Grade II oligodendroglioma localized to the corpus callosum.

The presence of a primary central nervous system (CNS) neoplasm within the corpus callosum generally portends a grave prognosis. Common pathologies encountered include glioblastomas and primary CNS lymphomas. In contrast, World Health Organization grade II oligodendroglial tumors demonstrating loss of heterozygosity at 1p and 19q are generally less aggressive, often responding favorably to chemotherapy.

A study of autopsy procedures in Ghana: implications for the use of autopsy data in epidemiological analyses.

The study of cause of death certification remains a largely neglected field in many developing countries, including Ghana. Yet, mortality information is crucial for establishing mortality patterns over time and for estimating mortality attributed to specific causes. In Ghana, autopsies remain the appropriate option for determining the cause of deaths occurring in homes and those occurring within 48 hours after admission into health facilities.

Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma.

Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinomas (RCCs), a recently recognized distinct subtype, are rare tumors predominantly reported in young patients. They comprise at least one-third of pediatric RCCs, and only few adult cases have been reported.

Utility of a dual immunostain cocktail comprising of p53 and CK20 to aid in the diagnosis of non-neoplastic and neoplastic bladder biopsies.

Background: Distinction between non-neoplastic and neoplastic bladder lesions is therapeutically and prognostically important. Our objective is to describe the use of double immunohistochemistry (DIHC) for p53+CK20 as a tool for diagnosing neoplasia in bladder biopsies.

Methods: p53+CK20 DIHC were examined in 38 reactive atypia, 10 dysplasia, 9 carcinoma in situ (CIS) and 7 invasive carcinoma (IC) cases.

Synchronous primary carcinoid tumor and primary adenocarcinoma arising within mature cystic teratoma of horseshoe kidney: a unique case report and review of the literature.

Background: Malignant transformation of mature cystic teratoma is a rare complication. While any of the constituent tissues of a teratoma has the potential to undergo malignant transformation, squamous cell carcinoma is the most commonly associated malignancy. Renal carcinoid tumors are rare and frequently associated with horseshoe kidney and renal teratoma.

Xp11.2 translocation renal cell carcinoma occurring during pregnancy with a novel translocation involving chromosome 19: a case report with review of the literature.

The recently recognized renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) associated with Xp11.2 translocations (TFE3 transcription factor gene fusions) are rare tumors predominantly reported in children. They comprise at least one-third of pediatric RCCs and only few adult cases have been reported.

Epithelioid sarcoma.

Epithelioid sarcomas are rare, mesenchymal tumors of unknown histogenesis and display multidirectional differentiation, which is predominantly epithelial. They have no normal cellular counterpart and differ from both synovial sarcoma and carcinoma. They account for less than 1% of all soft tissue sarcomas and are usually slow growing, with peak incidence in young adult men and occur predominantly in extremities.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor.

Perivascular epithelioid cell tumors are mesenchymal neoplasms defined by the presence of histologically and immunohistochemically distinctive perivascular epithelioid cells. The perivascular epithelioid cell has no known normal tissue counterpart and coexpresses myoid and melanocytic markers. This tumor family shows marked female predominance and includes angiomyolipoma, clear cell sugar tumor, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, and a group of rare, morphologically and immunophenotypically similar tumors arising at a variety of visceral and soft tissue sites.

Soluble factors from Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes induce apoptosis in human brain vascular endothelial and neuroglia cells.

The severity of malaria is multi-factorial. It is associated with parasite-induced alteration in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine levels in host serum and cerebrospinal fluid. It is also associated with sequestration and cytoadherence of parasitized erythrocytes (pRBCs) in post-capillary venules and blood-brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction.

Seroprevalence of HHV-8, CMV, and EBV among the general population in Ghana, West Africa.

Background: Human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8), cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) are prevalent in Africa, but less common elsewhere and the modes of transmission are still subject to debate. Generally, they rarely cause disease in the immunocompetent host but are highly oncogenic when associated with immunosuppression. Although the high prevalence of HHV-8, CMV and EBV has been well documented in Africa, such data are sparse from Ghana.

Atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (adenosis) of the prostate: a case report with review of the literature.

A 62-year-old male presented with symptoms of urinary obstruction and elevated serum prostate-specific antigen level of 3.61 ng/mL. Prostate needle biopsies showed benign prostatic tissue with a focus of crowded glands with minimal cytological atypia, fairly well-circumscribed with infiltrative appearance of glands at the edges.

Plasma IP-10, apoptotic and angiogenic factors associated with fatal cerebral malaria in India.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum in a subset of patients can lead to cerebral malaria (CM), a major contributor to malaria-associated mortality. Despite treatment, CM mortality can be as high as 30%, while 10% of survivors of the disease may experience short- and long-term neurological complications. The pathogenesis of CM is mediated by alterations in cytokine and chemokine homeostasis, inflammation as well as vascular injury and repair processes although their roles are not fully understood.

Correlates of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis infections among prison inmates and officers in Ghana: A national multicenter study.

