frequency of multiple primary cancers: 1952-2004

To evaluate the frequency rate and site of origin of multiple primary malignancies [MPM] in Bahrain from 1952 to 2004. Retrospective study. Pathology Department, Salmaniya Medical Complex, Bahrain. Confirmed malignancies diagnosed in Bahraini patients from 1952 - 2004. The diagnosis are based on histopathology and hematology archives of the government, private hospitals and clinics. Six thousand nine hundred and nineteen cancer patients were found in the archives, 122 [1.7%] had MPM; 31 [25%] had synchronous and 91 [75%] had metachronous lesions, the annual frequency rate was 2.3 patients/year. Equal M:F ratio was found, but males had more synchronous while females had more metachronous, double and triple cancers lesions. Sixty percent of all cancer patients were above the age of 50 years compared to 69% in all MPM patients, [74%] in synchronous, [67%] in first age metachronous and [77%] in second age metachronous lesions. The three most common metachronous MPM occurred in association with cancers of breast [21%], urinary tract [17%] and prostate [8%]. Amongst males the commonest combinations occurred in association with cancers of urinary tract [28%], prostate [16.3%] and kidney [7%]. Amongst female breast [38%], thyroid [10.4%] and urinary tract [6.3%] were the most common

morphology of the testicular tissue of unilateral inguinal cryptochid testes in children: electron microscopic study

The aim of this study is to review the ultrastructural changes of the inguinal cryptochid testes of children at different ages. Children between one and sixteen years old with inguinal cryptochid testes, referred for surgical correction were biopsied. The testicular tissue obtained was processed for electron microscopical examination. Princess Basmah Teaching Hospital in Irbid-Jordan. Prospective study. The process of cellular differentiation in the seminiferous tubules was slow or embryologically arrested. There were progressive degenerative changes and increased thickening of the basement membrane as the duration of testicular retention in the inguinal region increased. The ultra-structural changes of the inguinal cryptochid testes were advanced time wise. Further studies to define the time needed for irreversible changes to take place to help in better timing of the surgical correction without losing fertility

Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis: a study of twenty patients in north jordan

Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis [CLV] commonly presents as palpable purpura and has distinctive histopathological findings. This report reviews the cases of CLV confirmed by skin biopsy in North Jordan, during a 4-year period. Patients attending the dermatology clinic of Princess Basma Teaching Hospital, in whom a diagnosis of CLV and been confirmed histologically, were included in this retrospective study. The patients were classified into groups according to the underlying precipitating cause of CLV and a clinico-pathological correlation between the groups was made. Our study found that twent patients [9 males and 11 females] with CLV were diagnosed during the period between 1994 and 1997. According to the possible etiology, the patients were divided into 5 groups: drug induced, urticarial vasculitis, connective tissue diseases, Henoch-Schonlein purpura and idiopathic. Histologically no firm criteria could be found to differentiate between the groups. However, drug induced CLV and urticarial vasculitis showed prominent eosinophilia and urticarial vasculitis also showed prominent dermal edema, mast cell infiltration and minimal erythrocyte extravasation

Hemorrhagic pleural effusion from metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma with occult primary tumour

We present a case with left sided chest pain associated with shortness of breath due to hemorrhagic effusion proven by open pleural biopsy to be secondary to metastatic papillary thyroid carcinoma. A pleural aspirate and needle biopsy were not helpful. An ultrasound of the thyroid and subsequent thyroidectomy established the primary as a small sclerotic papillary carcinoma in the left thyroid lobe. Papillary carcinoma of the thyroid usually follows an indolent course characterized by slow local growth and possible cervical lymph node metastases but usually absent distant metastases. Several reports in the literature suggest that metastases to bone and lung may occur infrequently. Upon reviewing the literature, we found only two case reports of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid presenting with symptomatic pleural effusions