Relationship between diagnostic delay and stage of disease in oral cancer patients

In spite of the belief that cancer mortality can be reduced if lesions are detected, diagnosed and treated at an early stage. There is a concurrent increase in advanced head and neck cancer patients, because of delayed in medical consultations. The objective of this study is to determine an association of staging and diagnostic delay in oral cancer patients. Descriptive study. This study was conducted at the Dow Diagnostic and Research Laboratory [DDRL] of the Ojha campus, Dow University of Health Sciences from Jan 2009 to April 2011. The information is collected from the record files of DDRL of OJHA campus DUHS. Two hundred and seventy nine patients with an oral cancer are included in the study. With descriptive statistics, OSCCC is mostly found at 4[th], 5[th] and 6[th] decades of life, with diagnostic delay of >/= 6 months. OSCC is mostly seen in males than in females whereas; Well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma is a common finding in both males and females, with the largest lesion being size 12 cm in size. Buccal mucosa is a commonly affected site in both genders. OSCC is mostly seen in males than in females. Our findings highlight the importance of early detection and systemized collection of patients verbal statements regarding their initial symptoms of oral cancer site in both genders. OSCC is mostly seen in males than in females. Our findings highlight the importance of early detection and systemized collection of patients verbal statements regarding their initial symptoms of oral cancer

Spectrum of thyroid gland disorders in Karachi-DDRRL experience

To find out the spectrum of thyroid gland disorders in association with age and gender and to identify histological types of thyroid lesions. Descriptive study. This study was carried out at the Department of Histopathology, DOW University [OJHA campus] Karachi from 1[st] Jan 2010 to 31[st] Dec 2011. The specimens were received in 10% buffered formalin and processed as per routine laboratory procedure and then embedded in paraffin for block preparation. The sections were stained with the routine haematoxylin and eosin method and were studied and diagnosed by a consultant histopathologist. Difficult cases were discussed in Departmental Consultation Committee. Total 208 cases were studied, there was a female predominance 184 [88.5%] and among them majorities were in 3[rd] decade of life. Males were 24 [11.5%] commonly seen in 4[th] decade of life. The ages ranged from 15-75 years, mean age is 30 years. Nodular hyperplasia was the commonest thyroid lesion found. The information in the present study may be considered as a baseline data of thyroid diseases in Karachi and a more elaborate prospective study carried out on a large scale in this country will contribute more to make the things clearer