ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: A case of a 2.7kg term baby with a large epignathus, a rare congenital teratoma arising from the palate is presented. Birth was by spontaneous vaginal delivery (SVD). The baby survived following a timely multidisciplinary approach to her management. This is the first reported case in Ghana.
Subject(s)
Palatal Neoplasms/congenital , Teratoma/congenital , Female , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Palatal Neoplasms/pathology , Teratoma/pathologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Patients with maxillofacial injuries may sustain concomitant injuries. The presentation of other injuries may be the initial focus of attention of the primary attending surgeon who may miss the maxillofacial injuries to the detriment of the patient. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence of injuries associated with maxillofacial injuries at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) from January 2009 to December 2010. METHODS: A prospective study was carried out on patients who were referred to the Maxillofacial Unit of the University of Ghana Dental School and KBTH over the two years with maxillofacial injuries. Their age, sex, type of injury in the maxillofacial region, its aetiology and concomitant injuries were charted. The data was analysed using SPSS 16.0 software. RESULTS: Two hundred and fifty eight (258) patients were seen of which 67 (26.0%) had concomitant injuries. The average age was 29.1 years. The peak incidence was in the age group 21-30 (N=73, 28.3%). 74% were male and 26.0% female. The commonest cause of injury was road traffic accident (RTA) (N=142;55.0%). 52.7% (N=136) of the patients had injuries of the maxillofacial region. 26.7% (N=69) had mandibular fractures, 19.4% (N=50) had middle third fractures and 8.1% (N=21) had fractures of both. Concomitant injuries were mainly orthopaedic (N=31;12%) and the head and spinal region (N=29;11.2%). CONCLUSION: A significant number of patients who suffer maxillofacial injuries also sustain injuries of other parts of the body at KBTH. Prompt multidisciplinary management may contribute to improved outcomes.
Subject(s)
Maxillofacial Injuries/complications , Maxillofacial Injuries/diagnosis , Multiple Trauma/diagnosis , Multiple Trauma/epidemiology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Ghana , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , Incidence , Infant , Male , Middle Aged , Prospective Studies , Young AdultABSTRACT
Reports of spindle cell sarcoma in the tongue are very rare, and seldom in the child. We report a five-year-old male patient who presented with a massive lesion on the right side of the tongue. This was surgically excised and histologically diagnosed as a Spindle cell Sarcoma. Results of bone marrow aspiration further revealed that about 16% of his bone marrow was infiltrated with abnormal pleomorphic vacuolated cells with bluish cytoplasm, consistent with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells. The child was treated with surgery and chemotherapy with good initial response, but then died after one year following a relapse.
Subject(s)
Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/pathology , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/therapy , Sarcoma/pathology , Sarcoma/therapy , Tongue Neoplasms/pathology , Tongue Neoplasms/therapy , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Child, Preschool , Fatal Outcome , Humans , Male , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/drug therapy , Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/surgery , Rhabdomyosarcoma/pathology , Rhabdomyosarcoma/therapy , Sarcoma/drug therapy , Sarcoma/surgery , Time Factors , Tongue Neoplasms/drug therapy , Tongue Neoplasms/surgery , Treatment Failure , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Histological reports on tumour specimens recorded at a teaching hospital in Accra, Ghana from 1989 to 2008 were reviewed to determine the incidence of head and neck tumours in children less than 16 years old. There were 4546 reports of head and neck tumours (2041 malignant, 2505 benign). Of these 613 met the study age selection criteria. 186(30.3%) were malignant and 427(69.7%) benign. The male to female ratio for malignant tumours was 1.86:1, benign 0.73:1 and for all tumours 1:1.04. Lymphoma (54.8%), nasopharyngeal carcinoma (19.9%) and rhabdomyosarcoma (14%), together constituted over 88% of malignant neoplasms. The commonest benign neoplasm was squamous papilloma (76/427) 17.8%, and then haemangioma (60/427) 14.05%. The incidence increased with age, peaking in those aged 12-16 years. The commonest site for benign tumours was the larynx and for malignant tumours the neck (cervical lymph nodes). Relative to all head and neck malignancies, the incidence of childhood head and neck malignancies was 11% (186/2041). This study reveals that malignant head and neck tumours are not rare in Ghana compared to benign tumours and the incidence of rhabdomyosarcoma is higher in females.
