Relationship between bladder cancer incidence; schistosoma haematobium infection; and geographical region in Zimbabwe

Bladder cancer is common in Zimbabwe; possibly due to the high prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection in some areas. We undertook a correlational study based on retrospective medical record review to see whether the number of bladder cancers could be related to geographical region and prevalence of S. haematobium infection. We also determined patient demographic characteristics and tumour histology. Of 483 patients indentified (1984-1987); 69 with available histology had squamous cell carcinomas. The remainder had transitional cell carcinomas. Patients with squamous cell carcinoma were younger than patients with transitional cell carcinomas (50 vs 20 under 50 years old; P less than 0.05) and had a sex ration of one. [abstract terminated]

Achalasia of the oesophagus in Bulawayo

Although oesophago-cardiomyotomy is the treatment of choice for achalasia 25 per cent of patients continue to have symptoms after surgery. This may be due to an inadequate myotomy; a myotomy which had healed; or the development of reflux oesophagitis