ABSTRACT
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer in women and cancer related mortality all over the world. There is strong evidence that delayed diagnosis of breast cancer is associated with poor survival. At our center most of the patients with breast cancer presented as locally advanced breast cancer (LABC) which drew our attention to find out the reasons of delay and its association with different socio-demographic variables.Methods: We enrolled 50 histologically proven cases of LABC in this study. With help of semi structured interview, questions were asked from each patient which could reflect their understanding about the disease to find likely reasons for their delayed presentation, including socioeconomic status.Results: In present study most of our patients were more than 45 years, married. 88% presented late due to unawareness and ignorance about nature and severity of breast cancer disease, 86% had financial issues, 64% had shyness as reason, 20% wasted time by taking alternative treatment, 52% presented late due to painless lump; 30% had fear of losing breast, 18% didn’t get support from family, 4% presented late due to other reasons.Conclusions: Awareness and knowledge of breast cancer was found to be poor amongst sufferers prior to their diagnosis, making it important reason for delayed presentation. Other significant factors being socioeconomic status and education. The need for increased awareness and use of screening practices was identified to be essential for early diagnosis of the disease and for improved outcomes.
ABSTRACT
Background: Uterovaginal prolapse is a common gynaecological condition in low resource countries because of high prevalence of grand multiparity, low skilled attendant at delivery and low contraceptive usage. Objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, sociodemographic profiles, utilization of reproductive health services and delay in seeking medical care of patient with uterovaginal prolapse in Calabar, Nigeria.Methods: This was a retrospective study of women who presented with uterovaginal prolapse at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria between 1st May 2009 and 1st June 2019. Patients case records were retrieved and analyzed. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 22.Results: The prevalence of genital prolapse was 0.3%. The mean age and parity were 60.19±8.71 years and 6.31±2.80, respectively. The mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 3.19±2.16 years. Genital prolapse was commonest among age group 60-79 years (52.8%), parity 5-9 (66.7%), post-menopausal (97.2%), primary education (55.6%) and farmers (47.2%). Grade 3 uterovaginal prolapse was the commonest grade (58.3%). Most patients (86.1%) had symptoms of genital prolapse for less than 5 years before seeking medical treatment. The majority of patients had no antenatal care during their pregnancies (80.6%), no skilled attendant at deliveries (86.1%) and no contraceptive use during their reproductive years (77.8%). Participants with lower parity (1-4) (p=0.03), higher educational level (p˂0.001) and teachers/civil servants (p=0.043) presented earlier (less than 1 year) to the hospital.Conclusions: There is poor utilization of reproductive health services among women who develop uterovaginal prolapse in study environment. Women with higher social status sought for help earlier. Increasing awareness of this condition and providing antenatal care, skilled birth attendants and contraceptive services will reduce the burden of this condition.
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To find out the sociodemographic, sociocultural, and socioeconomic factors leading to delay in pediatric cataract surgery and its impact on final visual outcome. Methods: A prospective interview-based analytical cohort study was conducted on 156 children aged 0� years with either unilateral or bilateral congenital/developmental cataracts. Caregivers were interviewed using a pretested validated questionnaire. Time intervals between recognition by a caregiver to consultation were denoted as Delay-1 and between consultations to surgical intervention as Delay-2. Spearman's rank correlation was used to determine the presence of correlation between causes of delay and visual outcome. Results: The mean age of presentation was 7.78 � 4.34 years. Mothers were the first informant of the problem (n = 110, 70.5%). Out of 156 children, only 8 (5.1%) children presented to the hospital within 1 month by caregivers and 26 (16.7%) children underwent surgery within 2 months of advice. About 22 (14.1%) children had total cumulative delay of 1�months, 11 (7%) had delay of 6� months, and 115 (73.71%) had delay of >12 months. The most common cause identified for Delay-1 was unawareness in 41 cases (26.28%), however, for Delay-2 major factor responsible was cost (n = 38, 24.35%). The median preoperative visual acuity was 1.31 logMAR and median postoperative visual acuity at 4 weeks was 0.61 logMAR. (P < 0.001) Less age at surgery, upper socioeconomic status, less time delay, and better preoperative vision were positively correlated to better visual outcomes. Conclusion: Delay in presentation for childhood cataract surgery remains a significant problem in central rural India. Delay in surgery is multifactorial which includes unawareness, cost, misdiagnosis, self-treatment, distance from the hospital, lack of family support, and poor socioeconomic status.
