Expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors among Sudanese women with breast cancer: immunohistochemical study

Study design: This is a descriptive study to detect the level of Estrogen [ER] and Progesterone [PR] receptors in a sample of biopsies from Sudanese women with breast cancer presented at Khartoum teaching Hospital. Forty biopsies from breast cancer patients were examined with immunostaining using anti-sera to ER and PR as markers to detect receptors. All the specimens showed the typical histopathologic features of breast cancer. Immunoreactivity testing revealed positive ER in thirty-six patients [90%] and positive PR in thirty-one patients [77.5%]. Of the 36 ER positive samples, staining intensity was: strong in 20 [55.5%] moderate in 10 [27.7%] and weak in 6 [16.7%]. of the 31 PR positive samples, 15 [48.4%] showed strong staining, 7 [22.5%] moderate and 9 [29.0%] weak staining. the studied specimens showed high level of positive ER and PR receptors

Appendicular mass revisited

Management and timing of surgery for appendicular mass is controversial. To audit the management of appendicular mass in Khartoum Teaching Hospital. Analysis of demographic and clinical data of 280 patients in the period Jan 2000 through Dec 2006. Out of 280 patients 104 [37.5%] were in the third decade. 204 [72.9%] had pain for more than five days and 136 [48.6%] had temperature >37.5°C. Conservative management was successful in 156 [55.7%] patients. 25 [8.9%] patients had emergency surgery. 28 [10%] patients came for follow up but refused surgery. Mucocele of the appendix and carcinoma of the caecum were found each in one patient. Emergency surgery was difficult in eight patients with failure to remove the appendix in one of them and faecal fistula developed in two. The conservative method is safe. However, cancer caecum may be missed. In contrast emergency surgery led to faecal fistula in two patients