Primary Splenic Hydatid Cyst: a case report with characteristic imaging appearance

A middle-aged lady presented with pain, tenderness and swelling in the left hypochondrium since one month. She had a history of contact with dogs and grazing animals. Sonography and computed tomography showed the pathognomonic signs of hydatid disease. The patient refused surgical treatment. She was discharged on Albendazole therapy and did not return for a follow up

audit of the students'corner of journal of the Pakistan medical association

To analyze the pattern of the first author's institutional affiliation and the distribution of different article types published in the students' corner of the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association. This cross-sectional study was carried out in July 2005 and analyzed the students' corner [whenever present] of the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association from January 1998 to June 2005. For the 90 issues of the journal in the stipulated period, 96 articles were published in the students' corner. Original studies 46 [47.9%] were the most commonly published article category followed by personal opinion/review category [43.8%] and case-reports 8 [8.3%]. The number of personal opinion/review articles has been steadily decreasing. Students from Aga Khan University contributed 74 [77.1%] articles followed by students from Ziauddin Medical University 10 [10.4%]. Almost 95% of the authors were from private medical colleges. Sindh was the location of the first authors institution in 90 [93.8%] cases. A major chunk of all articles published in the students' corner of the Journal of Pakistan Medical Association originates from two private medical colleges in Sindh. Efforts must be made to increase student participation across the country. This may be done by asking students to begin scientific writing by submitting personal opinion articles. Further research is needed to assess the status of student research in terms of published output in Pakistan

case of non - resolving cough and Weight loss

Sarcoidosis is a chronic granulomatous multi-system disease with a clinical picture often mimicking tuberculosis. We present a case of a patient who presented with a clinical picture akin to both of these granulomatous disorders and was started on anti-tuberculous regimen despite the lack of any solid evidence pointing towards tuberculosis. As a result her clinical condition continued to deteriorate for months until finally a bronchoscopic biopsy established her disease process as sarcoidosis. She was then started on systemic corticosteroid therapy for sarcoidosis and during the ensuing period has shown marked improvement in her clinical picture with near normalization of the biochemical and radiographic parameters of her pathology. This case illustrates the need for vigilant interpretation of the clinical scenario in patients such as these where a misdiagnosis may lead to significant patient distress as well as weighing down on the economic and health resources