ABSTRACT
Background: Prevalence of cancer is increasing worldwide. Early diagnosis with appropriate therapeutic interventions is essential for better treatment outcome. Identification and necessary modifications of factors responsible for delayed presentation might increase the life expectancy or quality of living. This study aims to identify the factors responsible for delayed presentation of cancer patients to radiotherapy department.Methods: This is a quantitative descriptive study, done with in a period from August 2018 to October 2019, among 120 cancer patients of different stages presenting to OPD of Radiotherapy department of M.K.C.G Medical College. Data were collected by using pretested semi-structured questionnaires, entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed by using SPSS version 20.0.Results: A total of 120 cancer patients, 60 from each early and late stage had participated in the study. The mean age of presentation was 53.19 years. The number of male patients were 54 and female were 66. Maximum patients had addiction of chewing tobacco. When the time interval from appearance of symptoms to diagnosis were compared, 1 – 3 months were taken by 45% of early stage and 28.3% of late stage patients. Similarly, <1week time was taken from diagnosis to start of treatment in 25% and 13.3% in respective groups. Comparison of educational status (p=0.001), difference between primary and secondary delay (p<0.05), and socio-economic status (p=0.008) between both the groups were found to be statistically significant.Conclusions: Factors responsible for delayed presentation are related both to patient and system. Educating common people regarding early sign symptoms, emphasizing early detection at grass root level, proper referral and by upgrading existing oncology facilities, we can avoid adverse treatment outcome.
ABSTRACT
Background: In Asia, Pakistan has the highest incidence of breast cancer with 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer at some stage of their life. Delays in presentation and diagnosis are major determinants of breast cancer survival, but these have not been comprehensively investigated in Pakistan.Methods: A cross-sectional study was done from June 2017 till October 2018 at Radiology department of Bolan medical complex hospital in Quetta, Pakistan. Patients with breast cancer above the age of 18 and below 70 years were interviewed who were diagnosed with breast cancer. The time interval between self-detection and deciding to seek care was defined as delayed if the woman presented to a health care professional three months or more after detecting an abnormalityResults: A total of 86 breast cancer patients fulfilling the criteria were included in the study. Of these, 34% presented to physician within 3 months of appearance of symptoms, 68% patients presented with a delayed of more than 3 months. Presentation delay was due to financial issues which were seen in 30 patients. 18 patients (20.9%) showed delayed to due difficulty in reaching hospitals, 16 patients (18%) stated delay due to prior use of alternative therapies. Embarrassment and spiritual belief constituted 4.6% cases. 51% and 36% presented with stage III and IV disease out of which majority belonged to poor socio-economic status.Conclusions: The findings suggest that majority of the patients with breast cancer presented late and this has significant effect on their disease prognosis. Most cases of breast cancer presented in advanced stage probably due to poor economic status, difficulty in reaching hospital, illiteracy and negligence by patient or family.
ABSTRACT
STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective review. PURPOSE: To describe a safe and effective surgical procedure for old distractive flexion (DF) injuries of the subaxial cervical spine. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Surgical treatment is required in old cases when a progression of the kyphotic deformity and/or persistent neck pain and/or the appearance of new neurological symptoms are observed. Since surgical treatment is more complicated and dangerous in old cases than in acute distractive-flexion cases, the indications for surgery and the selection of the surgical procedure must be carefully conducted. METHODS: To identify a safe and effective surgical procedure, the procedure selected, reason(s) for its selection, and associated neurological complications were investigated in 13 patients with old cervical DF injuries. RESULTS: No neurological complications were observed in nine patients (DF stage 2 or 3) who underwent the anterior-posterior-anterior (A-P-A) method and two patients (DF stage 1) who underwent the posterior method. It was initially planned that two patients (DF stage 2) who underwent the P-A method would be treated using the Posterior method alone; however, anterior discectomy was added to the procedure after the development of a severe spinal cord disorder. CONCLUSIONS: The A-P-A method (anterior discectomy, posterior release and/or partial facetectomy, reduction and instrumentation, anterior bone grafting) is considered to be a suitable surgical procedure for old cervical DF injuries.
Subject(s)
Humans , Congenital Abnormalities , Diskectomy , Methods , Neck Pain , Retrospective Studies , Spinal Cord Diseases , SpineABSTRACT
Bullet injuries to the spine may cause injury to the anatomical structures with or without neurologic deterioration. Most bullet injuries are acute, resulting from direct injury. However, in rare cases, delayed injury may occur, resulting in claudication. We report a case of intradural bullet at the L3-4 level with radiculopathy in a 30-year-old male. After surgical removal, radicular and claudicating pain were improved significantly, and motor power of the right leg also improved. We report the case of intradural bullet, which resulted in delayed radiculopathy.
