Primary carcinoid of the urinary baldder

The occurrence of a primary carcinoid tumour of the urinary bladder is extremely rare. The case of a 35 year-old male with carcinoid tumour arising in the urinary bladder is presented. Transurethral resection of a polypoid small tumour [1.0 cm in diameter] was performed. Immunohistochemical study using neuroendocrine markers allowed a straightforward diagnosis of a low-grade neuroendocrine tumour [carcinoid tumour] of the urinary bladder to be made. This tumour shows specific clinical, gross and histological features and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of bladder neoplasms

Diagnostic significance of red cell indices in beta-thalassaemia trait

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the formulae for the diagnosis of beta-thalassemia trait cases in settings where electrophoresis is not available. The study included 50 cases of beta-thalassaemia trait already diagnosed by Hb. electrophoresis. CBC samples were analyzed on Sysmex K4500 and red cell indices were used to evaluate formulae for differentiating betathalassaemia trait from iron deficiency anaemia. The formula MCV/RBC and MCH/RBC identified 56% of the cases. Formula MCV - [5 × Hb] - RBC - 8.4 identified 54% of beta-thalassemia trait cases. The formula [MCV × MCH/100] identified 92% of cases. RBC indices given by electronic counters can be used to differentiate iron deficiency anaemia from beta-thalassaemia trait at least provisionally in areas where Hb. electrophoresis is not available

Rapid molecular detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples: five year experience

The objective of this study was to determine the usefulness of Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR] for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA in clinical samples from different categories. Laboratory based, retrospective. Chughtai's Lahore Laboratory, over a 5 year period between 1st June 1998 and 31st May 2003. A total of 990 clinical samples were collected from patients of both sexes and all ages with a provisional diagnosis of tuberculosis and polymerase chain reaction was performed for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA. The specimen categories were ascitic fluid, aspirate, bronchial washings, cerebrospinal fluid, eye fluid, fluid [unspecified], gastric fluid, peripheral blood, pleural fluid, pus, semen, sputum, synovial fluid, urine and vitreous tap. Out of 15 types of specimens received over five years, only 15.5% were respiratory tract and related samples [bronchial wash, pleural fluid and sputum n=154] whereas the remaining 84.5% [n=836] were non respiratory tract category samples. In the respiratory tract category 80% pleural fluid, 77% sputa and 67% bronchial wash specimens tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA by Polymerase chain reaction. In the non respiratory tract category, 90% synovial fluid, 81% pus, 75% ascitic fluid and aspirates, 68% unspecified fluids, 67% urine, 53% cerebrospinal fluid, 50% gastric fluid, 37% peripheral blood, 21% vitreous tap and 0% eye fluid and semen were reported positive. Fifty one percent of clinical samples belonging to fifteen different categories of respiratory and non respiratory types, received from patients of both sexes with a provisional diagnosis of tuberculosis, tested positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA by polymerase chain reaction. This technique has proved to be reliable testing tool for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

clinicopathological study of 285 cases of gall stone disease

A prospective clinicophathological study of 285 patients who underwent cholecyslectomy was carried out. Amongst these 239 were female and 46 male with a male to female ratio of 1:5.2. Mean/median age of female patient [43.4 years and 42 years] was significantly lower than male patients [55.3 years and 60 years]. Pain in the right upper abdomen was the commonest symptom. Jaundice was present in 11% of patients. Histologically 63.4% submitted specimens had features of chronic cholecystits. Carcinoma of gall bladder was seen in 5.9% cases. Pure cholestol stones were more common in female patients in their 4th and 5th decade of life while peak prevalence of pigment stones was in 7[th] and 8[th] decade