Histopathological spectrum of round cell tumors in a tertiary care center of Chhattisgarh, India

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The term “round cell tumors” (RCTs) refers to a diverse group of neoplasms that share similar histopathological features, including uniform, small, round cells with round nuclei, fine chromatin, and scanty clear or eosinophilic cytoplasm. This study assesses the spectrum of RCTs across different age and sex groups. Materials and Methods: The study included all histologically diagnosed cases of RCT from the Department of Pathology over 5 years. Results: The results revealed that 107 RCT cases were diagnosed through histopathology and further analyzed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The patients’ ages ranged from 1 to 75 years, with the highest incidence (34%) occurring in the 16–45 years age group. Of the 107 cases, 54 (51%) were males and 53 (49%) were females. Thirteen different types of RCTs were identified, with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma being the most common (29.90%). Most cases (46%) were in the head and neck region. Interpretation and Conclusion: This study concludes that RCTs are widespread in their anatomical distribution and exhibit diverse patterns of round cells morphologically, making histopathological diagnosis challenging. IHC is highly valuable for diagnosis, though some cases require molecular diagnosis for confirmation.

Keywords

• immunohistochemistry; non-hodgkin’s lymphoma; retinoblastoma; rhabdomyosarcoma; round cell tumor