Subject(s)
Adult , Humans , Male , Leg , Radiculopathy , SpineABSTRACT
Background: Management guidelines are not yet clear for these patients who present late with displaced supracondylar fracture. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the clinical, radiological and functional outcome following closed reduction and percutaneous pinning of widely displaced supracondylar fractures of the humerus presenting 24 hours or more after injury. Patients and Methods: This prospective study was conducted at the Orthopaedic and Trauma Department of Dr Pinnamaneni Siddartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Foundation, Chinnoutpalli from January 2010 to July 2011. A total of 44 children were included in this study who had displaced supracondylar fracture of humerus presenting late ie, after 24 hours after injury and within a week. They were treated with closed reduction of the fracture and percutaneous pinning. Follow-up was done up to 12 months. Results: Patients were assessed on the basis of Flynn’s criteria, there were 37 excellent, 6 good results and fair results in 1 case. There were 25 boys and 19 girls. The average age of the patients was 7.5 years (range: 4 to 12 years). Fall on the outstretched hand was the mechanism of injury in 36 patients, and the other 8 patients were pedestrians struck by a motor vehicle. Non-dominant extremity was more commonly involved (30 patients). In 24 patients the fracture was displaced posteromedially (54.54%), in 18 patients posterolaterally (40.90%), and 2 patients had isolated posterior displacement (2.54%). The average delay in presentation was 57.56 hours (range: 1 day to 6 days). The mean time to surgery after presentation was 9.83 hours (range: 4 hours to 13 hours) and the mean time to surgery after trauma was 67.39 hours. Sixteen patients had one or more attempts of reduction by massaging by a quack and in 2 patients it was attempted by a qualified surgeon before they presented to us. 26 patients (59.09) visited a quack prior to presentation to us. There was a direct relation between duration of delayed presentation and the times of manoeuvre. Sixteen patients (36.36%) had neurologic complications at presentation to the emergency room of which three had median nerve palsy (6.81%) where as seven (15.90%) had isolated anterior interosseous nerve palsy and six (13.6%) had radial nerve palsy all patients showed total neurological recovery at 12 weeks follow-up. Six patients (13.63%) had vascular compromise at initial presentation of which five patients had feeble radial pulse and one had absent radial pulse, but capillary filling was adequate in all. The pulse was restored within 24 hours in all patients following reduction. Conclusion: Our preliminary results support our recommendation ie, closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation as an effective treatment option for grossly displaced supracondylar fractures presenting late but requires good and careful judgment and also technique by the surgeon to avoid complications. Our results also support the chances of spontaneous recovery of peripheral nerve palsy and brachial artery spasm post reduction over a period of time in majority of cases though they present late.
ABSTRACT
We report a rare case of orbital swelling presenting one year after head trauma. An initial fine needle aspiration cytology revealed it to be an infected organizing hematoma. However, broad-spectrum antibiotics did not resolve the infection and the orbital lesion continued to grow in size, as evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging. Incisional biopsies were done, which were reported as orbital actinomycosis. Patient has responded well to treatment with penicillin. This case is of interest due to the delayed presentation of an orbital complication of head trauma and the rare infection with actinomyces. It also highlights the importance of using appropriate antibiotics, as well as the need for long-term treatment.
Subject(s)
Actinomycosis/diagnosis , Actinomycosis/etiology , Eye Infections, Bacterial/diagnosis , Eye Infections, Bacterial/etiology , Humans , Male , Orbital Diseases/diagnosis , Orbital Diseases/etiology , Scalp/injuries , Young AdultABSTRACT
Penetrating neck trauma is a horrifying injury. Patients may present with sudden death, or life threatening injuries such as catastrophic haemorrhage, major vessel injury, injuries to the respiratory or digestive tract, neurological deficits, or bony injuries of the cervical spine. Other less life threatening symptoms may be associated with such injuries. We present here a case report of a 2-year-old child who sustained a transpharyngeal penetrating neck injury that occurred while playing with a wooden stick. He presented one month later with an abscess in the posterior triangle of the neck.
ABSTRACT
Traumatic diaphragmatic injuries in infants and children are uncommon. Late presentation of such an injury is well recognised in adults but is exceptionally rare in children. Because of the increased compliance of the thoracic cage in children, rupture of the diaphragm can occur without signs of external injury. Morbidity and mortality can be minimized by a high index of suspicion, prompt recognition, and surgical repair of even the smallest diaphragmatic injury. We present a case of delayed presentation of traumatic diagphragmatic hernia in a boy of 10 months.
Subject(s)
Adult , Child , Humans , Infant , Male , Compliance , Diaphragm , Hernia , Hernia, Diaphragmatic, Traumatic , Mortality , RuptureABSTRACT
The majority of undiagnosed diaphragmatic ruptures are associated with a high mortality rate if not treated immediately. A high index of suspicion for diaphragmatic injury during initial evaluation is the most important factor. A case was experienced involving delayed presentation of a traumatic diaphragmatic hernia, in a 49 year old female injured in a road traffic accident a year prior to admission. She was admitted with complaints of left side chest pain, nausea, and vomiting for 7 days. She was diagnosed as a diaphragmatic hernia on her left side by several diagnostic tests including a gastroscopy and CT scan. Her medical history was carefully examined as well. Surgical repair was performed.