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FAC presents as acute abdomen and can mimic appendicitis, ischaemic bowel disease, tuberculosis and malignancy. Comorbidities causing immunosuppression frequently associated. Mortality remains high despite surgery, so FAC should be suspected in every case of acute abdomen with colonic perforation if associated with typical gross and microscopic findings and a history of stay in an endemic area.

Aspergillus species are ubiquitous opportunistic molds that cause both allergic and invasive syndromes. A 65-year-old female, farmer by occupation, presented with left upper limb and trunk swelling for one year, associated with pain, tightening of skin, and vesicles with watery discharge. Local examination showed a diffuse swelling extending from left arm to forearm and lateral chest wall associated with edema, induration, and raised temperature. The swelling was firm to hard with superficial skin ulcers and black eschar. Hematological investigations of the patient showed raised total WBC count and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Patient had no history suggesting immunosuppression. Clinico-radiological impression was left breast carcinoma with secondary skin involvement. fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) from the swelling showed inflammatory cells, necrosis, epitheloid cell granulomas, and giant cells along with branching hyphae of variable thickness, confirmed on Gomori Methenamine Silver stain as fungal hyphae. Culture was advised which identified the species as Aspergillius fumigatus. Primary cutaneous infection by A. fumigatus in an immunocompetent patient is unheard of. FNAC has an important role in resolving diagnostic dilemma in primary cutaneous aspergillosis, which may mimic malignancy as in our case.

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BackgroundHepatobiliary tuberculosis includes miliary, tuberculous hepatitis or localized forms. The localised form is extremely uncommon and can mimic malignancy. Still rarer is its presentation as sclerosing cholangitis.Case presentationA 50 year male presented with acute onset jaundice, significant weight loss and elevated liver enzymes with clinico-radiological suspicion of cholangiocarcinoma. A left hepatectomy was done and dilated bile ducts filled with caseous necrotic material were seen intra-operatively. Histopathology suggested localized hepatobiliary tuberculosis with features of secondary sclerosing cholangitis.ConclusionLocalised hepatobiliary tuberculosis can cause diagnostic difficulties and its possibility should be considered especially in endemic areas.

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Background: Non-cirrhotic portal hypertension includes primarily the cases of non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) and extra-hepatic portal vein obstruction, both showing no significant parenchymal disease. NCPF is a disease of uncertain etiology characterized by periportal fibrosis with small and medium sized portal vein branches involvement. Most study done in the past are clinical, hence we decided to analyse its histo-pathological features with clinical correlation. Methods: This is four and half year's retrospective study of liver biopsies of clinically diagnosed patients of NCPF. Fifteen patients of EHPVO served as controls. Biopsies were stained with Haematoxylin and eosin, reticulin and Masson's trichrome. Result: Total 978 benign specimens (excluding space-occupying lesions) received, of which 45 diagnosed as NCPF (4.6%). Most patients (68.88%) were between 20-40 years (M:F ratio 1:1.5), commonest symptoms long-standing splenomegaly (95%), anemia (78%) and variceal bleeds (42%) with duration varying from 3 months to 11 years. Commonest histopathological findings were portal tract fibrosis (77.78%), phlebosclerosis (68.89%), portal tract remnants (24.44%), more frequently seen in NCPF than EHPVO, septal fibrosis was seen in five. Follow up available in 91.11% cases showed no mortality or liver failure, but significant morbidity due to repeated episodes of variceal bleeds and hypersplenism. Conclusion: NCPF is still common in India. Distinctive features on histology are portal tract fibrosis, portal tract remnants, with phlebosclerosis which is being statistically significant when comparing with EHPVO. NCPF can show advanced fibrosis, can also present with features of decompensation mimicking cirrhosis, however its course remains stable with good long-term survival.

Background: Biliary obstruction can present with distressing symptoms and increased morbidity which leads to liver fibrosis, cholestasis, portal inflammation and ductular proliferation. Experimental studies showed reversal of histological findings in liver after biliary decompression surgery; however only a limited data is available regarding the same. Methods:Prospective observational study of 28 liver biopsies from 14 patients of obstructive jaundice, who underwent decompression surgery and showed clinical deterioration at 6 weeks with normal HIDA scan. Patients were clinically evaluated. Both intra (1st bx) and postoperative (2nd bx) liver biopsies were studied for fibrosis, cholestasis, ductular proliferation and portal inflammation.Result: Patient's age ranged from 24 to 75 years (8 Males and females 6), commonest symptom being jaundice. In 1st bx, most of the patients showed histological evidence of obstruction, which improved at least partially after surgery. There was no definite correlation of fibrosis with etiology. Fibrosis was less commonly seen with shorter duration of symptoms and younger males had higher prevalence. Increase/ static grades of fibrosis were seen in 35.71% patients each, while 28.57% showed regression. No correlation of age and etiology with status of fibrosis was observed. Regression was more common in males and with absence of cholangitis while progression was more common in females and with presence of cholangitis. Conclusion:We wonder whether younger males are more prone for fibrosis but males in general have better prognosis regarding the reversal. Also, cholangitis could be an important factor for deciding the further course of fibrosis. However we require larger data with multivariate analysis for the confirmation of the same.