Analysis of bone tumors in Ramathibodi Hospital, Thailand during 1977-1986: study of 652 cases.

We retrospectively studied all bone tumors diagnosed in Ramathibodi hospital from 1977-1986 regarding frequency, age and skeletal distribution. Six hundred and fifty-two cases were collected. Among these, primary bone tumors accounted for 75 per cent, the remainder were metastatic lesions. Among benign bone tumors, the two most common tumors are osteochondroma (47%), and chondroma (15%). Osteochondroma is frequently found in younger patients with a mean age of 20.12 years and is usually located about the knee. Chondroma, found in this series, usually affected ribs (32%) with a mean age of 27.47 years. Among primary malignant bone tumors, the three most common tumors are osteosarcoma (39.9%), giant cell tumor (22.7%), and chondrosarcoma (14.1%). Osteosarcoma affects younger patients more often than giant cell tumors and chondrosarcomas do, with a mean age of 17.27 years. The common primary malignant bone tumors usually affect weight-bearing bones.

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in Thailand: report of a case and review literatures.

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) which is caused by free-living amoeba, Naegleria fowleri, is a rare disease. We report the fifth case in Thailand in order to add more information. The patient was a previously healthy 4 1/2-year-old girl from Nakhon Pathom province. For several weeks before this illness she had swum in a water supply canal. She developed high fever with change in consciousness. Her cerebrospinal fluid contained numerous Naegleria fowleri which grew in culture media and mice inoculation. She did not respond to treatment with intravenous and intraventricular amphotericin B, and oral rifampicin. She died on the fifth day of illness. Water sample from the canal also grew N. fowleri. All five reported cases in Thailand were reviewed. It was found that none of them had been exposed to a common source. Four of the five cases were male, and four cases occurred during the summer months, March to May. These findings agree with worldwide information.