Percutaneous image guided cutting needle biopsy of mediastinal masses: diagnostic yield and complications

To evaluate image guided cutting needle biopsy of mediastinal masses for diagnostic yield and complications. This was a descriptive study. Computed Tomography [CT] and ultrasound guided biopsies of mediastinal masses were performed in 30 patients. Tissue core obtained, were preserved in formalin and sent for histological examination. X-ray chest taken for evidence of pneumothorax and mediastinal widening. Hemoptysis, pneumothorax other complication were recorded. Definite histological diagnosis was obtained in all 30 patients. 70% [n=21] were malignant disease and 30% [n=9] were benign pathologies. Sensitivity and specificity, positive and negative predictive values were 100%. Pneumothorax occurred in 7% [n=2] cases. Hemoptysis occurred in 10% [n=3] cases. Chest intubation was not required in cases of pneumothorax. No hemodynamic instability occurred. There was no major complication. Image guided percutaneous transthoracic cutting needle biopsy in mediastinal masses is an accurate procedure for specific histological diagnosis and has a low complication rate

Somking and doctors a survey of trends and attitudes

The aim of this survey was to assess smoking trends and attitude towards smoking in doctors. Out of the total 86 doctors, 61[70.9%] males and 25[29.1%] females, the number of consultants and junior doctors was 21[24.4%] and 65[75.6%]. A total of 24[27.9%] doctors were smokers. Smoking was more popular among males 24[39.3%] and consultants 09[42.8%] than lady doctors [zero] and junior doctors 15[23.0%]. Other substance abuse was found in smokers only, 03[12.5%] among males smokers and zero among females while 01[11.1%] and 02[13.3%] in smoker consultants and junior doctors respectively. Among the smoker doctors 16[55.2%] and among the non-smoker doctors 27[47.4%] would always give their smoking patients a "stop-smoking" advice while the remaining doctors would, either sometimes or not at all, advise their patients to stop smoking. A supplementary question was included in another study, conducted by the same investigator on 275 university students to help assess doctors' contribution in reducing tobacco consumption in the community. The answers were analyzed in this study. Only 25% of the exsmokers gave up smoking on doctors' advice. Thus doctors don't have an accurate perception of smoking related diseases and so not only have high smoking rates but are also contributing insignificantly to reduce smoking in the community

Smoking trends in medical students: Are they influenced by difference in gender and financial status?

Smoking trends in medical students and the influence of gender and financial status difference was studied in a survey in Peshawar. Total study population was 154 with 101[65.6%] males and 53[34.4%] females while 78[50.6%] and 76[49.4%] were regular and self-financed students respectively. The total number of smokers was 49[31.8%]. Out of the male and female students 38[37.6%] and 6[12.8%] were smokers respectively. The number of smokers among regular and self-financed students was 15[19.2%] and 34[44.7%] respectively. Majority of the smokers [74.5%] smoked less than 10 cigarettes / day and only a small minority smoked more than 20 cigarettes/ day. Despite the fact that overall 93.6% students were aware of even passive smoking hazards; still only 74.7% and 69.8% male students would favour a ban on smoking at public placed and on cigarette ads., respectively while the corresponding number of female students was 94.1% and 80.4%, respectively. 15[39.5%] and 6[33.3%] among the male and female students respectively, first smoked during their school life