performance of candidates in the examinations of the otorhinolaryngology specialty, Sudanese national board of medical specializations

The Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery Council is one of the first established councils of the Sudanese National Board of Medical Specializations [SNBMS].This report covers the fourth rotation period from 2009-2013. It is meant to be in the form of an analytical study for more objectivity and transparency and to be a model for promotion of the general performance of other councils in administrative, examination and training issues. The main objective of this study is to analyze the trainees' results in part 1 and part 2 [final] examinations with regard to gender and pass rates and to draw relevant indices that help in planning for training and expansion of specialist services. This is an analytical retrospective study conducted at the [SNMSB] headquarters Khartoum, Sudan during the period from January 2009- December 2012 .This study covers the fourth rotation of the scientific council for the specialty. The study included all candidates sitting for both part 1 and part 2 examinations [265]. Candidates were classified according to gender and pass rates. Candidates who withdrew form the program after passing the part 1 examination were excluded. The total number of doctors sitting for part 1 examinant was 207. Females were 118 and males were 89. Female to male ratio was 1.3:1.0. Sixty nine [69] doctors passed the examination with over all pass percentage of 33.3%. The percentage of passed candidates among females was 31% and among males was 36%. The total number for trainees sitting for the final examination was 58. Females were 23 and males were 35. Female to male ratio was 1.0: 1.5. Thirty three [33] trainees passed the examination with over all pass percentage of 56.9%. The percentage of passed trainees among females was 52.2% and among males was 60%. The annual number of 69 in the first year to 48 in the fourth year although there was a steady increase in-between. The average annual pass rate for part 1 examination showed noticeable increase from 23% to 42% by the end of the fourth year. The annual number of trainees sitting for the final examination was fluctuating and the biggest number was in the first year. There was a minimal increase in the number of graduates. Applicants for part one examination are mostly females. Applicants numbers are generally decreasing. The pass percentages are increasing in both parts of the examination. Males performance in both part one and part two examinations is better than females. The number of graduates does not satisfy the national needs for specialist services provision and expansion

Common ear, nose and throat problems in the under- five Sudanese children

The health problems of children and especially the under-5 years are of great concern and impact on both medical and surgical practice. No wonder they attract political and administrative concern. This study aims to identify the common Ear, Nose and Throat [ENT] problems of under-5 Sudanese children and to study the frequency, admissions, available beds and operations and to compare this work load with the rest of the ENT wards. Furthermore, to outline what is needed to improve the services for this age group. This is a retrospective hospital-based study including all patients [n=21384] who presented to the ENT department, Wad-Medani Hospital, Gezira, Sudan, during a period of two years from the first of January 2010 to the thirty first of December 2011. The total number of the under-5 children was 2330; which contributed to 41.32% of total paediatric age group, up to 16 years, [n=:5639] and 10.90% of the total number of ENT patients who presented to the ENT department at Wad-Medani Hospital. The total number of admissions of under-5 children accounted for 32.72% of all paediatric patients and 20.66% of all ENT patients. Their commonest problems found in this study were; adenoiditis and tonsillitis [37.68%], otitis media [27.25%], Upper respiratory tract infections [URTIs] and allergy [12.31%], foreign body related [12.23%], otitis externa [5.45%], others [3.43%], epistaxis [0.75%], hearing and speech disorders [0.90%]. The total number of children under-5 requiring surgical operations constituted 55.46% of all paediatric patients and 33.98% of the total number of all ENT patients who were operated on. Of these operations 57.01% were elective and 42.99% were emergency operations. The main indications in 94.77% of the elective operations were adenoidectomy and tonsillectomy, while most of the surgical emergencies 91.32% were due to foreign body related problems. The ENT problems of the under-5 children in Wad-Medani General Hospital constitute an obvious high proportion of the work load. More attention is to be paid to this age group in terms of facilities, staff training and special requirements needed in settings and equipments. Thus, better handling and outcomes could be achieved for this important and delicate age group

lingual thyroid associated with congenital profound sensorineural hearing loss

This is a case report of an extremely rare case of a lingual thyroid associated with profound bilateral congenital sensorineural hearing loss in a Sudanese girl. To our knowledge this association has not been previously reported

Histopathological patterns of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Sudan

To study the histological patterns of nasopharyngeal carcinoma NPC in Sudanese patients and to compare them with the internationally published series. A retrospective review for records of NPC patients treated in the Institute of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Biology and Oncology INMO, Wadmedani, Sudan, during the period 2000-2005 was conducted. Parameters included in the review were histological types of NPC according to the World Health Organization WHO classification, age, gender, locality, ethnicity, and stage. All cases of NPC with positive histology were included while other types of histology lymphoma, sarcoma were excluded. The SPSS software was used for data entry and analysis. Total number of patients with NPC was 103. Age range from 11-82 years, median was 41 years, and mean was 45.5 years of age. Male:female ratio was 2:1. The WHO histology type-3 was 73.8% of cases, WHO type-2 was 26.2%, and there was no case of WHO type-1 found in this study population. Neck swelling is the most common presenting symptom 77.8%.Pattern of NPC classification resembles those seen in endemic areas like South China. Dominant histology was WHO type-3. Identifying risk factors for NPC in Sudan is required