Team based learning in pathology: effect on test scores and student satisfaction

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the impact of team based learning [TBL] on student's test scores in comparison with didactic lectures. We also wanted to assess to the level of students satisfaction regarding TBL as a teaching methodology

Study Design: Quasi experimental study

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Pathology, University Medical and Dental College Faisalabad, from May to July 2013

Material and Methods: Fourth year undergraduate medical students attending Pathology course at University Medical and Dental College [UMDC], Faisalabad in year 2013 involved the portion of Haematology were divided into two halves. The first half [H-1] was covered in two TBL sessions of two hours and 15 minutes duration each

The second half [H-2] was covered in 8 lectures of 45 minutes duration each

After completion of the course, students took test comprising of problem based SEQs regarding Hematology. The test comprised of two segments with questions of equal difficulty, representing the two halves of the topic

Students scores in these two segments were compared by using paired sample t-test

The students were given a validated questionnaire. This data was analyzed by using SPSS version 20

Results: The test scores were highly significant [p=0.000] in TBL as compared to lecture group. In addition to positive significant relationship, majority of students also agreed that TBL motivated them to learn Pathology [71.72%], promoted better understanding of the subject matter [68.92%], helped to gain in depth knowledge of the subject [62.06%] and helped to remove misconceptions about the topic [65.51%]. Sixty two percent students preferred TBL to didactic lectures

Conclusion: Our study proved to have a significant impact of TBL on student test scores as compared to didactic lectures. Majority of the students were satisfied with TBL as a teaching methodology in Pathology and preferred it to didactic lectures

Correlation of fine needle aspiration cytology, smear and culture in tuberculous lymphadenitis: a retrospective study

Tuberculous lymphadenitis is the commonest form of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. Fine needle aspiration cytology [FNAC] is a simple out-patient diagnostic procedure used for the diagnosis of tuberculous lymphadenitis. Over the last two decades, fine needle aspiration cytology has emerged as a simple outpatient diagnostic procedure for the evaluation of tuberculous lymphadenitis. This has replaced excision biopsy of lymph node. In this study, FNAC was complemented with smear examination and culture for AFB. It was observed that out of the 100 reported cases of tuberculosis on FNAC direct smear positivity on ZN staining was 3/100[3%]. After the inoculation of residual aspirated material on LJ medium the culture yield was 27/100[27%]. Thus FNAC had greater diagnostic efficacy, proved to be a rapid, less time consuming and non-invasive screening test for evaluation of tuberculous lymphadenitis

Settings and Design: A retrospective laboratory based study at, Meezan lab Faisalabad. Material and Methods: 100 patients of lymphadenitis which were diagnosed as cases of granulomatous inflammation on FNAC were included in this study. These cases were reported on cytology by using the Giemsa stain, H and E stain, Gram and Ziehl Neelsen stain. After the smear preparation the part of left over aspirated material was inoculated on LJ medium and were reported on the basis of morphological features by concerned microbiologist

Results: Out of these 100 selected reported cases of tuberculous lymphadenitis culture revealed growth of Mycobacterium on 27 of them. While direct microscopic examination of the ZN stained smears from these aspirates revealed the presence of AFB in only 3 out of 100 cases

Pattern of prostatic disease; a histopathological survey

Analysis of the pattern of prostatic disease in Faisalabad. Case series study. Department of Pathology, University Medical and Dental College [UM and DC] and Meezan Laboratory [ML]. Duration of the study is three years. All prostatic specimens presenting to the Pathology department at the UM and DC and ML for histopathology were included. During this period 540 prostatic biopsies were examined. The mean age of the patients was 67 years. Out of these 467 [86.5%] were benign, 2 [0.3%] had prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and 71 [13.5%] were malignant. All the cases of malignancies were adenocarcinomas. Most of them were well differentiated [Gleason's score 2-4]. The highest incidence of hyperplasia and malignancy occurred between 60-70 years of age. The incidence of prostatic cancer is on the rise and measures should be taken for early detection

