Cervical precancerous and cancerous lesions screening using Pap smear test at Provincial Referral Hospital of Bukavu, Eastern DR Congo: profile and recommendations to stakeholders.

Introduction: cervical cancer is a health concern worldwide. The South Kivu Province in the Eastern DR Congo is facing many cases of this disease but poorly screened and reported. The objective of this was to determine the prevalence of cell abnormalities at cervical cytology in a tertiary teaching hospital in Bukavu and their association with common risk factors of cervical cancer. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted on 142 women attending the Provincial Referral Hospital of Bukavu (HPGRB) from February to December 2021. Quantitative variables were described by their median following their asymmetric distributions and the qualitative variables in absolute and relative frequencies. Then the Chi-square test was used for the comparison of proportion. Results: forty-five percent of the participants had between three and five children. Twenty-two (15.5%) of the 142 patients reported to have two or more sexual partners and 17.5% reported the use of hormonal contraception. The prevalence of cell abnormalities at cervical cytology was 17% of which Low- Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion (LSIL) was the most representative (12.9%). There was no statistically significant association between the common cervical risk factors and the occurrence of cell abnormalities. Conclusion: cervical pre-cancerous lesions are frequent in South Kivu province. The Pap smear test remains an early and affordable screening method and constitutes a secondary prevention strategy in women of 18 years and older in a low-income country such as DR Congo where vaccination against HPV is still hypothetic.

Multiple Bladder Diverticula Presenting in an 82-Year-Old Congolese Male.

Bladder diverticulum is a congenital malformation characterized by the outpouching of the bladder following an obstruction of urine flux. We present a case of 82-year-old Congolese male patient presented at our facility with a poor urinary stream and lower abdominal pain. A distended abdomen was found on physical examination while the external genitalia were normal. All blood laboratory values were found to be within normal ranges. The patient's urine analysis revealed an uncountable number of white blood cells. Ultrasonography revealed multiple diverticula in the right posterolateral and posterior wall. An ultrasound of the abdomen revealed numerous bladder diverticula in the bladder's left posterolateral and posterior aspects, mild right-sided hydronephrosis, and severe left hydronephrosis with a thinned-out cortex. Both ureters were normal. A computed tomographic (CT) scan of the abdomen confirmed the diagnosis. The patient underwent an open laparotomy which allowed complete ablation of the diverticula followed by bladder wall repair. A one-week course of antibiotics was prescribed, and the patient was discharged fully recovered with no immediate complications. Although bladder diverticula are a congenital malformation, the presence of multiple diverticula suggests that the condition is acquired. In elderly patients, open laparotomy combined with intravenous antibiotics yields positive results.