BackgroundNon-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) are the most frequently seen cancers worldwide.MethodsThe medical records of patients diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in Hatay Antakya pathology laboratory between January 2010 and September 2012 were retrospectively included in the study. Tumors were categorized according to age, gender, anatomical localization, type, solitary-multiplicity, tumor diameter (0 to 2 mm, 2.1 to 6 mm and >6.1 mm), and presence of ulceration (BCCs), and morphological subtype, histopatological features and grades (SCCs).ResultsA total of 136 tumors in 127 NMSC cases were examined. Solitary tumors were seen in 118 (92.9%), and multiple tumors in 9 (7.1%) patients. Mean age of the patients was 68.5 ± 13 years. BCC was observed in 96 (75.6%) and SCC in 31 (24.4%) patients. Mean diameter of all types of solitary and multiple tumors was 7.42 ± 3.49 mm. Nodular subtype focal cystic changes were observed in 49 (47.6%) patients. All tumors (solitary and multiple) were seen on the face (67.6%), scalp (11.8%), and ear (11%). Well differentiated SCCs were detected in 20 cases (64.5%); ulceration was observed in 58.1% of all tumors.ConclusionsEpidemiologic and histopathological investigations, routine skin scanning performed on the elderly population and dermatological examination will help to improve efficient health applications.

HighlightsInflammatory myofibroblastic tumors most frequently arises from the lung.Previously described in the literature as inflammatory pseudotumor, the current term for the condition is IMT.There are a very small number of IMT in the small intestine mesentery cases reported in the literature.The differential diagnosis of IMT includes reactive/reparative lesions and mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.The principal therapy in patients with IMT is surgical resection.

HighlightsGastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are the most frequent mesenchymal neoplasms of the gastrointestinal tract.GISTs >10 cm in diameter are referred to as giant GISTs.Giant GISTs of this size and weight have been rarely reported in the literature.The treatment of choice for giant GIST is complete surgical resection.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is still a significant healthcare problem all over the world. Between January 2009 and May 2014, a total of 96 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) were enrolled in study. A total of 96 CHB cases were examined. The mean total liver histological activity indices for grade and stage were 6.01±2.46, and 1.6±0.99 and the mean ALT and AST levels were 32.6 ±21.0 IU/L and 25.6 ±11.2 IU/L, respectively. The mean HBV DNA level was 8.9 x106±3.3106 IU/mL. Forty (41.7%) patients had HBV DNA <20 IU/Ml (undetectable) and 14 (14.6%) patients had HBV DNA levels between 21 and 2000 IU/mL. Of the total 96 patients, 100% were HBsAg positive, 88 (91.7%) were HBeAg negative and 8 (8.3%) were HBeAg positive. A significant correlation was found between the HBeAg serostatus, HBV DNA level and the histological activity index necroinflammatory total scores (P= 0.034 and 0.000). We found no correlation between the fibrosis score and HBeAg status (P= 0.451). However, a statistically significant difference was found between HBV DNA levels and stage of fibrosis (P= 0.048). A significant relationship was found between the HBeAg status, HBV DNA level and ALT and AST levels (P= 0.000, 0.000, 0.032, 0.024). The HBeAg status of CHB patients should not affect the treatment response or need for long-term follow-up visits with repeat ALT and HBV DNA levels. However, chronic hepatitis patients who are negative for HBeAg may need different short-term follow-up.

BackgroundGallbladder diseases present with cholelithiasis in a wide spectrum of adenomas and cancers. Two or three specimens are sampled in cholecystectomies in routine pathology practice. The aim of this study was to investigate the increase in frequency of histologic alterations in cholecystectomies, particularly precancerous lesions, by increasing the sample size to understand the carcinoma pathway.MethodsCholecystectomies of 432 patients with pathology records and materials from two medical centers were collected, and two groups were created. Initial data with two or three samples were allocated to Group 1 and the new six samples with the initial ones were allocated to Group 2. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) sections were examined for histopathologic alterations, and periodic acid–Schiff (PAS) Alcian blue (pH 2.5) and high iron diamine (pH 2.5) stains were used to signify the mucin profile in case of metaplasias. For the comparison of findings, non-parametric tests, McNemar’s tests, chi-squared tests and Fisher’s exact test were performed.ResultsOf the 432 patients, 308 (71.3%) patients were female and 124 (28.7%) patients were male. The mean age of patients was 47.9 ± 14.6 years. Cholesterolosis was observed in 95 (22%) patients in Group 1 and 108 (25%) patients in Group 2. Gallstones were detected in 255 (59%) of the cholecystectomies. There was a significant difference between Group 1 and Group 2 by increasing the sample size when we compared cholesterolosis, metaplasia and polyps (P <0.05). Cholecystitis and dysplasia rates were the same in both of the groups. There was no cancer determined.ConclusionIncreasing the sample size in cholecystectomies increased the diagnosis of some histologic alterations, but further studies with a larger number of samples over a longer period time might increase the ability to determine precancerous lesions and concomitants.