Tuberculosis (TB) is a multi-systemic, granulomatous disease caused by the bacilli Mycobacterium tuberculosis which is also known as Koch’s bacillus. Primary Pulmonary Tuberculosis 1. Ghon focus or lesion: Subpleural fibro-caseous lesion of lung parenchyma (common site is upper part of lower lobe or lower part of upper lobe) 2. Ghon’s…
Tag: Pathology
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Lung Cancer : Mnemonics
Types Most common cancer: Metastases Primary lung cancer: Type Frequency Location Association Features Small (oat) cell carcinoma 15% Sentral (central) Smoker Neuroendocrine differentiation (Kulchitsky cells)Aggressive (disseminate early – lymphadenopathy)Paraneoplastic syndrome (ACTH, ADH, Antibodies – Lambert eaton)InoperableChemosensitive Adenocarcinoma 40% Peripheral Non-smoker (most common) k-Ras, EGFR, ALK mutationsNodule/massHypertrophic osteoarthropathy (clubbing)Bronchio-alveolar subtype (pneumonia-like):…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Skin Malignancies : Mnemonics
Malignant Melanoma Diagnosis or Clinical features: Mnemonic: ABCDE Risk factors: Mnemonic: MM RISK Pathologic Types: Mnemonic: Melanoma Always Spreads to Nodes (in order of worsening prognosis) Mnemonic Type Incidence Site Growth pattern Melanoma Maligna – lentiginous 10-15% Face (Precursor – Hutchison’s freckles/lentigo maligna) long in-situ stage before vertical growth Always…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Jod-Basedow Phenomenon vs Wolff-Chaikoff Effect : Mnemonic
Jod = Addition in Hindi or Nepali = Iodine induced Hyperthyroidisim ChaikOFF = Thyroid hormone synthesis is switched OFF = Iodine induced Hypothyroidisim Mechanism Jod-Basedow Wolff-Chaikoff Pre-requisite Abnormal thyroid gland free from pituitary control Thyroid gland under pituitary control Conditions Endemic goitre, Grave’s disease, Toxic multinodular goitre, Thyroid adenoma Normal…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Hypertrophic Scar vs Keloid
Hypertrophic scars and keloids are both raised, firm scars formed from excess fibrinogen production and collagen during healing. Mnemonic: BAD SCARS Mnemonic Basis Hypertrophic scar Keloid B Behavior Natural regression No spontaneous regressio A Acuteness Appears in weeks Appears over months to years D Demographic All races affected More prevalent…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
ALI and ARDS : Mnemonics
Diagnosis (Berlin Criteria) Mnemonic A R D S Acute Lung Injury (ALI) Acute onset (<7 days) Ratio PaO2/FiO2 ≤300 mmHg or 40 kPa Diffuse bilateral pulmonary infiltrates on CXR Swan-Ganz pulmonary wedge pressure ≤18 mmHg or No evidence of Left atrial hypertension Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) Acute onset (<7…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Enchondroma vs Chondrosarcoma (low grade) : Mnemonic
Among cartilaginous tumors, 2 pathologies can be misleading when trying to reach a correct diagnosis: enchondroma (E), a benign tumor, and low-grade chondrosarcoma (LGC), which is a low-aggressivity malignancy. This can be a problem when deciding treatment because E only requires regular follow-up, but LGC needs surgical treatment. Mnemonic: ABCDE…
PGMEE, MRCS, USMLE, MBBS, MD/MS 
Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor (GIST) : A Comprehensive Review
Introduction: Other facts: Clinical features: Diagnosis: Role of biopsy/tissue diagnosis in GIST (current consensus): Treatment: High risk features: Choices of surgery: Aim of surgery: Prognostication: Malignant potential Comments Mortality Benign Size: up to 2 cmMitosis: up to 5/50 hpf No tumor related mortality Probably benign Size: 2-5 cmMitosis: same as…