Unusual contribution of the first jejunal vein in the formation of the portal vein.

Jejunum is drained into superior mesenteric vein through a series of jejunal veins. The way in which the first jejunal vein terminates is of great importance in upper abdominal surgery and radiological procedures. Knowledge of its variations is particularly important in surgical procedures like orthotropic hepatic transplantation, hepatic vein reconstruction, pancreatic surgery and surgical procedures of duodenojejunal junction. We saw a first jejunal vein opening directly into the portal vein. Further, the inferior mesenteric vein drained into the first jejunal vein. This case could be useful to gastroenterologists, general surgeons and radiologists.

Complete enclosure of gall bladder inside the lesser omentum - a rare anomaly.

Gall bladder is known for many congenital anomalies such as duplication, intrahepatic position, floating position etc. Most of its anomalies can be detected in ultrasound examination and radiography. We report an extremely rare congenital anomaly of gall bladder as observed in a male cadaver during dissection classes. The gall bladder was totally enclosed in the right free margin of the lesser omentum, in front of the usual contents of the right free margin of lesser omentum. The size, shape and blood supply of the gall bladder were normal. Though this anomaly might not cause any functional disturbances, it might result in complications during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Concurrent Variations of Celiac and Superior Mesenteric Arteries.

Celiac trunk is the first ventral branch of the abdominal aorta. It usually terminates by giving three branches; the common hepatic artery, the left gastric artery and the splenic artery. We report a rare variation of the branching pattern of the celiac trunk. The Celiac trunk divided into two branches; left gastric artery and splenicogastroduodenal trunk. The splenico-gastroduodenal trunk divided into splenic and gastroduodenal arteries. The superior mesenteric artery and hepatic artery took origin from a common hepato-mesenteric trunk. The hepatic artery had a winding course around the portal vein and hepatic duct. The knowledge of these variations is important while doing radiological investigations and liver transplant and pancreatic surgeries.

Terminal bifurcation of the right testicular vein and left testicular arterio-venous anastomosis.

The testis is the organ upon which the survival of the human species depends. Abnormalities of testicular vessels may lead to loss of gametogenesis and hormone production. Reported here is a case of bilateral variations of the testicular vessels observed in a male cadaver during the first year MBBS dissection classes. The right testicular vein bifurcated into two veins just before its termination and both the branches terminated into the inferior vena cava. The left testicular artery arose from the abdominal aorta just above the level of origin of the inferior mesenteric artery. There was an arterio-venous anastomosis between the left testicular vein and the left testicular artery. The arterio-venous anastomosis might be functionally important as it can change the quality of the blood entering the testis.

Changes in in vivo optical properties and light distributions in normal canine prostate during photodynamic therapy.

The optical absorption and transport scattering coefficients of normal prostate tissue have been measured in vivo in dogs. The measurements were made at 630 nm before and during treatment by Photofin photodynamic therapy using interstitial optical fiber fluence-rate detectors. Corresponding measurements were made ex vivo, at 1 week after treatment, in the contralateral lobe. The optical properties were derived by applying a diffusion theory model to the fluence rates measured at two different source-detector fiber distances. While the in vivo pretreatment and in vivo contralateral post-treatment absorption and scattering values are self-consistent and in agreement with published data, significant changes were observed in the light fluence rates, and hence in the derived optical properties, during light irradiation. The possible causes of such changes are considered, and the implications for light dosimetry in photodynamic therapy are discussed.

Small-bowel perforations. A study of 32 cases.

We studied 32 consecutive cases of small-bowel perforations treated in a single surgical unit during the last three years. Clinical features are typical and diagnosis is not difficult. Suprapubic peritoneal paracentesis in head-high position is the most accurate diagnostic investigation. Ultimate results are not related to cause, but are directly proportional to the degree of contamination of the peritoneal cavity, delay in manifestation, antibiotic resistance of the contaminating organism, and the method of treatment of the perforation. There were two deaths in the 16 patients who had exteriorization of the suture line (12.5%), compared with seven deaths in the group of 16 patients who did not have exteriorization (43.75%). Exteriorization of the suture line (16 cases) is a superior method of treatment and significantly lowers the mortality.

Specific investigations in chronic urinary bilharziasis.

Seventy-two patients with histologically confirmed chronic urinary bilharziasis were studied for the reliability of some specific investigative tools in diagnosing this disease, namely urinalysis, serology, urography, and cystoscopy. Of the 72 patients 36 (50%) had hematuria and only 3 (4%) had ova of Schistosoma haematobium on urinalysis. Sixty-two patients (86%) had features of bilharziasis on intravenous urography (IVU). Of the remaining 10 patients with negative urography 6 underwent serology and all had positive results. Of the total patients 52 underwent serology and 49 had significant bilharzial antibody titer (94.2%). At cystoscopy all patients (100%) had features of bilharziasis. It is concluded that the most reliable diagnostic tools in chronic urinary bilharziasis are cystoscopy, serology, and to a lesser extent urography. Unlike early bilharziasis, chronic bilharziasis can be missed if total reliance is placed on urinalysis for screening a population at risk.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia (GT) is an uncommon cause of bleeding in children. We diagnosed two siblings as having GT on the basis of flow cytometric studies. Both had cutaneous bleedings and epistaxis since early childhood. Hematological investigations revealed prolonged bleeding time and a normal platelet count. Both the patients had absence of aggregation of platelets with the agonist adenosine diphosphate. Absence of the GPIIb/IIIa receptor was confirmed by flow cytometry. A short review of the disorder is presented.

