Acute Paraplegia in a Toddler: A Diagnostic Journey Compounding the Challenge in Management: A Case Report

Spinal tuberculosis is not common in the paediatric age group. Initial clinical features are often vague and non specific until the disease progresses to later stages. We highlight the diagnostic difficulties and management challenges of a complicated extradural tuberculoma with neurological deficits in a very young girl.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumor of tongue - a case report

A very rare case of Primitive Neuroectodermal tumor [PNET] occurring at the tip of the tongue is reported. The patient presented at a private dental clinic at Hyderabad, Sindh, [Pakistan] with a tiny nodule at the tip of the tongue. Fine needle aspiration was carried out followed by excision biopsy and marker studies which confirmed the diagnosis. It was concluded that the possibility of PNET tumor should be kept in mind while evaluating lesions occurring on tongue

Fine needle aspiration cytology of oral lesions

This study was carried out to introduce the use of fine needle aspiration cytology for the early and quick diagnosis of oral lesions. All patients were referred to a private clinic for Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology by Dental Surgeons. A total number of 86 patients were included in this study. These patients had a mass in oral cavity, in salivary glands or in sub mental / sub mandibular area. The duration of study was two years, from January 2010 to December 2012. Fine needle aspiration was done and smears were made for cytopathological diagnosis. All patients were followed up and a biopsy report was obtained for correlation. Age range was 1-85 years. Mean age being 39 years. Lesions were equally distributed between male and female patients. Out of 86 patients majority n=27 [31.3%] presented with a parotid mass, n=18 [20.9%] presented with a submandibular mass, n=14 [16.2%] had cheek swelling and n=11 [13.6%] had a mass on mandible. Cytopathological analysis showed an equal frequency of benign and malignant tumors n=30 [34.8%] each, n=18 [20.9%] were inflammatory lesions and n=8 [9.5%] nonneoplastic non-inflammatory lesions. Out of 30 benign tumors most common was Pleomorphic Adenoma n=24 [80%] arising in Parotid, out of 30 malignant tumors most common was Squamous cell carcinoma n=22[73.3%]. Out of 18 inflammatory lesions most were either tuberculosis or abscess n=7 [38.8%] each. Histopathological diagnosis was available in 50 patients. Overall accuracy for diagnosis of malignant tumors and inflammatory lesions was 100%, for benign tumors it was 92% and for non-inflammatory non-neoplastic lesions it was 33.3%. Fine needle aspiration is a very useful, cost effective, quick and painless procedure for early diagnosis of oral lesions and in many cases obviates the need for incisional I excisional biopsy

Basal cell carcinoma in Iraq. Analysis of 196 patients

A retrospective analysis of 196 cases of basal cell carcinoma seen over the period 1983-1987 inclusive at the Department of Plastic surgery Medical City. Comparing our patients with international data, in an attempt to accomplish a strategy for treatment in our hospitals. Chronic sun exposure seems to be the most important of the predisposing factors. Complete surgical excision of the tumor better meets the goals of treatment of this lesion, which is best handled by the plastic surgeon experienced in dealing with skin defects left after excision