Background. Fine-needle aspiration cytology plays a major role in the primary diagnosis of breast carcinoma. Cytological grading of the smears can provide valuable prognostic information and aid in planning the management options. Aim. To evaluate various 3-tier cytological grading systems and to determine the best possible system which is reliable and objective for use in routine practice. Materials & Methods. 72 fine-needle aspiration smears of breast carcinomas were graded by two pathologists and compared with the histologic grading by Nottingham modification of Scarff-Bloom-Richardson method. Concordance and correlation studies were done. Kappa measurement of interobserver agreement was also done. Results. Robinson's method showed a better correlation (77.7%) and substantial Kappa value of agreement (κ = 0.61) with Bloom Richardson's histological grading method in comparison to the other methods, closely followed by Fisher's method. Fisher's method showed better interobserver agreement (84.7%, κ = 0.616) compared to the other systems. Conclusions. Robinson's method of cytological grading in fine-needle aspiration smears of breast carcinoma is simpler, multifactorial, and feasible, hence being preferable for routine use according to our study.

The intimate family culture for early literacy socialization was documented for a socioculturally heterogeneous sample of 66 children enrolled in pre-kindergarten through third grade at public elementary schools in a large U.S. city. Parents were interviewed about 3 types of indexes of their family's intimate culture: the child's engagement in various literacy-related activities at home, the parents' orientation towards the significance of literacy for early child development, and the family's routines of dinnertime, reading aloud, and doing homework for school. Basic reading competencies were assessed with the Woodcock-Johnson Psychoeducational Battery--Tests of Achievement, Revised (1989). Multiple regression analysis found that a significant proportion of variance in the children's literacy development was predicted by each of the quantitative indexes of intimate family culture, leaving little or no additional variance that was due to family income or ethnicity.

To study the outcome of stapes surgery based on the Clinical, Audiometry, and Surgical pre- and postoperative factors. This study is a prospective study of factors affecting the outcome of stapes surgery in otosclerosis patients. From February 2010 to June 2011, 57 patients of confirmed clinical otosclerosis were analysed. Out of them, 31 patients were included in our study as were available for follow-up. Clinical, audiometry and surgery-related parameters were included to assess the surgery outcome. Results were reported as suggested by AAO-HNS (American Association of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery) guidelines for stapes surgery, 1995. The paired t-test and analysis of variables test (ANOVA) were used to evaluate the results. A value of<0.05 was considered significant. There was statistically significant improvement in ABG (air bone gap) closure at 3 months of surgery ( value <0.001). Among all cases, PTA BC (pure tone average bone conduction) at 3 months of surgery was found in the range of 7.5 dB to 43.75 dB. ABG closure was achieved in the range of 0 dB to 27.5 dB among all cases. Variables like gender, degree of hearing loss, type of footplate, sealing material, and piston diameter were definitely predicting the outcome of stapes surgery. Pure tone audiometry plays an important role to diagnose the otosclerosis, to evaluate degree and type of hearing loss and to assess hearing outcome after surgery. Our results may improve knowledge of predictive factors, providing the surgeon with useful information to plan surgery with a better case selection as well as to counsel the patient on the likelihood of success of the procedure.

A very uncommon instance of facial nerve palsy involving isolated temporal bone with associated uncontrolled diabetes mellitus has been noticed. A 53-year-old diabetic male presented himself with facial asymmetry, ear pain, and discharge in the right ear of one-month duration. Clinical examination revealed grade IV [House-Brackmann] right sided facial palsy, and otoscopy of small central perforation. Clinically acute otitis media with facial palsy diagnosis was made. There was minimal response to medical treatment. As per CT scan and audiometry findings, patient was subjected for exploratory mastoidectomy showing pale granulation tissue involving geniculate ganglion of facial nerve. The histopathology was suggestive of mucormycosis, an unusual presentation in middle ear. The patient was treated with injectable Amphotericin B. This case highlights a rare cause of isolated facial palsy and physicians should be aware of such atypical clinical presentation.

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The development of the organ systems are highly regulated in physiological conditions and the development of nose and paranasal sinuses commences in the 3rd week of gestation, when the primordial structures first appear and continues until completion in early adulthood when sinus pneumatization and bony growth have ceased. Their misregulation lead to the development of many cancers and primitive nasal septum Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the upper respiratory tract ranks as the sixth leading cause of cancer worldwide.In the current study, out of 31 cases, maximum cases were found to be moderately differentiated grade amounting to 64.5%, followed by well differentiated grade (22.6%) and poorly differentiated grade (12.9%). The present study also showed that poorly differentiated SCC had higher Ki 67 proliferative index and it could be a useful tool for determining the stages of tumors.  Ki 67 proliferative index study of the tumor helps in better understanding of the tumor behavior so as to provide appropriate treatment and thereby increasing the survival rate of the patient.

A 22-year-old male patient underwent a segmental resection of the ileum due to clinical symptoms of bowel obstruction and radiological evidence of ileal wall thickening and enlarged mesenteric nodes. Histopathological examination of the resected specimen revealed an extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma(MALToma) of the intestine and tuberculous lesions along with a solitary Peutz-Jeghers polyp. The case is presented for its rarity and to stress upon the clinical and radiological challenges that arise when lymphomas and tuberculous lesions co-exist at the same site.