Aims and Objectives:To describe clinicopathological features of surgically resected vascular malformations (VMs) of central nervous system (CNS).Materials and Methods:Histologically diagnosed cases of VMs of CNS during April 2010–April 2014 were included. Demographic data, clinical and radiological features were obtained. Hematoxylin and eosin slides were reviewed along with Verhoeff-Van Gieson (VVG), Masson's trichrome, periodic acid-Schiff, and Perls' stains. Morphologically, cavernomas and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) were distinguished on the basis of vessel wall features on VVG and intervening glial parenchyma.Results:Fifty cases were diagnosed as VMs of CNS with an age range of 14–62 years. These included 36 cavernomas, 12 AVMs, 2 mixed capillary-cavernous angiomas. Most of the cavernoma patients (15/36) presented with seizures, whereas AVM patients (8/12) had a headache as the dominant symptom. Twenty-nine patients were reliably diagnosed on radiological features. Microscopic evidence of hemorrhage was seen in 24/36 cavernomas and 6/12 AVMs, as opposed to radiologic evidence of 10 and 4, respectively. Reactive gliosis was seen in 16 cavernomas.Conclusions:Histological features are important for classifying the VMs of CNS as there are no specific clinical and radiological features. Type of VM has a bearing on management, prognosis, and risk of hemorrhage.

Aims:To study the histological features on muscle biopsy and correlate them with clinical features, other laboratory data in adult patients to make a diagnosis of dermatomyositis (DM), applying the European Neuromuscular center (ENMC) criteria.Materials and Methods:Adult patients who fulfilled clinical, laboratory, and muscle biopsy findings according to ENMC criteria for DM during the period 2010–2013 were included in the study. Cryostat sections of muscle biopsy were reviewed with emphasis on Perifascicular atrophy (PFA), perivascular/endomysial inflammation. Muscular dystrophies and metabolic myopathies were excluded by appropriate immunohistochemistry and special stains.Results:The diagnosis of adult DM was made in 45 patients out of 170 clinically suspected idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. These included 33 definite, 4 probable, 7 possible sine dermatitis, and 1 amyopathic DM. All patients with definite DM had typical rash and proximal muscle weakness and muscle biopsy showed PFA with or without inflammation. Thirteen patients had quadriparesis, neck muscle weakness, dysphagia/dysphonia at presentation. Patients with probable DM had rash and showed perivascular/endomysial inflammation with no PFA. Possible DM sine dermatitis showed PFA with perivascular/endomysial infiltrates. One patient of amyopathic DM had typical heliotrope rash and characteristic skin biopsy.Conclusions:Histological features are important for the diagnosis of DM. Relying on PFA for diagnosis of definite DM underestimates the true frequency of DM.