Background: Prisons are known to be high-risk environments for the spread of bloodborne and sexually transmitted infections. Prison officers are considered to have an intermittent exposure potential to bloodborne infectious diseases on the job, however there has been no studies on the prevalence of these infections in prison officers in Ghana.

Methods: A national multicenter cross-sectional study was undertaken on correlates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and syphilis infections in sample of prison inmates and officers from eight of ten regional central prisons in Ghana.

Malignant perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) of the uterus with late renal and pulmonary metastases: a case report with review of the literature.

Background: Perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa), other than angiomyolipoma (AML), clear cell sugar tumor (CCST), and lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), is a very rare mesenchymal tumor with an unpredictable natural history. The uterus is the most prevalent reported site of involvement of PEComa-not otherwise specified (PEComa-NOS). To the best of our knowledge, about 100 PEComa-NOS have been reported in the English Language medical literature, of which 38 were uterine PEComa-NOS.

Chondromyxoid fibroma of rib with a novel chromosomal translocation: a report of four additional cases at unusual sites.

Background: Chondromyxoid fibromas (CMFs) are rare benign chondroid/myxoid matrix-producing tumors that occur in metaphyses of long tubular bones, and very rarely in small bones of hands and feet. Flat bone involvement is even more uncommon. Prior cytogenetic analyses have identified complex abnormalities involving chromosome 6 in the majority of cases.

Cerebrospinal fluid and serum biomarkers of cerebral malaria mortality in Ghanaian children.

Background: Plasmodium falciparum can cause a diffuse encephalopathy known as cerebral malaria (CM), a major contributor to malaria associated mortality. Despite treatment, mortality due to CM can be as high as 30% while 10% of survivors of the disease may experience short- and long-term neurological complications. The pathogenesis of CM and other forms of severe malaria is multi-factorial and appear to involve cytokine and chemokine homeostasis, inflammation and vascular injury/repair.

Sarcomatoid urothelial carcinoma with choriocarcinomatous features: first report of an unusual case.

A 61-year-old man presented with gross hematuria and a polypoid right lateral bladder mass. The tumor was composed of conventional urothelial carcinoma with sarcomatoid and choriocarcinomatous features, both positive for epithelial markers (pancytokeratin, AE1/AE3, and CAM 5.2).

Tubular adenoma with high-grade dysplasia in the ileal segment 34 years after augmentation ileocystoplasty: report of a first case.

Neoplasms of the urinary bladder following augmentation ileocystoplasty are rare. We present the case of a 39-year-old male with a tubular adenoma with high-grade dysplasia in the ileal segment 34 years after augmentation ileocystoplasty to enlarge a post-chemoradiation-induced shrunken bladder. He presented with gross hematuria.

Systemic distribution of West Nile virus infection: postmortem immunohistochemical study of six cases.

Rare cases of West Nile virus (WNV)-associated inflammation outside the central nervous system (CNS) have been reported. We evaluated the systemic distribution of WNV in postmortem tissues during encephalitis in six patients using immunohistochemistry. WNV antigens were detected in neurons of CNS (all 6 cases), kidney (4 cases), lungs (2 cases), pancreas (2 cases), thyroid (2 cases), intestine (2 cases), stomach (1 case), esophagus (1 case), bile duct (1 case), skin (1 case), prostate (1 case) and testis (1 case).

Primary angiosarcoma of the testis: report of a rare entity and review of the literature.

Background: Primary testicular angiosarcomas are extremely rare, and their clinicopathologic features are not well described. Our objective was to further define the clinical features and pathologic spectra of primary testicular angiosarcomas.

Methods: Six previously reported case reports were identified in the English language medical literature using MEDLINE and a subsequent bibliographic search of all pertinent reports and reviews was performed.

Primary carcinoid tumor arising within mature teratoma of the kidney: report of a rare entity and review of the literature.

Background: Primary carcinoid tumor arising within mature teratoma of the kidney is extremely rare, and their clinicopathologic features are not well described. Our objective was to further define the clinical features and pathologic spectra of primary carcinoid tumor arising within mature teratoma of the kidney.

Methods: Six previously reported case reports were identified using MEDLINE and a subsequent bibliographic search of all pertinent reports and reviews was performed.

Angiomyolipoma with epithelial cysts (AMLEC): a rare but distinct variant of angiomyolipoma.

Angiomyolipoma with epithelial cysts (AMLEC) is a recently described distinct cystic variant of angiomyolipoma (AML). To date 15 cases of AMLEC have been reported in 2 case series. We report the 16th case in a 39-year-old female.

Correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among incarcerated Ghanaians: a national multicentre study.

A national multicentre cross-sectional study was undertaken on the correlates of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in a sample of inmates from eight Ghanaian prisons. A total of 1366 inmates from eight of the ten regional central prisons in Ghana were enrolled between May 2004 and December 2005. Subjects voluntarily completed a risk-factor questionnaire and provided blood specimens for unlinked anonymous testing for the presence of antibodies to HCV.