Bilharzial and nonbilharzial bladder cancer in Asir: A comparative clinicopathological study.

A total of 48 bladder cancer patients out of 96 consecutive genitourinary cancer cases were divided into bilharzial and nonbilharzial groups on a histological basis in order to investigate the impact of bilharziasis on tumor behavior. Despite being a bilharzial endemic area, only 10/48 (21%) of our patients had bilharzial cancer (BC) of whom 8 (80%) had squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and 2 (20%) had adenocarcinoma. Out of 38 patients with nonbilharzial cancer (NBC), 35 (92%) had transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), and 3 (8%) had SCC. BC in males presented at a younger age than NBC (P<0.05). All ten patients with BC presented with deeply invasive (T3 and T4) tumors as compared to 22/38 (58%) with NBC (P<0.05). Comparison of clinical and laboratory features in both groups in both groups did not reveal any significant difference. We conclude that in the Asir region, TCC is the most common bladder cancer. However, with bilharziasis, bladder cancer tends to be of the squamous type and presents at an earlier age and at an advanced stage.

Is intravenous urography mandatory in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia?

Fifty-four consecutive patients with uncomplicated benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) underwent intravenous urography (IVU) and ultrasonography (US) to observe the benefits of IVU over US. The parameters used were upper tract abnormalities detected on both modalities and the influence of radiological prostatic impression (RPI) on the route of surgery and its comparison to digitally estimated prostatic size (DEP). Both RPI and DEP were compared to the adenoma weight (AW). Correlation of RPI and DEP was excellent (87.5%) in grade III but poor in grades I and II. RPI and AW correlated well in grade III (100%) and was also significant in grades I and II, whereas DEP correlated well with AW in all grades. Both RPI and DEP could predict the route of prostatectomy accurately in grades I and III, whereas in grade II, RPI was marginally better in predicting the route. There was no upper tract abnormalities that were detected on IVU and missed by US. In conclusion, IVU did not add any additional information beyond that obtained by rectal examination and US to alter the surgical approach and hence the routine use of urography in uncomplicated BPH should be questioned in Saudi Arabia.

Ossifying fibromyxoid tumour of the sphenoid sinus.

INTRODUCTION: Ossifying fibromyxoid tumour is a recently described, rare but morphologically distinctive soft tissue neoplasm characterised by a combination of myxoid and/or fibrous stroma with areas of ossification. Although most authors postulate a neuroectodermal origin for this peculiar tumour, there is no agreement in the literature regarding its histopathogenesis. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of ossifying fibromyxoid tumour involving the sphenoid sinus. HISTOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Tumour of low cell density, composed of small, spindle-shaped or stellate cells with small, irregular nuclei set in a fibromyxoid stroma. MANAGEMENT: Following discussion at the skull base multidisciplinary team meeting, a combined surgical team including an otorhinolaryngologist and a neurosurgeon carried out resection of the lesion, using an endoscopic transnasal approach, followed by reconstruction of the defect. CONCLUSIONS: An awareness of the distinctive histopathological features of ossifying fibromyxoid tumour, and of its clinical effects, is crucial to establishing a definitive diagnosis and thereby instituting appropriate management. This case report also reinforces the evolving role of the endoscopic transnasal approach in the management of inflammatory and neoplastic disease involving the skull base. This is increasingly being made possible by close collaboration between multiple surgical specialties, including otorhinolaryngology and neurosurgery.

The current role of prostatic acid phosphatase and prostate-specific antigen in the management of prostate cancer.

Although PSA is considered to be the true serum marker of prostatic tissue and a valuable indicator for cancer in the gland, knowledge of its significance and limitations is essential to its use for screening, staging, and monitoring CAP. PSA may be used in conjunction with DRE for early detection of CAP. Men with abnormal DRE should have a TRUS with or without biopsy. In men older than 50 years and with negative DRE and PSA < 4 ng/mL, annual evaluations are prudent. In patients with a PSA range of 4.0 to 9.9 ng/mL, high-risk groups such as black males and those with a positive family history should have TRUS. Males with negative DRE in the PSA range of 4.0 to 9.9 ng/mL should have TRUS to evaluate prostate volume and PSAD. Biopsy should be considered in those with PSAD > 0.15. Men with PSA > 10 ng/mL, even in the presence of an enlarged benign prostate, should have multiple directed biopsies under TRUS guidance.

Bilateral bone anchor vaginal vault suspension: an initial report of a new technique.

