ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Her-2/neu is one of the most important molecular markers of breast cancer. Overexpression of Her-2/neu as evaluated by immunohistochemistry is necessary in the management of breast cancers. This study was performed to determine the proportion of expression of the biomarker amongst breast cancer patients who presented in our 'one-stop breast cancer unit' using automated immunohistochemistry. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Automated immunohistochemical analysis of 107 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients was done for expression of Her-2/neu, between 1st April, 2016 and 30th September, 2018. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 25 for windows and Microsoft excel, 2013. RESULTS: Her-2/neu was overexpressed in 30.1% patients, and it shows no correlation with age and histological grade of the disease. CONCLUSION: There is overexpression of Her-2/neu in our local setting, and this observation is very relevant to any therapeutic decisions and management of these patients.
Subject(s)
Black People , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/metabolism , Receptor, ErbB-2/metabolism , Adult , Africa, Western , Age Factors , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Biopsy, Large-Core Needle , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Breast Neoplasms, Male/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms, Male/pathology , Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/pathology , Female , Hospitals, University , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Grading , Nigeria , Prospective StudiesABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: Significant deaths of between 21% and 38% occur from non-trauma surgical conditions in the accident and emergency room. Access to emergency surgical care is limited in many developing countries including Nigeria. We aimed to study the spectrum of non-trauma surgical emergencies, identify challenges in management and evaluate outcomes. METHODS: A one year prospective cohort study of all non-trauma emergencies in adults seen at the surgical emergency room of LASUTH from 1st October, 2011 to 30th September, 2012 was conducted. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 15.0. RESULTS: Of a total of 7536 patients seen, there were 7122 adults. Those with non-trauma conditions were 2065 representing 29% of adult emergencies. Age ranged between 15 and 97 years and male to female ratio was 1.7:1. Acute abdomen (30%), urological problems (18%) and malignancies (10%) were the most common. Among 985 patients requiring admission only 464 (47%) were admitted while the remaining 53% were referred to other centers. Emergency surgical intervention was carried out in 222 patients representing 48% of admitted patients. There were 12 (24%) non-trauma deaths in the emergency room. They were due to acute abdomen and malignancies in half of the cases. CONCLUSION: Facilities for patients needing emergency care were inadequate with more than half of those requiring admission referred. Attention should be paid to the provision of emergency surgical services to the teeming number of patients seen on yearly basis in the Teaching Hospital.
ABSTRACT
We evaluated the effects of selected socio-demographic factors on late presentation and reasons why our breast cancer patients delay reporting for treatment. All female breast cancer patients referred to one of the general surgery out-patient clinics of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital between January 2009 and December 2010 were interviewed. Relevant socio-demographic and clinical data were obtained and reasons for patient delay documented. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to calculate odd ratio for delay. A total of 201 patients were enrolled. Mean duration of symptoms was 12.12 months (SD ± 5.18). Delay for more than 3 months before initial medical consultation was observed in 164 patients (81.6%). Increased risk of late presentation was associated with single women (OR=2.054), primary level of education (OR=3.059), negative history of benign breast disease (OR=1.648) and pre-menopause (OR=1.861). Ignorance of the nature of illness, belief in spiritual healing, fear of mastectomy and belief in herbal treatment were the leading reasons for delay. Women with higher risk of late presentation should be the target group during interventions aimed at raising breast cancer awareness. Reasons for patient delay should also be addressed.
Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms/diagnosis , Breast Neoplasms/psychology , Early Detection of Cancer/psychology , Health Behavior , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/psychology , Adult , Aged , Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology , Early Detection of Cancer/statistics & numerical data , Female , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , Interpersonal Relations , Mastectomy/psychology , Middle Aged , Nigeria , Patient Acceptance of Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Patient Education as Topic , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Young AdultABSTRACT
Abdominal cocoon is a rare cause of bowel obstruction. The condition was first described three decades ago and is found mainly among adolescent females in tropical and sub-tropical countries. It is characterized by a thick fibrous membrane encapsulating the small intestines partially or completely. Patients present with features of intestinal obstruction and diagnosis is usually made intraoperatively. Surgical excision of the membrane and adhesiolysis result in complete recovery. We report on an adolescent male patient who had acute intestinal obstruction due to abdominal cocoon detected at surgery.
