Simultaneous duct ectasia of accessory and normally located breast.

Accessory breast and duct ectasia are common clinical problems in their own right. However, their coexistence is a rare entity. Duct ectasia is a dilation in one or more of the larger lactiferous duct filled with a stagnant brown or green secretion, which may or may not discharge through the nipple. This material acts as an irritant and leads to periductal mastitis. Duct ectasia may present with subareolar mass, nipple discharge, nipple retraction, non-cyclical mastalgia or mammary fistula. Surgical options are microdochectomy or cone excision of major ducts. This case report describes the presence of duct ectasia in both accessory breast situated in the axilla and ipsilateral normal breast simultaneously.

Medical ethics in surgical wards: knowledge, attitude and practice of surgical team members in Karachi.

A survey was undertaken to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of medical ethics among surgical residents and interns in three teaching hospitals of Karachi, Pakistan. 101 out of 120 completed responses were included in the study. Fifty-one respondents had heard about the Code of Ethics formulated by the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council. Forty-four had read the code. Seven had no knowledge about it. Forty-seven reported taking consent for procedures. Forty-two respondents gave correct answers on questions of confidentiality and knowledge of law pertaining to trauma victims. Only 11 reported having been taught ethics as students. Four did not feel the need of its teaching at an undergraduate level. Doctors graduating within the last 10 years gave fewer correct answers than those graduating earlier. Knowledge of medical ethics and its application on the surgical floors is extremely poor. The survey results support the view that medical ethics should be part of the undergraduate medical curriculum.