Ambiguous genitalia: problem and its surgical correction

The aim of this work was sex determination and/or surgical correction of patients with ambiguous genitalia with long term follow up. The study included 15 patients with ambiguous genitalia who were classified according to the age of presentation into 2 groups: Group I including 12 neonates with ambiguous genitalia and group II including 3 adults complaining of primary amenorrhoea, abdominal masses and/or hypogonadism. Ambiguous genitalia should be considered a neonatal emergency. A delay in diagnosis may expose the patients to salt losing crisis, malignant degeneration of the gonads and development of inappropriate secondary sex characters at puberty. The decision of sex assignment must be taken after considering the future of sexual function, the feasibility of plastic reconstruction, the fertility potential, the risk of gonadal malignancy, the patient's or family wishes and the age at presentation. Any attempt to change the sex beyond the age of 2 years was likely to be complicated by major psychological difficulties

role of CA15.3 in cancer breast and its correlation with some other tumour markers

The aim of this study was to evaluate serum tumor markers [CA15-3, CEA and TNF] and ER receptors in serum and urine. It was done on 20 patients with breast cancer, 20 patients with benign breast lesions and 20 normal controls. A significant high level of the mean serum value of CA15-3 in cancer patients compared with benign and control groups. The mean preoperative levels returned nearly to normal in completely cured cases, while it was in a high level if there was metastasis or recurrence. In conclusion, serum CA15-3 and CEA levels could be valuable as a prognostic parameter and may have a role in monitoring patients with breast cancer. Other tested tumor markers, especially TNF may be complementary in this regard, while receptor patterns were important for determining the modality and response of treatment

Role of laparoscopy in diagnosis of abdominal malignancies

Fifty cases of various tumors [10 cases of liver tumors, 20 cases of GIT tumors and 20 cases of lymphoma] were enrolled in this study, for whom the results of laparoscopy were compared with conventional investigations and laparotomy

Evaluation of biliary CEA and CA 19-9 levels in early diagnosis of colorectal liver metastasis

The study revealed that patients with overt liver metastasis had a bile CEA concentration greater than 10 ngm./ml, and some of them had a bile CA19-9 concentration greater than 200 U./ml. This study also showed that biliary CEA elevated in 80% of patients with out overt liver metastasis and on follow up of those patients, 37.5% developed overt liver metastasis within 6 months follow up period. While biliary CA 19-9 was elevated in 65% of patients without overt liver metastasis and on follow up of those patients, 33.5% of cases developed overt liver metastasis within 6 months follow up period. CEA and CA 19-9 produced in very small liver metastasis may not reach the systemic circulation in sufficient quantity in gallbladder bile. So elevated biliary CEA and CA 19-9 concentration [to less extent] with no evidence of liver metastasis, even without elevation of serum CEA or CA 19-9 can be used for early diagnosis of liver metastasis, detection of micro metastasis after curative therapy of colorectal cancers, screening for the presence of liver secondary and differential diagnosis of liver mass

Pathological evaluation of clinically impalpable, mammographically detected breast lesions

79 cases with mammographically detected breast lesions were enrolled in this study. They are classified into 2 groups. Group 1 included 50 Asymptomatic patients, group 2 included 29 Symptomatising patients. Each patient is subjected to the following; complete physical examination, mammogram, FNAC, Tru cut screen-guided biopsy, excision biopsy, and axillary lymph node sampling. The study found that on mammographic base, 60.8% of clinically impalpable mammographically detected breast lesions are benign, and 39.2% are malignant, with B/M ratio of 1.5/1, 58.7% of mammographically detected opacities are benign, and 41.3% are malignant, with B/M ratio of 1.4/1, 63.3% of mammographically detected calcification are benign, and 36.7% are malignant, with B/M ratio of 1.7/1, 50% of mammographically detected parenchymal deformity are benign, and 50% are malignant, with B/M ratio of 1/1