriate methods and principles of statistics, using the data collected from the patients, participated in this study. </p><p class="abstract"><strong>Results:</strong> The most common non-malignant lesion among the 50 patients studied was vocal cord polyp; second most common being the vocal cord cyst. The relation of hoarseness of voice, difficulty in breathing, smoking or alcohol intake with non-malignant lesions showed a statistically significant result. On interpreting the stroboscopic findings of various lesions, all cases of vocal nodule showed an hourglass-shaped glottic closure.</p><p class="abstract"><strong>Conclusions:</strong> These lesions can create a lot of mental and emotional tension in the patient and the family. Early diagnosis of the lesions can lead to effective management and functional recovery. Stroboscopy is valued for its excellent ability to examine the structure and the function of the glottis during phonation.</p>

Multiple Relapses of Parathyroid Carcinoma with Severe Systemic Complications - Case Report and Literature Review

Parathyroid carcinoma is an exceptionally uncommon endocrine neoplasm, accounting for less than 1% of parathyroid tumours and also a rare cause of primary hyperparathyroidism. Although this malignant lesion is usually slowly progressive, it is frequently associated with local recurrences and also with metastases involving the local lymph nodes or distant sites. We present a 59-year-old male patient who developed a parathyroid carcinoma metastasis involving the anterior mediastinal lymph nodes and thymus remnants, 3 years after the primary tumour was identified and treated by surgical excision followed by chemo and radiotherapy. The patient presented with severe, symptomatic hyperparathyroidism and a gamma scan revealed increased uptake hyperfixation in the paratracheal lymph nodes. A lymphadenectomy was performed and the gross examination of the specimen showed a pinkish – white, firm, poorly circumscribed mass. The microscopic examination revealed an epithelial proliferation with a predominantly nodular/solid growth pattern, composed of cells exhibiting moderate nuclear pleomorphism, prominent nucleoli and high mitotic activity, involving two lymph nodes and thymus remnants. Upon immunohistochemical analysis, the proliferation showed positive staining for GATA 3, as well as a high Ki 67 index, whereas TTF 1 and thyroglobulin were negative in the tumour cells. Thus, the diagnosis of metastatic parathyroid carcinoma was established. The aim of this paper is to gain further knowledge about the histopathological and immunohistochemical features, as well as about the clinical behaviour of parathyroid malignant lesions, especially considering their rarity.

Correlation Between Ultrasound BI-RADS 4 Breast Lesions and Fine Needle Cytology Categories in a Sample of Iraqi Female Patients

Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in female and the most registered cause of women’s mortality worldwide. BI-RADS 4 breast lesions are associated with an exceptionally high rate of benign breast pathology and breast cancer, so BI-RADS 4 is subdivided into 4A, 4B and 4C to standardize the risk estimation of breast lesions. The aim of the study: to evaluate the correlation between BI-RADS 4 subdivisions 4A, 4B & 4C and the categories of reporting FNA cytology results. Patients and Methods: A case series study was conducted in the Oncology Teaching Hospital in Baghdad from September 2018 to September 2019. Included patients had suspicious breast findings and given BI-RADS 4 (4A, 4B, or 4C) in the radiological report accordingly. Fine needle aspiration was performed under the ultrasound guide and the results were classified into five categories. The biopsy was performed for suspicious, malignant or equivocal FNA findings. Results: This study included 158 women with BIRADS 4 breast lesions with the mean age of (44.6 years); There was a highly significant association between BI-RADS 4 breast lesion and FNA results (p<0.001); 51.9% of BI-RADS IV-C had C5 FNA results. There was a highly significant association between BI-RADS 4 lesion and the final diagnosis (p<0.001); 41.2% of BI-RADS 4 B had a malignant breast lesion, while 37.3% of BIRADS 4 C had a malignant lesion. Conclusion: A clear relationship was observed between BI-RADS 4 subcategories and the fine needle aspiration cytology subgroups. BI-RADS 4-B is helpful in the discrimination between benign and malignant breast lesions; furthermore BI-RADS 4C has more acceptable validity in the diagnosis of breast malignancy. Therefore, BI-RADS subcategories are encouraged to be included and mentioned in the ultrasound report for more accurate estimation of the lesion nature.

Radiological Imaging and CA125 Correlation as Predictive Variables in Ovarian Pathologies

Introduction: Primary Ovary Neoplasms are the most frequent tumors showing epithelial differentiation. Tumour Marker CA-125, glycoprotein synthesized mainly by neoplastic cells with epithelial differentiation. Serum Level of CA-125 has a biological potential of these lesions. This study is mainly done to evaluate the association between serum CA-125 levels and imaging findings and to predict malignancy in various ovarian lesions. Objectives: To evaluate the capacity of CA125 and Imaging findings to predict malignancy in various ovarian pathologies. Materials and Methods: Study area: Department of Radiology, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Study design: Retrospective study. Study period: 6months. Study population: Patients with history and clinical symptoms of ovarian lesions and USG detected ovarian lesions confirmed on Radiological Imaging. Sampling method: Purposive sampling Sample size: 30. Inclusion criteria: Patients with clinically suspected ovarian lesions or indeterminate ovarian lesions on USG who underwent Radiological imaging and CA-125 estimation. Exclusion criteria: Children less than 12years of age are excluded from this study. Results: Among 30 cases, 19(63.33%) were benign and 2(6.67%) were borderline and 9(30%) were malignant lesion in the present study. Ovarian pathologies is mostly seen in women of age above 25 yrs(86.67%). In this study Ovarian lesions are more commonly seen in married women(86.67%) and menstruating women(56.67%). Out of 30 Cases, Serum CA-125 level <35IU/ml is seen among 13(43.33%) and level >35IU/ml is seen among 17(56.67%). Out of 17 women with CA-125 level >35IU/ml, 9 had malignant lesions on histopathology while 7 women had benign lesions and 1 women had borderline lesion. Conclusion: The present study shows significant association of Serum CA-125 levels with mixed solid cystic ovarian lesions ill defined margins (possible Malignant Ovarian lesions) (p<0.05) especially in Post-menopausal women.

