Table of Contents ▼
1. GI & Liver Pathology
GIST (Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor)
- Origin: Cells of Cajal (Pacemaker cells).
- Best Marker: DOG-1 (Discovered on GIST-1) - Most Specific.
- Mutations: c-KIT (CD117), PDGFRA, Succinate Dehydrogenase.
CDH1 Mutation (E-Cadherin Loss)
Associated with two specific cancers:
- Diffuse Gastric Cancer: Linitis Plastica (Leather Bottle Stomach). Shows Signet Ring Cells.
- Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (Breast): Shows Indian File Pattern (Single file cells).
Liver Pathology Highlights
Mallory Hyaline Bodies (CK 8/18)
Mnemonic: "New Indian Watch"
- Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
- Indian Childhood Cirrhosis
- Wilson's Disease (Copper) - NOT Hemochromatosis
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Tumors (HCC)
- Cholestasis
- Alcoholic Liver Disease
Angiosarcoma of Liver
Caused by 3 chemicals ("Liver ki WAT lagayi"):
- Vinyl Chloride (Plastics)
- Arsenic (Pesticides)
- Thorotrast (Contrast dye)
Biliary Tract Diseases
| Feature | Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC) | Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | Males ("Papa" - P-ANCA) | Females ("Amma" - AMA) |
| Marker | P-ANCA | Anti-Mitochondrial Antibody (AMA) |
| Pathology | Onion Skin Fibrosis, Beading | Granulomas |
| Association | Ulcerative Colitis | Sjogren's, Autoimmune |
2. Respiratory Pathology
Asthma Triad (Sputum)
- Charcot-Leyden Crystals: Made of Galectin-10 (from Eosinophils). Needle-like.
- Curschmann Spirals: Mucus plugs.
- Creola Bodies: Clumps of sloughed epithelial cells.
Lung Tumors
Squamous Cell CA
- Association: Smoking.
- Microscopy: Keratin Pearls.
- Markers: P40 (Best), P63.
Adenocarcinoma
- Association: Non-smokers/Females. Periphery.
- Microscopy: Glands/Mucin.
- Markers: TTF-1, Napsin A.
Small Cell CA (Oat Cell)
- Origin: Neuroendocrine.
- Microscopy: Azzopardi Effect (Blue blood vessels due to DNA coating), Salt & Pepper Chromatin.
- Markers: Chromogranin, Synaptophysin, NSE, CD56.
- Prognosis: Worst (Bada Dhamaka).
Mesothelioma: Tumor of Pleura. Associated with Asbestos.
Ferruginous Bodies: Dumbbell shaped asbestos fibers coated with Iron (Prussian Blue positive).
3. CNS & Endocrine
Brain Tumors (Adults)
- Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM): "Butterfly Glioma". Serpentine Necrosis (Snake-like). Grade 4.
- Meningioma: Females (Progesterone receptors). Psammoma Bodies. Dural Tail sign.
- Oligodendroglioma: Fried Egg Appearance (Perinuclear halo). Chicken wire capillaries. 1p19q co-deletion (Most specific), IDH mutation (Most common).
- Schwannoma (NF2): Antoni A (Cellular, Verocay bodies - Palisading nuclei) & Antoni B (Hypocellular). CP Angle.
Rosettes
- Homer-Wright (Pseudo-rosette): Central pink fibrils. Seen in Medulloblastoma, Neuroblastoma, Ewing's. ("Men are Right/Fake").
- Flexner-Wintersteiner (True rosette): Central clear lumen. Seen in Retinoblastoma.
Thyroid Carcinoma
- Papillary (Best Prognosis): Lymphatic spread. Orphan Annie Eye Nuclei (Empty), Coffee bean nuclei, Psammoma bodies. Mutation: BRAF V600E.
- Follicular: Hematogenous spread (Bone/Scalp). Diagnosis requires Capsular/Vascular Invasion (Cannot diagnose on FNAC). Mutation: RAS.
- Medullary: Neuroendocrine (C-Cells). Amyloid (A-Cal). Marker: Calcitonin. Mutation: RET (MEN 2A/2B).
4. Renal System
Glomerulonephritis (Immunofluorescence Patterns)
- Linear Pattern: Goodpasture Syndrome (Anti-GBM, Collagen Type IV Alpha-3 chain). RPGN Type 1.
- Starry Sky / Granular Pattern: PSGN (Lumpy Bumpy), RPGN Type 2.
- Full House Effect: SLE (Lupus Nephritis). All antibodies/complements positive.
- Pauci-Immune: Wegener's (c-ANCA), Microscopic Polyangiitis (p-ANCA). RPGN Type 3.
Kidney Appearances
- Flea-Bitten Kidney: PSGN, Malignant Hypertension.
- Putty Kidney: Renal Tuberculosis (Sterile Pyuria).
