Osteoblastoma in the Distal Humerus of a Cat.

A 7-year-old neutered male domestic shorthair cat was presented with chronic lameness in the right forelimb. A cystic bony lesion was identified in the distal right humerus and amputation was performed. The epiphyseal trabecular bones of the capitulum and trochlea was replaced by a tan to pink, expansile mass that was surrounded by a thin rim of cortical bone. Microscopically, the tumour was composed of a bland, osteoid producing spindle cell population within a well-vascularized fibrous stroma. Radiographical and histological features were consistent with osteoblastoma. Osteoblastoma and the related osteoid osteoma are uncommon, benign osteoblastic tumours that are reported rarely in animals. These tumours should be considered as differential diagnoses for slow growing, cystic bony lesions in cats.

Perforating ocular injuries caused by anesthesia personnel.

Between February 1988 and May 1990, the authors treated 12 perforating ocular injuries caused by anesthetic injections around the eye. All 12 injections were performed by nonophthalmologists. Eleven were performed by anesthesiologists and one by a certified nurse anesthetist. Five were caused by blunt needles and seven by sharp needles. Two of the eyes had multiple posterior exit wounds. The five eyes that had sharp needle, single perforations (i.e., one entrance wound and one exit wound) were easily managed with cryopexy, laser, or observation. All five of these eyes have a visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Six vitrectomies were performed on the five patients with single perforations caused by blunt needles; three of these eyes have a visual acuity of counting fingers or worse. The two patients who had multiple posterior exit wounds required a total of four procedures. The visual acuity in these eyes is 20/400 and light perception. Anesthesia personnel should be well trained before attempting ocular anesthesia. The use of blunt needles does not prevent ocular penetration.

The pattern of presentation of carcinoma of the uterine cervix in East Anglia 1960 to 1975.

Changes in the pattern of presentation of carcinoma of the uterine cervix between 1960 and 1975 were studied using the records of 3193 patients registered with the East Anglian Cancer Registration Bureau. Between 1963 and 1968, an increased registration rate for invasive tumours was largely attributable to increased registrations of Stage I and II lesions in the 35 to 49 age group. After 1970 the registration rate for lesions of all stages in this age group declined. Over the same period the 50 to 64 age group showed a tendency for an increased proportion of registrations to be of Stage I or II lesions. There was little change in pattern in the over-65 age group. The possible relation of these changes to the introduction of a cervical cytology screening programme and the implications for future screening policies are discussed.

Recidivism among patients with gonococcal infection presenting to a venereal disease clinic.

We studied the incidence of gonorrhea, gonococcal recidivism and related factors in venereal disease clinic patients. A sample of 2029 records, which were selected randomly, were reviewed. Gonorrhea and gonococcal recidivism were more common in nonwhite patients, particularly in nonwhite men. Gonorrhea occurred more than once in 23% of the patients with gonorrhea and those patients accounted for 48% of all cases of gonorrhea. We also interviewed 627 new patients attending the venereal disease clinic. Gonococcal recidivism was reported more often by older men and younger women. Use of contraceptives was less frequent among white women who were gonococcal recidivists. However, contraception was not used by 40% of the patients or their partners. Gonococcal isolation rates were lowest in men who used condoms. The number of sexual partners did not correlate with age, use of contraceptives or results of cultures for gonococci. Men had more sexual partners than women and white women had more partners than non-white women. Nine percent of patients took oral antibiotics prior to their visit to the clinic; antibiotic ingestion did not correlate with the patients' race or the results of their cultures.