Role of delayed phase multi-detector row helical CT [MDH CT] in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC]

This study was carried out on 36 patients: 26 men, 10 women; mean age +/- SD [45.5 +/- 6.4 and 44 +/- 5.9] years respectively with suspected HCC after ultrasonographic examination underwent MDH CT of the liver. A quadruple-phase protocol that included unenhanced, hepatic arterial, portal venous and delayed venous phases was performed. A total number of 62 biopsy-approved HCC lesions were included in this study, 58 lesions were sonographically detected, and extra 4 lesions were detected only after triphasic MDCT scanning. Images were interpreted regarding the size, homogeneity, pattern of enhancement hypervascularity and washout, capsule, abnormal internal vessels, calcifications, fat and central scar. Most of the HCCs were hypervascular [91.9%] exhibiting mosaic pattern of enhancement on the hepatic arterial and portal venous phases [82.45%, and 78.94% respectively]. Portal venous phase washout accounted for 70.17% of hypervascular HCCs, capsulated lesions accounted for 27.1%; 37.5% of these capsules were identified on the delayed venous phase only. The dual-phase MDH CT detected 57 [91.9%] out of the 62 lesions compared with the triple-phase MDH CT where 59 [95.16%] lesions were detected. 2 HCC [3.38%] were seen only in the delayed venous phase as hypo attenuating nodules

Toxoplasma antibodies in complicated and uncomplicated pregnancy

This study was performed to evaluate the level of anti-toxoplasma antibodies among patients with miscarriage due to different causes as compared to un-complicated pregnant controls. It was carried out on 70 female patients with a history of complicated pregnancies and 30 ones with normal pregnancy as a control were selected, among those referred from Obstetrics and Gynaecology out-patient clinics and in-patient departments, AL-Azhar University Hospitals. Their ages ranged from 19 to 34 years . They were all Rh positive and free from brucellosis, syphilis and malignancy. Results showed that all controls [uncomplicated pregnancy] were IHA-IgG and ELISA-IgM negative. However, three of the controls [10%] were ELISA. IgG positive. As to the women with complicated pregnancy 59% were IHAT positive. When using ELISA, 57% were IgG positive and 43% were IgM positive. The results revealed a significant difference between the complicated cases and controls. The diagnosis of abortion, stillbirth, premature labour, or neonatal death due to toxoplasma infection needs careful and laborious evaluation. ELISA [IgG and IgM] is more sensitive and specific than IHAT. All premature born babies showed no signs of congenital toxoplasmosis. All these subjects were living in the same geographical area with more or less similar social and economical standard

Histopathological lesions of apparently normal skin in leprosy patients

This study was carried out on 50 patients with different clinical types of leprosy 38 males [76% and 12 females [24%], ages ranged from 14 -70 years with a mean age +/- SD 49.22 +/- 12.97 years. Mean disease duration was 5.65 years +/- SD = 9.27 selected to study a group of leprosy patients and compare the clinical parameters with histopathological findings and bacteriologic status of the skin to evaluate the relevance of their patients. Patients were subjected to full medical history taking including disease duration, type and duration of previous or current therapies. Complete clinical examination, for the determination of the clinical type of leprosy. Skin slit smear [SSS] and skin biopsies were taken and examined after staining for histopathological assessment and Acid fast bacilli [AFB]. SPSS package version [statistical Package for Social Sciences] was used for data analysis. The biopsy of normally looking skin showed classic histopathological features of leprosy in more than half of the cases [26 cases, 52%]. The histopathological types of leprosy diagnosed in such cases were as follows: indeterminate leprosy [IL] in 4 cases [15.38%], Tuberculoid leprosy [TL] in 2 cases [7.69%], Borderline tu-berculoid [IL] in 4 cases [15.38], Borderline Borderline [BB] i.e Query in 8 cases [30.76%], Borderline Lepromatous [BL] in 7 cases [26.92%] and Lepromatous leprosy [LL] in a patient [3.84%]. Other 24 cases showed either no evidence of leprosy in [9 cases, 37.5%], or query findings [in the form of sweat gland changes either alone or in combination with thickened nerves and superficial and deep perivascular lymphohistiocytic infiltrate] in 15 cases [62.5%]. Histopathology of skin lesion biopsies showed TL in 3 cases [6%], BT in 8 cases [16%], BB in 8 cases [16%], BL in 14 cases [28%], LL in 12 cases [24%] and leprosy in reaction in 5 cases [10%]. In 16 cases [32%], histopathological type of leprosy detected by microscopical examination of biopsies from skin lesions differed from that diagnosed by clinical examination