Spectrum of Histopathological Lesions in Cholecystectomy Specimens at Pak Red Crescent Teaching Hospital

Objective: To study the spectrum of histopathological lesions found on surgically resected gallbladder to quantify the various abnormalities in gallbladder specimen. Methodology: A descriptive observational study was carried out from Nov 2017 to Oct 2021. All the patients undergoing emergency and elective cholecystectomy regardless of age and sex were included in the study. After cholecystectomy, gallbladder specimen along with history and ultrasound findings was sent for histopathology to our own institution. Department of histopathology has the standardized method to process the gallbladder specimens. Demographic data along with diagnosis, ultrasound finding and histopathology report were collected and analyzed with Excel 2019. Results: Total number of patients in this study was 395, out of which 93 patients were male and 302 patients were female. Average age of our patients was 43.05± 13 years. Acute calculus cholecystitis was found in 55 (13.92%) patients, 298 (75.44) patents had chronic calculus cholecystitis, empyema was found in 15 (3.80) patients, cholestrolosis was found in 5 (1.27%) patients, gallbladder polyp was found in 02 (0.51%) patients, gangrenous gall bladder was found in 01 (0.25%) patient and adenocarcinoma in situ was found in 01 (0.25%) patient. Conclusion: Our study shows that, chronic cholecystitis is the most common presentation followed by acute cholecystitis in surgically resected gallbladders. Females are predominantly suffering from the gallbladder diseases. The frequency of malignant lesion was very low. Keywords: Gallbladder-histopathology, Acute Cholecystitis, Chronic Cholecystitis, Gallstones.

Tumor-Specificity Growth Factor Combined with Tumor Markers in Nuclear Medicine Imaging to Identify Prostate Cancer Osteonosus

Objective. This study has explored the application value of malignant tumor SPE growth factor (TSGF) combined with tumor markers (TM) (TSGF + TM) in nuclear medicine imaging to identify prostate cancer osteonosus (PCO). Methods. A retrospective analysis for 70 patients with prostate cancer and bone disease admitted to our hospital was performed, 30 healthy persons in the same period were selected as the control group, and the advantages and disadvantages of various examinations were analyzed. All patients were diagnosed with PET whole body bone imaging. Suspicious lesions could be examined by MRI or CT. According to the results of imaging examination, patients were divided into 40 cases of malignant prostate cancer and 30 cases of benign prostate cancer. All the patients underwent 18F-FDG-PET imaging, alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), and TSGF + TM determination. The case diagnosis results were compared and analyzed, and the sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), and accuracy (ACC) of various detection methods were calculated. The SEN, SPE, and ACC of positron emission tomography (PET) were 90.9%, 57.8%, and 81.2%, respectively; those of TM were 79.2%, 94.6%, and 69.8%, respectively; and those of TSGF + TM were 95.9%, 100%, and 97.3%, respectively. The accuracy of combined diagnosis of tumors can reach 100%. The AFP and TSGF levels of serum TM were compared and analyzed, and it was found that the benign lesion group and the malignant lesion group showed significant increases compared with the control group, and the difference between the malignant lesion group and the control group was obvious ( P < 0.05). SGF combined with TM could obtain a more definite diagnosis in PCO. Conclusion. TSGF + TM combined with 18F-FDG-PET imaging showed important clinical value to diagnose the PCO. The imaging accuracy of TSGF + TM combined with 18F-FDG-PET is 97.3%, and the specificity of tumor diagnosis is 100%. Therefore, the TSGF + TM applied in medical imaging and identification of PCO was worthy of clinical promotion.

P-L07 Nematode infection mimicking Liver metastasis from previous Melanoma

Background Malignant melanoma is known to metastasise to the liver. In the absence of any other disease spread it is prudent to resect these lesions. This case highlights how certain pathology can masquerade as liver metastases. Here we present a case of a gentleman previously diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2016. He had previous liver resection for metastatic disease in 2017. Surveillance MRI picked up what was assumed to be a further metastatic deposit in the right lobe of the liver. Patient underwent resection, and subsequent histological analysis has shown this to be a worm cast from a parasitic infection. Methods Review of the current literature reveals just one previous case of nematode infection masquerading as liver metastasis making this a very unusual and rare finding at operation. We have undertaken review of patients imaging and histopathological specimens as well as seeking expert opinion from the infectious diseases centre in London Results Images were reviewed in HPB MDT and the suggestion was that this was a new malignant lesion in right lobe of liver. At time of operation the lesion had slightly odd appearance on USS. Specimen was sent for histological analysis and this showed no features to suggest malignant melanoma. On further examination there appeared to be a collection of hyalinised structures suspicious for parasitic infection. The specimen was sent to Guys for further evaluation. This confirmed that this was likely a helminth nematode resulting in a necrotic liver nodule Conclusions This presentation is highly unusual and review of the literature demonstrates only 1 previous case to date. The differential for liver lesions is broad and nematode infection should be included. However on a background of previous liver metastases it would not be high on the differential list. It is important that we consider this in future and ensure to clarify risk factors for nematode infection, none of which this patient had. Highlights that despite advancement in imaging it is still only after surgical resection we can be sure of the aetiology.