Vaginal vault prolapse is usually treated by sacrospinous fixation. Although this procedure is very effective, it is associated with various complications that include injury to the pudendal neurovascular structures, the sciatic nerve, and/or chronic gluteal pain. A safer and simpler modification of sacrospinous vaginal vault suspension using the Vesica bone anchor kit is reported. Vaginal vault prolapse was corrected in six patients by suspending the apex of the vaginal vault to the ischial spine with Vesica bone anchors. Bladder neck suspension and correction of other vault pathology was performed at the same time. All patients had complete relief of their prolapse and have demonstrated no recurrence during the brief mean follow-up period of 7 months.

Measurements of serum gamma-seminoprotein and prostate specific antigen evaluated for monitoring carcinoma of the prostate.

We have compared the concentrations in serum of gamma-seminoprotein (gamma-SM) and prostate specific antigen (PSA), two antigens of prostatic origin that are synthesized independently of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP, EC 3.1.3.2), to assess their potential in monitoring prostatic cancer. At presentation, 27/30 (90%) patients with metastases had a PSA concentration greater than 10 ng/mL, and 29/30 (97%) a gamma-SM concentration greater than 10 ng/mL; 21/61 (34%) with disease but without metastases had an abnormal content of PSA, and 23/61 (38%) an abnormal gamma-SM. Concentrations of PSA and gamma-SM were significantly correlated (r = 0.68, p less than 0.001). In 20 patients without metastases followed longitudinally, the median concentrations of gamma-SM, PSA, and PAP in the 13 patients who developed bony metastases or showed signs of local spreading of the tumor were 58 ng/mL, 34 ng/mL, and 2.1 U/L, respectively. The corresponding median values in the seven patients who remained clinically stable were 2.5 and 3.9 ng/mL, and 2.3 U/L. We conclude that either PSA or gamma-SM can warn of disease progression when PAP activities are still within normal limits.

Genito-urinary complications of brucellosis.

Twelve cases of genito-urinary complications of brucellosis are presented. Ten patients had epididymo-orchitis, 1 presented with right hydronephrosis and 1 with haematuria and dysuria. The 10 cases of epididymo-orchitis were compared with 15 cases of acute non-specific epididymo-orchitis. The former were of longer duration and were not associated with lower urinary tract symptoms; almost all of these patients had ingested unpasteurised milk. Non-specific epididymo-orchitis had a more acute onset, shorter duration and was associated more frequently with pyuria, lower urinary tract symptoms, higher leucocyte counts and insignificant brucella titres. The distinction between these two types of epididymo-orchitis is essential, since the treatments are entirely different.

The source of organisms in the post-prostatectomy bacteriuria of patients with pre-operative sterile urine.

Ninety patients undergoing prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) with sterile urine pre-operatively were prospectively studied for post-prostatectomy bacteriuria; 26 of 90 patients (29%) developed bacteriuria (18 of 64 after transurethral resection (TUR) and 8 of 26 after open prostatectomy), of whom 15 had pre-operative indwelling urethral catheters. The correlation of bacteriuria with several factors was studied, namely the presence of a histological inflammatory reaction within the prostatic adenoma, prostatic culture, intra-operative outgoing irrigation fluid culture, intra-operative blood culture and post-operative external meatal swab culture. The only significant correlation was between bacteriuria and meatal cultures. It was concluded that post-prostatectomy bacteriuria is probably caused by post-operative ascending infection along urethral catheters. There was not enough evidence to ascribe bacteriuria to pre-existing septic foci within the adenoma. Intra-operative contamination and infection from distant foci were also unlikely causes.

Management of partial segmental priapism.

We report the cases of 2 patients with partial segmental priapism. The patients presented with pain, a perineal mass, and proximal segmental corporal thrombosis. Treatment consisted of a proximal corpus cavernosal-spongiosum shunt. Diagnostic considerations, literature review, and treatment options are discussed.

Prognostic factors in the conservative treatment of ureteric stones.

A prospective study was made of 125 ureteric stones in order to detect factors which would predict the successful outcome of conservative treatment. The factors studied were the duration of pain prior to presentation, pyuria, haematuria, surface regularity of the stone and the degree of obstruction as seen radiologically. In stones less than or equal to 10 mm in size, conservative treatment was successful when the duration of pain was less than 30 days (39/45), when there was no significant pyuria (53/82), when the stones had an irregular surface (44/65) and when obstruction was only partial (55/88). Since most of these factors were interactive, further statistical analysis showed that duration of pain was the only significant factor in predicting the outcome of conservative treatment. In stones greater than 10 mm in size these factors had no predictive value and only 2/23 were passed spontaneously on conservative treatment.

Hydatid disease of the urinary tract: evaluation of diagnostic methods.

Eight patients with histologically proven hydatid disease of the urinary tract underwent eosinophil count, ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT). The findings were compared with those in 8 age-matched controls with simple renal cysts. Eosinophilia was not significantly different in the 2 groups. Mixed echogenicity on US and multivesicular cyst with mixed density on CT were the diagnostic features of hydatid cysts. Using these factors, both US and CT could diagnose or exclude hydatid disease in a significant number of patients with renal cysts. However, CT was more sensitive (88 vs 50%) and accurate (94 vs 75%) than US in the diagnosis of urinary tract hydatid disease. Retrograde pyelography confirmed communicating renal hydatid cysts in 2 patients. A practical algorithm for the investigation of urinary tract hydatid disease is suggested.