- Large White Kidney (Waxy): Amyloidosis.
- Leather Grain Kidney: Benign Hypertension.
Crystals Mnemonic: "Mona is Dumb"
- Ca Oxalate Monohydrate = Dumbbell shape.
- Ca Oxalate Dihydrate = Envelope shape.
- Triple Phosphate (Struvite) = Coffin Lid (Proteus infection/Staghorn).
- Cystine = Hexagonal.
- Uric Acid = Rhomboid/Rosette.
5. Hematology (RBC)
Iron Profile Interpretation
| Condition | Serum Iron | TIBC (Hunger) | Ferritin (Bank) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron Deficiency | Low | High (Hungry) | Low (Empty Bank) |
| Anemia of Chronic Disease | Low | Low (Not hungry) | High (Bank Freeze by Hepcidin) |
| Sideroblastic / Thalassemia | High | Low | High |
ACD Mechanism: IL-6 increases Hepcidin (Liver) → Blocks Iron absorption & release.
Hemolytic Anemias
- Hereditary Spherocytosis: AD. Ankyrin mutation (MC). Osmotic Fragility Test (Screening), EMA Binding (Confirmatory).
- G6PD Deficiency: X-linked. Bite Cells (Degmacytes), Heinz Bodies (Denatured Hb, Crystal Violet stain). Triggers: Fava beans, Antimalarials, Infection.
- Sickle Cell: Glutamate → Valine at Beta-6 (or 7). Crew Cut Skull on X-ray. Osteomyelitis by Salmonella.
- PNH (Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria): Acquired defect (PIG-A gene). CD55/59 deficiency. Ham's test (+). Screening: Flow Cytometry. Rx: Eculizumab.
6. Hematology (WBC)
Leukemias
- AML M3 (APML): Medical Emergency (DIC). Auer Rods (Faggot Cells). t(15;17) PML-RARA. Rx: ATRA + Arsenic.
- CML: Massive Splenomegaly. t(9;22) BCR-ABL (Philadelphia). Low LAP score. Basophilia. Ix of Choice: FISH (for translocation), Flow Cytometry otherwise.
- Hairy Cell Leukemia: Massive Splenomegaly (Red pulp). Dry Tap. TRAP Positive. Annexin A1. BRAF mutation. Fried Egg on Biopsy.
Hodgkin Lymphoma
- Reed-Sternberg Cells: Owl Eye (CD15+, CD30+, Pax-5+).
- Subtypes:
- Nodular Sclerosis: Lacunar cells. MC in females/world. Least EBV association.
- Mixed Cellularity: MC in India. Associated with EBV.
- Lymphocyte Depleted: Worst prognosis. Mummified cells.
- Non-Classical: Popcorn Cells (NLPHL). CD20+, CD45+. Best Prognosis.
Burkitt Lymphoma: t(8;14) c-MYC. Starry Sky appearance (Macrophages eating tumor cells). Associated with EBV. High Ki-67 (Mib-1) index (~100%).
7. Blood Banking & Lab
Vacutainer Order of Draw (Stop Light Red Green)
- Culture Bottles (Sterile)
- Light Blue (Citrate): Coagulation (PT/APTT).
- Red/Gold (No additive/Clot activator): Serum (LFT, KFT, Hormones).
- Green (Heparin): ABG, Electrolytes.
- Lavender/Purple (EDTA): CBC, ESR, HbA1c, Peripheral Smear.
- Grey (Na Fluoride + K Oxalate): Glucose.
- Black: ESR (Westergren automated).
Storage
- Platelets: 20-24°C (Room Temp) with agitation. 5 days.
- FFP: -18°C or lower. 1 year.
- RBCs: 2-6°C. Life depends on preservative (CPDA-1 = 35 days, SAGM = 42 days).
8. General Pathology & Genetics
Immunodeficiency Disorders
- Chediak-Higashi: Giant granules in neutrophils. Albinism. LYST gene.
- CGD: NADPH Oxidase defect. Nitroblue Tetrazolium (NBT) test negative (No blue color). Susceptible to Catalase+ organisms (Staph, Aspergillus).
- LAD-1: CD18/Integrin defect. Delayed umbilical cord separation.
Genetics
- Prader-Willi: Paternal deletion 15q. Obesity, Ghrelin increased.
- Angelman: Maternal deletion 15q. Happy Puppet.
- Fragile X: CGG repeats (>200). FMR1 gene. Macro-orchidism, Long face.
- Barr Body: n-1 (Number of X chromosomes minus 1).
Amyloidosis Stains:
- Congo Red: Apple Green Birefringence (Polarizing microscopy). Pink/Red (Light microscopy).
- Thioflavin T: Fluorescent under UV light.
- Electron Microscopy: Non-branching fibrils (7.5-10nm). Beta-pleated sheet (X-ray crystallography).