Magnitude of breast diseases in OJHA histopathology department

This study evaluates the current status regarding spectrum of breast diseases from the data record of Dow Diagnostic Research and Reference Laboratory [DDRRL], Karachi. Descriptive study. This study was carried out on obtaining Data of various breast diseases was obtained from the histopathology department of Dow Diagnostic Research and Reference Laboratory [DDRRL], OJAH campus located in Karachi from October 2011 till December 2011. Ten months data of 2011 consisted of 829 cases of breast diseases. The diseases were grouped into malignant, benign and inflammatory types. There was no limitation of age and both genders were considered. Cancers other than breast diseases were excluded from the study. Reports of missing information were not analyzed. Normal breast tissue was as well excluded. Analysis revealed 413 as malignant lesions, 322 benign and 80 inflammatory .In malignant tumours invasive ductal carcinoma grade 2 was [23.7%]. Fibroadenoma [28.0%], fibrocystic change [6.1%], benign phylloides [2.4%], lipoma was 1.2% and no record of lactating adenoma was found. Inflammatory lesion breast abscess [4.0%], chronic mastitis [1.7%], granulomatous mastitis [1.7%], duct ectasia [1.3%] and fat necrosis was least diagnosed. Breast diseases trend in the women of Karachi are changing. Malignant breast lesions are presenting at younger age and its occurrence is more than benign and inflammatory lesion altogether in this study

Thrombocytopenia in Malaria

OBJECTIVE: Malaria is a major health problem in South Asia. It can be associated with many complications. Thrombocytopenia is the most common hematological complication of malaria

Our aim was to assess the severity and frequency of thrombocytopenia in malaria

DESIGN: This was a descriptive case-series study. A total of 69 admitted patients diagnosed with malaria were assessed for thrombocytopenia using automated quantitative D3 Analyzer

The data was analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. The results were obtained in numbers and percentages

Data was expressed as means with standard deviation

RESULTS: Out of the sample population 64 patients were diagnosed with vivax malaria and 3 with falciparum malaria while 2 patients had mixed infection. About 86% of patients with vivax malaria had thrombocytopenia while 66% of patients with falciparum malaria had thrombocytopenia

Mean platelet count in vivax malaria was 84.02x10[3]/microL with a range of 15-213x10[3]/microL

Platelet count of <20,000/microL was seen in only 2 patients with vivax malaria and none of the patients with falciparum malaria

CONCLUSION: Thrombocytopenia is a common feature in malaria. In patients having fever with thrombocytopenia, malaria should be on top of differential diagnosis. Viral hemorrhagic fevers can also present as fever but in these cases the complete blood counts has other features such as high hematocrit and leucopenia along with thrombocytopenia. Our finding can have therapeutic implications in the context of avoiding unnecessary platelet transfusion with the relatively more benign course in vivax malaria. In our study the commonest cause of thrombocytopenia in malaria was vivax malaria

Frequency of head and neck lesions according to histopathologic diagnosis

Retrospective study is conducted to determine the frequency of head and neck lesions histopathological diagnosis and to contribute in base line data of head and neck lesions at DDRRL/OJHA campus, Karachi. The study includes data from 2nd February 2008 to 31st December 2010. The most common head and neck lesions affecting male 53.9% [n=758] and female 46.04% [n=647]. Patients of all age group are included. Both incisional and excisional biopsies are included and previously diagnosed lesions on the basis of histopathology are excluded. Among 1,405 head [n=860] and neck [n=545] biopsies, Squamous cell carcinoma was 399. The most frequently affected site of oral cavity was right buccal mucosa with OSCC. Thyroid goiter was most commonly reported neck lesions. This study showed that premalignant lesion was less commonly submitted biopsies as compare to malignant lesions

Oral self screening among students of dow university of health sciences

To determine the frequency of awareness of oral self screening in terms of clinical site and practice towards addiction among the students of health sciences according to low and high fees status. Qualitative study, KAP-study. Dow University Campuses, from November 2008 to March 2009. Twelve hundred and fifty undergraduate and graduate [male/female] medical students, filled oral self assessment questionnaire distributed among medical undergraduate and graduate students of the affiliated institutes of the Dow University of Health Sciences divided into those with low and high fees status according to annual tuition fees [less or more than 40,000 Rs]. The students were mainly asked about their practices towards addiction include smoking and chewing tobacco and identification of sites effected. White /red striae, ulceration and/or epithelial erosions were detected under oral self examination for preneoplasia. SPSS-13.0 was used for statistical analysis. Low and high fees college showed contrasting results for addiction among students of DUHS. Addictions prevailed among high fees students group includes betel nut [7.7%], cigarette [3.2%], sheesha [3.1%], quid [3%], 1.1% gutka and 0.7% cigar [0.7%]. Compared to betel nut [5%], quid [3.2%], sheesha and cigar [1.5%] each, cigarette [1.2%] and gutka [0.5%] for low fees group of students at DUHS. Intra oral lesions i.e. [ulcer, striae, erosions] were more frequent on gingiva [1.2%] in the low fees group, compared to 0.2% among high fees students group. Angle of mouth had 0.5% frequency for low and 0.7% for high fees group respectively. Tongue lesions were 1.7% for low and 1.0% for the high fees group students. Buccal mucosa had 1.0% and 1.2% lesions respectively for the low and high fees group. Palate lesions were 1.2% for low and 0.8% for high fees group. Floor of the mouth presented 0.7% lesions for high compared to 0.2% lesions for the low fees group students. Gingiva showed slightly higher prevalence of lesions for the low fees group students of DUHS. The patterns of addictions were also different according to the socioeconomic status