Perception of Radiation Protection among Dentist in South Chennai, Tamil Nadu

Aims and Objectives: This study aims to assess the attitude and awareness of radiation protection among dental surgeons in South Chennai.Materials and Methods: The study participants comprised 150 dental practitioners (general and specialty) in South Chennai. The information was collected from each participant through structured questionnaires regarding attitude and awareness toward radiation protection. Pearson’s correlation coefficient test was used to assess the validity and reliability of questionnaire, and any P≤ 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: Of all the 150 dentists enrolled in the study, 69% of dental surgeons considered X-ray films as an image receptor. However, majority of the dentists (73%) failed to acquire informed consent of the patient before prescribing dental radiograph. While majority of dentists were unaware of position and distance rule (54%) and 46% were aware of the rule, it was also found that 59% of dental surgeons did not use film-holding device and only 41% used film-holding device. Majority of them (59%) were aware of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) certification and 41% were unaware of AERB, 15% of them hold the cone during exposure.Conclusion: The current study shows the utmost need for further implementation of radiation protection principle among dental surgeons in South Chennai. Majority of them did not practice radiation protection procedures. Emphasis on radiation safety is mandatory for continuing professional education and the development of radiographic selection criteria should be recommended.

Breast Diseases - Clinicopathological Correlation: A Three Years Study

Introduction: To establish the early definite diagnosis in the cases of breast diseases, it is evaluated the relationship between clinical diagnosis, cytological, and histopathological findings. A definite diagnosis of breast disease at the proper time will lead to the correct and successful management. Breasts are the characteristic features of the mammalian family of the animal kingdom. Breasts are present in pairs in all animals. In human beings, mammary glands are present one on each right and the left side of the chest cage in both females and males. The diseases of the breast are more common in females. The common diseases are benign and malignant neoplasm’s, infections such as mastitis and breast abscess. The usual clinical presentation is with a breast lump, breast pain, and breast enlargement. Benign breast diseases are not life-threatening, but malignancyis dangerous for life. The most common cause of death in females, all over the world is breast cancer. Therefore, early detection of the malignant condition is essential for successful treatment and better results which increases survival rate. Materials and Methods: A total of 110 female and seven male patients who attended General Surgery Outpatient Department (OPD) of Maheshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitkul of Telangana State with various types of clinical breast complaints are included in the present study. The data were collected from the outpatient register, operation theater, cytology, and histopathology register. All the patients who received treatment at this hospital from January 2016 to December 2018 are included in this study, after obtaining the Institutional Ethical Committee Clearance. The clinical provisional diagnosis was confirmed by investigations such as local ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration cytology before the definite line of management was planned. The patients who require surgical intervention were treated accordingly, and surgery under the necessary anesthesia was done. The excised specimen was sent for histopathological examination. The correlation between clinical diagnosis and histopathological findings was compared to evaluate accuracy. Results and Discussion: A total of 110 female patients and seven male patients were studied. The age range was from 13 years to 80 years. The youngest girl of 13 years of age was presented with a lump in the left breast and oldest patient was of 80 years female presented with a mass in the right breast. The maximum number of patients presented clinically with a lump in the breast and the second symptom was a pain in the breast. The common breast diseases were benign and malignant neoplasms. In the benign conditions, most common was fibroadenoma (69 patients 62.72%) in young females. In older age >40 years, the breast cancer is common. All the seven male patients with breast enlargement clinically, diagnosed as gynecomastia and histopathologically confirmed. Conclusion: In this series about 110 female and seven male patients who attended general surgery OPD in 3 years were studied. The provisional clinical diagnosis was compared with cytological and histopathological findings, which was found to be accurate in 86.3% of cases. The common clinical presentation with breast lump was histopathologically found to be fibroadenoma. The older females after menopause or above 50 years of age usually presented with a mass in the breast clinically diagnosed as cancer breast histopathologically proved in all cases 100%

Determination Of Gender Using Condylar Height And Coronoid Height – An Orthopantomographic Study

BACKGROUND: Identification of gender is important in forensic science and anthropology.When entire skull is not available for analysis, mandible may play a vital role in sex determination as it is the strongest bone that resists damage and disintegration. Aims and Objectives: To determine the efficacy of condylar height and coronoid height of mandible for sex determination using orthopantomographs and to compare and determine the most reliable parameter for sex determination. Materials and methods: This study was conducted using digital panoramic images of 100 each in both genders. The images captured were viewed on Kodak software and were subjected to measure the condylar and coronoid heights both on left and right side using Kodak dental imaging software. The data was entered into microsoft excel sheet and statistical analysis was done. Results: Descriptive statistics for condylar and coronoid heights on the right and left sides of mandible in both males and females were analyzed. A statistical significance of P < 0.001 has been demonstrated for all the variables. All variables showed increased measurements in males than in females. The accuracy of sex determination forcondylar height is 82.5% on right side and 78% on left side and for coronoid height it is 74% on right side and 73% on left side. Conclusion: The parameters such as condylar height and coronoid height using orthopantomographs are reliable in gender determination and the condylar height of the right side is the best parameter in gender determination.