Squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder presenting as vulvitis and cliteromegaly.

INTRODUCTION: Clitoral metastases are exceptionally rare. We present a case of a squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder presenting with a clitoral metastasis. CASE REPORT: We report the case of an 84-year-old lady with frequency, dysuria and a clitoral mass, which was found to be a poorly differentiated carcinoma on fine needle aspiration cytology. Cystoscopy revealed a moderate to poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder. CONCLUSION: This is the first reported case of a squamous cell carcinoma of the bladder with clitoral metastasis. Clitoral metastases are exceptionally rare, with only seven previous cases reported in the literature. Although the commonest cause of cliteromegaly is hormonal, a metastatic carcinoma should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in the elderly female.

Targeting of bladder cancer with monoclonal antibody NCRC48--a possible approach for intravesical therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the localization of the anti-MUC1 mucin monoclonal antibody (mAb) NCRC48 to bladder cancer following intravesical administration. PATIENTS AND METHODS: mAb NCRC48 (330-500 micrograms) radiolabelled with 111indium (11-17 MBq) was administered intravesically to 12 unselected patients with radiological evidence of bladder cancer. Tumour localization was assessed by gamma-camera imaging and by tissue biodistribution studies on biopsies obtained at cystoscopy at about 2 or 24 h after the procedure. After 24 h, whole blood radioactivity was measured and 3 weeks after the procedure the serum level of human anti-mouse antibodies was estimated using an ELISA method. RESULTS: Eleven patients had tumours confirmed at cystoscopy (grades 1-3, stages pTa-pT2). The mean uptake of NCRC48 by tumour and by normal urothelium (expressed as the percentage of the instilled dose/g x 10(3) +/- SD) at 2 h was 3.42 +/- 3.68 and 0.41 +/- 0.77 (P < 0.05). After 24 h, the values for tumour and normal urothelium were 1.17 +/- 1.18 and 0.17 +/- 0.11, respectively. Areas of increased activity on the scintigrams were consistent with the position of the tumours at cystoscopy. No radioactivity was detected in blood at 24 h and there was no evidence of a human anti-mouse antibody response. CONCLUSION: The MUC1 mucin may be a suitable antigen to study the potential of therapeutic strategies based on monoclonal antibody targeting of superficial bladder cancer and may allow the development of more effective agents in the treatment of this condition.

Primary pneumococcal peritonitis.

Primary pneumococcal peritonitis is an uncommon condition which in the preantibiotic era was associated with a high mortality rate. We present two cases and discuss the aetiology, clinical features and management of this condition.

PIP: Primary pneumococcal peritonitis is an uncommon condition 1st identified in 1885. It occurs when peritoneal inflammation is present in the absence of an intraabdominal source of infection. In the preantibiotic era, the condition accounted for 2% of childhood abdominal emergencies largely among girls aged 2-10 years. Mortality was 42-100%, with death sometimes occurring within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms. This condition now present in female adults, is associated with IUD use, and is comparatively common in India. Consideration should therefore be given to the existence of primary pneumococcal peritonitis when diagnosing and managing abdominal emergencies. The pneumococcus may enter the peritoneal cavity via the female genital tract, blood, or through transmural spread from the gastrointestinal tract. No evidence supports a relationship between type of IUD and/or length of time in place, and the onset of peritonitis. Given pneumococcus' commensal existence in the upper respiratory tract, urogenital sex may facilitate its entrance to the peritoneal cavity through the female genital tract. Abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting generally present, while the patient may also be pyrexial and dehydrated. In diagnosing this condition, the practitioner may confuse it with acute appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, or gastroenteritis if in the early stages of peritonitis. Diagnosis is often confirmed only thorough laparotomy, but abdominal paracentesis and/or abdominal ultrasound may also be employed as diagnostic aids. Laparotomy and a regime of antibiotics is the preferred treatment. 2 case studies are discussed.