Analysis of the prevalence of cancer in Faisalabad: a single centre study

To analyse the prevalence of different types of malignancies presenting to one centre in Faisalabad over a period of 3 years. A retrospective study. The study was conducted at Meezan Lab from January 2007 to December 2009. All the consecutive specimens presenting for histopathology were included in the study. The total number of biopsies dealt with during this period was 3926 out of which 564 were malignant. The male to female ratio was 1:1.19. The peak age for presentation was between 51-70 in males, while it was 31-50 in females. In males the top five tumours involved the lymph nodes 43[16.6%], prostate 40[15.5%], urinary bladder 28[10.8%], skin 24[9.3%] and vocal cords 16[6.2%]. Among females the most frequently seen tumours were breast 101[33.0%], skin 30[9.8%], lymph node 20[6.5%], ovary 19[6.2%] and esophagus 16[5.2%]. The incidence of malignancies appears to be on the rise. This could be due to an increased level of awareness in the patients causing them to present earlier. There is the need to set up a population based tumour registry on a national level to calculate the true incidence

Co-relation of sentinel lymph node metastases with the size of primary breast carcinoma

This is a cross-sectional study designed to explore the co-relation between the tumour size and incidence of metastases in the sentinel lymph node and was conducted at Departments of Pathology, Punjab Medical College, Faisalabad and Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore and Departments of Surgery, Allied and DHQ Hospitals, Faisalabad from July 2002 - June 2003. The sentinel lymph node [SLN] was identified in 80 cases of early [T1 and T2] breast carcinoma by a localization technique using 1% Isosulphan Blue. The maximum size of the tumour was measured on gross examination and the margins were labelled with Alcian blue and fixed in Bouin's fluid. The entire tumour was embedded and the size of the tumour was confirmed on microscopic examination. Similarly the entire SLN was embedded and the microscopic measurement of tumour deposit was made in every case. The SLN was successfully isolated in 80 cases. Right sided carcinoma was seen in 52.5%. Stage T1 was seen in 37.5% and 62.5% were of stage T2. Most of the tumours [65%] were located in the upper outer quadrant. Nearly all [97.5%] were infiltrating ductal carcinomas. The microscopic measurement of the size of tumour varied between 5-70 mm and the size of the metastatic deposit of the tumour in the SLN varied from 2-22mm. It was noted that the involvement of SLN and non sentinel lymph node [NSLN] increased in relation to an increase in size of the primary tumour. The study concluded that as the size of the tumour increases, the chances ofmetastases occurring increases and thus has a linear relationship

Sentinel lymph node; lymphatic mapping in patients with breast carcinoma

To assess the efficacy of a localization technique for the sentinel lymph node in patients with early breast carcinoma using 1% isosulphan blue. Departments of Pathology, Punjab Medical College Faisalabad and Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore and Departments of Surgery, Allied and DHQ Hospitals, Faisalabad from July 2002 - June 2003. 1% Isosulphan blue was used to identify the sentinel node in cases of early [T1 and T2] breast cancer. The dye was injected just before the incision was made. The area was massaged. Mastectomy was done. The sentinel node was identified by following the blue track to the first coloured lymph node. This was removed and submitted separately for histopathology along with the mastectomy specimen. The procedure was performed in 95 cases. SLN were identified in 80 [84%] patients. The mean age was 43.99 years. Majority of the tumours were located in the right breast in the upper outer quadrant. One SLN was identified in 93%, 2 in 3% and 3 were noted in 4% of the cases. Injection of 1% isosulphan blue around the tumour is an effective method for isolation of the SLN in selected cases. It saves the patient of the side effects of axillary clearance in node negative cases

Coexistence of endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the ovary and the uterus

The coexistence of carcinoma of the endometrium and ovaries is uncommon and occurs in about 10% of women with ovarian carcinoma. We are presenting such as a case with a review of the relevant literature

Pattern of liver disease at Shaikh Zayed hospital, Lahore

Pattern of liver disease in patients was studied who visited Sheikh Zayed Hospital and were referred to the Department of Histopathology. A total of 427 cases, excluding FNA, were received in the 6 years between 1988 and 1993. The commonest disorders found included cirrhosis, metastatic Carcinoma, Chronic Active hepatitis, hepatocellular Carcinoma and steatosis