Pulmonary nodular amyloidosis mimicking metastatic lung lesion in a patient with colon cancer

Amyloidosis is defined as abnormal aggregation of amyloid proteins. Amyloidosis can be localised or systemic affecting the lung, heart, spleen, liver and kidneys. The most common form of pulmonary amyloidosis is the nodular type. The disease is idiopathic and linked to many systemic diseases. The clinical manifestations and prognosis of respiratory tract amyloidosis depends on its etiology and anatomical location. Radiologically, the nodular pulmonary amyloidosis may appear as single or multiple nodules in any lobe, and, therefore, may mimic as primary pulmonary or metastatic neoplasms. Here, we report a case of 70-year female who was diagnosed with colon cancer, which was treated by surgery. During metastatic follow-up, her CT chest showed right lung nodule highly suspicious for metastatic lesion from the colon. Thoracoscopic wedge resection of the lung nodule done after micro-coil localisation technique under CT guidance. The histopathology report showed pulmonary nodular amyloidosis. This case indicates that histological examination is necessary to differentiate a benign pulmonary nodule from a metastatic lung nodule, especially in a patient with underlying malignancy

Late presentation of aggressive fibromatosis involving head, neck and chest wall

Fibromatosis is a rare, benign, slow-growing and locally infiltrative tumour, caused by uncontrolled proliferation of fibrous tissue arising from muscles, connective tissue, fasciae and aponeurosis. It is also called desmoid tumour, which is very rare pathology representing only 0.03% of all neoplasms in human and around 3% of all soft tissue tumours. It is locally aggressive and usually invades the surrounding structures and has a high recurrence rate, even after surgical complete resection, which should be the first line of treatment. Here, we report a very rare case of extensive and disabling fibromatosis tumour in a 38-year male, involving three compartments of the right side of the head, neck and chest wall, which was completely excised surgically and had excellent postoperative results with no morbidity

Medical students' perception of the reformed medical curriculum at King Saud University

Objectives: To evaluate the King Saud University [KSU] medical students' perceptions of the educational programmes' quality

Materials and Methods: A total of 289 medical students at KSU, College of Medicine were selected randomly from year 1 through year 5 and were invited to participate in a descriptive cross-sectional study design. A questionnaire was distributed to the students and collected on completion. The questionnaire measured the students' perceptions of the educational programmes and their competence, as well as their overall satisfaction with the training delivered and the feedback system

Results: About 60.5% of the students declared that the educational programmes provided them with the necessary knowledge while only 48.5% of students believed that it provided them with the necessary skills required. Only 34% of students stated that the intended learning objectives were known to them at the beginning of the courses. About half of the students indicated that the programmes actively involved them in the problem-solving process. Half of the students believed that the amount of basic science knowledge provided was enough; however, 39.5% of students [in their clinical years] believed that the amount of knowledge delivered in the basic science courses was inadequate. Only 18.4% of students considered that the basic science courses prepared them for a clinical clerkship. 17.7% of the students declared that the research activities improved their research skills. 47.3% believed that the research activities helped them in understanding community characteristics, 57.6% asserted learning the basics of medical statistics, 44.6% believed it helped them in using the available resources in solving community problems and 49.5% believed it helped them in learning as well as acquiring project management skills. 34% of the students participated in planning educational activities while 53.7% participated in evaluating these educational activities. 36.1% of students gave frequent feedback to the college. Only 30.2% of the students were satisfied with the overall quality of the educational programmes

Conclusion: The students' perception of the educational programmes was illustrated and important aspects were highlighted which needed to be addressed and revised in order to improve the quality of the curriculum