BACKGROUND: Soft tissue tumors are a highly heterogenous group of tumors that are classified on a histogenetic basis. They are broadly divided into benign and malignant types. Benign tumors far outnumber the malignant ones. AIM: To know the incidence in different age groups, sex incidence, site specific distribution and their grading wherever possible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty five soft tissue tumors were received in the Department of Pathology of a medical college hospital, private nursing homes and hospitals in and around Mangalore. All specimens were received in 10% formalin along with a requisition letter which contained information about the name, age, sex, occupation, present and past history, relevant radiological and laboratory investigation results of the concerned patients. The specimens were then subjected to gross description and appropriate tissue sections were given. The microscopic features were studied with routine haematoxylin and eosin stained paraffin sections and were classified according to the New WHO Classification of malignant soft tissue tumors. RESULTS: Out of the 35 cases, 33 adults and 2 infants of soft tissue tumors studied, 19 were males and 16 were females. The most common age group of presentation was 51-60 years. Most of the tumors presented between 0-10cms in size. Liposarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma were the commonest tumors diagnosed among the 35 cases, comprising 7 cases each.

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Insulinoma is a rare pancreatic endocrine tumour with an incidence of 4 per million population per year and is typically sporadic, solitary and less than 2 cms in diameter. Fewer than 5% of insulinomas are larger than 3 cms and are more likely to be malignant. Here we report a case of insulinoma in a female patient aged 57 years with a rare presentation of recurrent attacks of seizures, syncope and sweating along with episodes of hypoglycemia since 5 years. CT scan localized the tumour to the head of the pancreas and histopathology proved the diagnosis.

Introduction: Painless soft tissue masses on the scalp are commonly encountered in clinical practice. The most likely diagnoses still remain as epidermoid cysts, sebaceous cysts and benign lipomas. The aim of this study is to exhibit the vast variety of scalp lesions, with emphasis on the metastatic scalp lesions. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out in the Department of Pathology in a tertiary care hospital in coastal Karnataka, India. A total of 29 scalp lesions received during the period were included in the study. Paraffin blocks and slides along with case records were retrieved and studied. Results: Out of a total of 29 scalp lesions included in this study, the most common lesion was lipoma. The most interesting cases were the 5 cases of scalp lesions which were metastasis from visceral organs, the most common site being the thyroid. Conclusion: A wide histopathological range of lesions comprising of neoplastic and non-neoplastic lesions were found. The most common lesion in this study was lipoma, while the most interesting were metastatic scalp lesions.

Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) is a rare malignant lymphoproliferative disorder with an overall incidence of 2.5cases/ million/year. This is a case report of a 48-year-old woman who presented with an unusual, yet significant gastrointestinal involvement. Biopsy of the duodenum clinched the diagnosis of WM. Further bone marrow and serum electrophoresis confirmed the diagnosis. WM is an uncommon slow growing malignant monoclonal gammopathy which is chronic, indolent and predominantly involving the bone marrow and characterized by secretion of high levels of monoclonal immunoglobulin (IgM-hence called macroglobulinaemia), elevated serum viscosity and presence of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the bone marrow. This causes the most common non specific symptom of weakness and easy fatiguability. In some individuals, the IgM proteins clump together in the hands and feet, where the body temperature is cooler than at the centre of the body, hence being referred to as cryoglogubulins, their clumping causing a condition called cryoglobulinemia. Extramedullary involvement is rare and may affect central nervous system, articular and periarticular structures, lungs, kidneys, eyes, and gastrointestinal system.