Tissue microarray is a recent innovation in the field of pathology. A microarray contains many small representative tissue samples from hundreds of different cases assembled on a single histologic slide, and therefore allows high throughput analysis of multiple specimens at the same time. Tissue microarrays are paraffin blocks produced by extracting cylindrical tissue cores from different paraffin donor blocks and re-embedding these into a single recipient (microarray) block at defined array coordinates. Using this technique, up to 1000 or more tissue samples can be arrayed into a single paraffin block. It can permit simultaneous analysis of molecular targets at the DNA, mRNA, and protein levels under identical, standardized conditions on a single glass slide, and also provide maximal preservation and use of limited and irreplaceable archival tissue samples. This versatile technique, in which data analysis is automated facilitates retrospective and prospective human tissue studies. It is a practical and effective tool for high-throughput molecular analysis of tissues that is helping to identify new diagnostic and prognostic markers and targets in human cancers, and has a range of potential applications in basic research, prognostic oncology and drug discovery. This article summarizes the technical aspects of tissue microarray construction and sectioning, advantages, application, and limitations.

Highlights Rare presentation of actinomycosis of the tongue makes it challenge. Actinomycosis should be kept as a differential diagnosis in bewildering cases. Histopathology consider as important diagnostic aids in challenged cases. Varied clinical manifestations of the disease. Treatment should implement in harmony according to each diseases solely.

Background and objective: Helicobacter pylori can be regarded as one of the most common causes of chronic gastritis, which affects more than half of the world’s population. This study aimed to assess the presence of H. pylori in patients with gastritis and its association with gastric inflammation and adenocarcinoma. Methods: The presence of H. pylori was detected by rapid urease test and histopathological tests using biopsy specimens. Data were analyzed using the GraphPad Software Statistical Package. Results: The mean age of patients ± SD was 47.41 ± 18.13 years. The age range was 13 to 90 years. Results showed a significant association between the intensity of H. pylori and inflammation (P = 0.001). The more the intensity of H. pylori, the more severe the inflammation was noticed. Patients with high intensity of H. pylori had positive lymphoid aggregates. The H. pylori positive for the rapid urease test and the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining test were 95.2% and 96.3%, respectively. H. pylori infection was detected in more than 85% of patients with gastric adenocarcinoma. Conclusion: Histopathology and rapid urease tests are reliable diagnostic tools for detecting H. pylori. Results revealed a significant association of chronic active gastritis, mucosal lymphoid follicle formation, and adenocarcinoma with H. pylori infection. Keywords: Helicobacter pylori; Histopathology; Gastric adenocarcinoma; Gastritis.

Background: Adenocarcinoma is one of the most common causes of Gastric cancer related deaths worldwide. Helicobacter pylori is the causative agent of most cases of gastritis, it can cause chronic active gastritis and known as a risk factor for the development of gastric cancer. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of H. pylori among patients with symptoms of dyspepsia and other gastritis related symptoms and its association with adenocarcinoma.Methods: This study was carried out during the period of January 2018 to October 2019 with a total of 227 patients with gastritis related symptoms. The presence of H. pylori was detected by Rapid Urease Test (RUT) and histo-pathological tests using biopsy specimens. Statistical Analysis was done by using Chi-square test. P < 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant.Results: From the total of 227 patients with gastritis related symptoms, 26 cases (13.61%) were diagnosed with adenocarcinoma. Their ages were between 13 and 90 years with mean of 47.81± 18.23. The result showed that low severity prevalence of H. pylori was highest (111 cases) compared to 17 and 63 cases for high and moderate severity, respectively. Comparison between positive low, moderate, and high H. pylori cases for rapid urease test was highly significant (P<0.000). The results showed no association between H. pylori severity across various age groups and gender. Moreover, goodness of fit test for metaplasia, activity, glandular atrophy, and endoscopic finding across severity status of H. pylori showed highly significant. Four composite categorized groups were initiated based on positive/negative prevalance of H. pylori and adenocarcinoma status. Results revealed statistical significance between combination of H. pylori and adenocarcinoma with inflammation, lymphoid aggregate, metaplasia, activity of neutrophils, glandular atrophy, rapid urease test, and endoscopic findings.Conclusion: Histopathology tests are reliable diagnostic tools for the detection of H. pylori. Data showed that H. pylori was seen more in middle age patients with mucosal lymphoid follicle formation and more than one third of patients with adenocarcinoma. Therefore, screening of these infections is an important strategy for preventing gastric adenocarcinoma.

Background: Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) is the most common thyroid cancer. It can be found incidentally during thyroidectomy or can present as an enlarged cervical lymph node which is difficult to be diagnosed unless confirmed by ultrasonography and fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Objective: The aim of the current study is to report our experience in diagnosing Occult PTC (OPTC) presenting as a cervical mass without any evident thyroid enlargement. Patients and methods: Retrospective reviews of reports of all patients presented to our hospital complaining of a mass in the neck were enrolled in this study. Data regarding their history, investigations, ultrasound and Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) were reviewed. Cases investigated and diagnosed initially as OPTC were included. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathological examination of the resected specimens. Results: Eleven out of 62 (17.7%) cases with cervical masses were diagnosed as OPTC based on ultrasound and FNAC findings later confirmed by histological examination of their specimens. Six of them were females and 5 were males with a mean age of 36.9 years. The mean duration of these masses was 2.3 months. Hemithyroidectomy was done for 2 patients for unilateral small masses in the thyroid with the remainder undergone a total thyroidectomy with modified lymph node dissection. Conclusion: OPTC can present for the first time as a neck mass without clinically apparent thyroid enlargement. Physicians should keep the possibility of OPTC in the differential diagnosis of all adult neck masses in order to avoid any delay in diagnosis and to achieve the proper management plan.