Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis-A Case Report.

Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is an uncommon and curious condition of unknown etiology. However, its association with the use of oral contraceptive pills, autoimmune disorders, hyperprolactinaemia and Corynebacterium species has been proposed. It occurs in young parous women and presents as a firm tender lump that may be mistaken for carcinoma. Histopathologically proven IGM initially show breast masses which were suspected of having breast carcinoma. So, detailed histopathological examination of the cases which are suspected as carcinoma is mandatory. We present a case of painless breast lump with radiological suspicion of malignancy and diagnosed as Idiopathic Granulomatous mastitis without any underlying cause. Correct diagnosis requires the exclusion of infectious etiologies, other causes of granulomatous mastitis and malignancy combined with definitive histopathological confirmation.

Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Barbados / Cirugía toracoscópica asistida por video en el Hospital Queen Elizabeth de Barbados

Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) is now an established technique for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention in patients with thoracic pathology at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH). This article reviews the experience with 50 patients over the period May 1996 to February 2003, looking at various factors and outcomes in an attempt to ascertain the viability of this procedure at this institution. It serves as a follow-up article to the publication of the initial experience in 1999 (1). There were 24 males and 26 females included in the study. Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery was used for diagnosis in 27 cases (54), therapeutic indication in 17 cases (34) and as both a diagnostic and therapeutic modality in six cases (12). In 92of cases, the operations were completed thoracoscopically with a conversion rate of 8. The morbidity and mortality rates were 18and 2respectively. Video assisted thoracoscopic surgery is an effective tool for the treatment and investigation of selected thoracic pathology at the QEH with complications and mortality rates comparable to other institutions (2, 3).

La cirugía toracoscópica asistida por video (CTAV) es ya una técnica establecida para el diagnóstico y la intervención terapéutica de pacientes con patologías toráxicas en el Hospital Queen Elizabeth. Este articulo pasa revista a nuestra experiencia con 50 pacientes en el transcurso del período de mayo de 1996 a febrero de 2003, prestando atención a varios factores y resultados en un intento por corroborar la viabilidad de ese procedimiento en nuestra institución. El trabajo sirve como un artículo de seguimiento a la publicación de nuestra experiencia en el año 1999(1). El estudio abarcó 24 hombres y 26 mujeres. La CTAV se usó para el diagnóstico en 27 casos (54%), como indicación terapéutica en 17 casos (34%), tanto en la modalidad de diagnóstico como en la terapéutica en seis casos (12%). En el 92% de los casos, las operaciones fueron completadas toracoscópicamente con una tasa de conversión de 8%. Las tasas de morbilidad y mortalidad fueron 18% y 2% respectivamente. La CTAV resultó ser un instrumento efectivo para el tratamiento y la investigación de patologías toráxicas seleccionadas en nuestra institución, con complicaciones y tasas de mortalidad comparables a la de otras (2) (3).

An audit of upper gastrointestinal bleeding at Seremban Hospital

We retrospectively analyzed all patients presenting with upper gastrointestinal bleeding to Seremban Hospital over a one-year period. A quarter of the oesophagogastro-duodenoscopies (OGD) performed were performed as emergency for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding. Gastric ulcers and duodenal ulcers were the two most common findings. Our results suggest that there is a male preponderance of 2:1, the Chinese were more likely to be affected and the elderly (> 60 years) were at highest risk.

Spontaneous rupture of the spleen

A 10 year old boy presented to the surgical service of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital with spontaneous rupture of the spleen and was later discovered to have chronic myeloid leukaemia. He has been in haematological remission for five years followed splenectomy and alpha-interferon therapy.

Quality of care of patients with diabetic foot problems in Barbados

In Barbados diabetics with foot problems account for 80of the patients in the female and 50of those in the male general surgery wards, and many patients have major amputations for preventable problems. A six month prospective study was undertaken of all cases admitted with foot problems to the general surgical wards of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital (QEH) in order to determine the quality of foot care, particularly among diabetics. 67.5of the 195 patients (55female) admitted to the study were diabetic, most of whom were diagnosed 10 to 19 years previously. Most of the patients were 70 to 80 years old, but significantly more diabetics than non-diabetics were 40 to 70 years old. Foot problems in diabetics were precipitated by events that are considered trivial in non-diabetic patients. 87 (58) of 150 responding patients had their feet inspected by health personnel in the previous year. 47 (63.5) of the 74 who responded about the care of their nails said that they took care of their nails themselves. Nearly 40of diabetic and non-diabetic patients had no reported source of care before their admission. 14 patients (10 diabetic) sought care the same day and 11 (nine diabetics) the day after noticing foot problems. Most patients presented with infection as part of their problem; recognition of the early signs of infection should be an integral part of the education of the diabetic patient. Educational efforts for patients must be continually reinforced because many patients said they had had no education about the care of their feet in the previous year.

Congenital solitary non-parasitic cyst of the liver

Although non-parasitic cysts of the liver have often been described in adults, solitary non-parasitic cysts are rare in infants. We report a 17-month-old child with a large hepatic cyst