Clinicopathological Pattern of Penile Cancer in a Tertiary Care Centre in Nepal.

INTRODUCTION: Carcinoma of penis is an uncommon entity. The higher incidence in developing country may be because of poor hygiene, less common practice of circumcision and unsafe sexual practice. Timely diagnosis and intervention gives the patient a chance of cure. Data on penile cancer is sparse from Nepal so treatment of penile cancer in our centre is presented here. METHODS: This was a retrospective cross-sectional study done at Urology unit of Department of Surgery of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Nepal from November, 2007 to December, 2013. Data was retrieved from case records and those with penile carcinoma were included. Patient demographics, lesion characteristics, mode of treatment with outcome measures were noted and analyzed. RESULTS: Total 17 patients underwent treatment for primary penile lesion. Mean age of the patients was 51.5 years. Penile growth was the most frequent presentation with five patients coming with more than one symptom. The most common site was over glans of penis (n=13) with the mean size of 3.55 cm. Partial penectomy was offered in 16 with one patient undergoing circumcision only. Inguinal lymph node dissection was done in four patients. Squamous cell carcinoma was the histological diagnosis in 15 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Penile carcinoma is primarily a disease of old. Growth over glans penis is the most common presentation and partial penectomy is feasible in most of the patients to allow oncological cure while preserving the organ for its native function.

Nephron sparing surgery in a tertiary care center in Nepal--an initial experience.

BACKGROUND: Malignant renal mass accounts for 2 to 3% of all malignant diseases in adults. Radical surgery used to be the treatment of choice with high propensity to develop chronic kidney disease in the compromised contralateral kidney. Currently, nephron sparing surgery is considered to be the standard of care with equivalent oncological outcome. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of patients with renal mass less than seven cm in size who had open nephron sparing surgery from July 2012 to Sep 2013 at Tribhuvan university teaching hospital, Nepal. Latest follow up either from record or over telephone was documented. RESULTS: Eight patients (mean age 45 years, male: female ratio1:1.6) underwent nephron sparing surgery over the specified period. Mean size of tumor was 4.75 cm. Mean ischemia time was 16.37 min. Histopathological diagnosis was benign in two and renal cell carcinoma in six patients. CONCLUSIONS: Nephron sparing surgery is safe in low stage renal tumors. It also prevents unnecessary nephrectomy in benign lesions and prevents negative sequelae of long term chronic renal impairment in remaining contralateral kidney.

Revisiting appendicular lump.

INTRODUCTION: Appendicular lump is a well known sequalae of acute appendicitis encountered in 2-6% of patients. Successful management of appendicular lump is controversial with different approaches. As many controversies are arising regarding management of appendicular lump. The aim of this study was to find out the outcome and evaluate possible need of changing our management strategy of appendicular lump. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of the patients managed with appendicular lump were done. All the patients admitted with diagnosis of appendicular lump and managed between, over two and half years, were included in the study. All age groups and both sex were included. Any patients whose diagnosis was changed after initial diagnosis of appendicular lump were excluded from the study. RESULTS: Total 75 patients had appendicular lump suggesting 10% incidence. Age varied between 11-83 years with nearly equal incidence in both sexes. Majority had onset of symptoms between 2 to 14 days with an average of 4 days. Average stay was 3 to 4 days. During study period, 12 (16%) came with recurrence and 13 (17%) cases came for elective appendectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our finding, it is not sufficient to change our classical management strategy of appendicular lump and suggests a need for long term prospective study in this very common clinical condition.

Effect of stressful environmental factors upon neonatal immune system.

To examine the effects of stressful environmental conditions upon the immune system of the newborn (neonates), we analyzed the neonatal serum immunoglobulin levels in a total of 67 neonates from tribal families living in a rural community of eastern India. These cases were grouped into three categories, based upon the predominance of one of the three factors being analyzed, and the reasonable absence of the other two factors. The three factors as determined by the prevailing environmental conditions, which were the basis for forming the three groups, were: 1. indoor air pollution; 2. hygienic conditions, and 3. the cohabitation of domesticated animals in the same household as the infants's families. Presence of indoor air pollution or unhygienic conditions resulted in the disturbance and depression of the levels of serum immunoglobulins of different classes. There was no discernible correlation found between the levels of immunoglobulins of different classes from the neonates (except IgM) and the cohabitation of domesticated animals in the same households. However the incidence of GIT and RT infections was higher in all the three experimental groups, as compared to the control group. These results suggest that unfavorable environmental conditions can adversely affect the immune system at neonatal stages, and can increase their susceptibility to subsequent acute or chronic events.