Clinical characteristics and factors associated with survival rate of patients with non-muscle invasive bladder cancer attending at a Tertiary Hospital in Somalia.

BACKGROUND: A few studies regarding the epidemiology and risk factors of Non-muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer (NMIBC) are reported from Sub-Saharan African countries (SSA), including Somalia, and the African literature is scant on the management of NMIBC. The present study aims to evaluate the clinical-histopathological characteristics and factors associated with the survival rate of patients with NMIBC. METHOD: This six-year cohort study included 196 patients with NMIBC. It reviewed the clinical and histopathological characteristics and factors predicting cancer-specific survival for these patients. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 59.01 ± 11.50 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 2.8:1. Urothelial carcinoma (UC) constituted the most common pathological type, accounting for 90.8%; Ta LG and T1HG were the most common histopathological tumour stage and grade (n = 90, 45.9%, vs. n = 56, 28.6%), respectively. The mean tumour size was 4.72 ± 2.81 cm. The cancer-specific mortality(CSM) was 13.3%. Age [2.252(2.310-2.943], p < 0.001], Gender [1.031(0.981-1.1.242),p < 0.001], tumour stage and grade [4.902(3.607-5.614),p < 0.001], tumour location [1.135(0.806-1.172),p < 0.001], number [0.510(0.410-0.920),p = 0.03], tumour size [1.523(0.936-1.541),p < 0.001], use of intravesical chemotherapy or BCG [2.810(1.972-4.381),p < 0.001], preoperative hydronephrosis grade [1.517(1.172-2.154),p < 0.001], and follow-up compliance [3.376(2.633-5.018),p < 0.001] were all associated with CSM. The 5-year overall survival was 57.1%, and cardiovascular diseases were the leading cause of mortality (n = 34), followed by diabetes (n = 28). CONCLUSION: Our study findings revealed that UC constituted the most common pathological subtype, though less than forty per cent of our patients receive intravesical adjuvant therapies, which are crucial to minimizing disease morbidity and mortality. Initiatives improving uro-oncological care, including subspecialty training in oncology and essential cancer therapies, better access to urology services, and cancer screening programs, are much needed for optimal management plans and care in the country.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the testis in a 17-year-old male.

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the testis is an exceptionally rare and highly malignant sarcoma. To date, there are only 23 reported cases in the literature. We report a 17-year-old male patient presented with massive scrotal swelling that had been progressively enlarging over seven-months. Scrotal ultrasound and contrast-enhanced CT revealed a 10 × 10cm left testicular heterogeneously enhancing mass that extends into the spermatic cord. A left inguinal orchiectomy was performed, and histopathological examinations showed findings consistent with Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonic-type. Primary embryonal testicular rhabdomyosarcoma has poor prognosis, particularly for adolescents, and tumour size greater than 10cm. Early diagnosis and radical orchiectomy improve the prognosis.

Bilateral supernumerary kidney with an obstructive calculus: An extremely rare case report and literature review.

Bilateral supernumerary kidneys and associated urinary stone disease are rarely seen in clinical practice, and only three cases have been reported in the literature to date. We report a 15-year-old male patient having a bilateral supernumerary kidney with an obstructive left ureteric stone successfully managed with retrograde intrarenal surgery. Stones in such anomalous kidneys pose a challenge for the urologist, and imaging is essential for surgical intervention planning. RIRS with holmium laser lithotripsy is a safe and effective treatment with a high single-stage stone-free rate and low complication rate in experienced hands.