Lymphoma and Other Lymph Node Pathologies Among Adult Patients with Lymphadenopathy in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Lymphadenopathy is usually due to benign or malignant conditions. It can also be local or systemic in distribution and can involve peripheral or deep-seated lymph nodes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of lymphoma and the distribution pattern of lymph node pathologies among adult patients who presented with lymphadenopathy and its relationship with age and sex. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted, and a record of all cases of lymphadenopathy with histological diagnosis over 5-year period (January 2017 to December 2021) was extracted from Departments of Anatomical Pathology of Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki. The data generated were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software, version 26. RESULTS: One hundred and ninety results were extracted with an age range of 18 to 94 years and a mean age of 41 ± 16 years. They were made up of 75 (39.5%) males and 115 (60.5%) females, with a male-to-female ratio of 1:1.5. The prevalence of lymphoma was 50.0% (95/190). Thirty-five (18.4%) were Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), while 60 (31.6%) were non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Other pathologies manifested by cases of lymphadenopathy include metastatic tumor deposits (38 (20%)), reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (29 (15.3%)), and tuberculous lymphadenitis (18 (9.5%)). Others include sinus histiocytosis (4 (2.1%)), dermatopathic lymphadenitis (5 (2.6%)), and Castleman's disease (1 (0.5%)). CONCLUSION: About half of all patients who presented with lymphadenopathy were lymphoma with a high prevalence of 50%, and the majority were NHL. Other major causes of lymphadenopathy were metastatic tumor deposits, reactive lymphoid hyperplasia, and tuberculous lymphadenitis. Any case of lymphadenopathy should be properly investigated early for effective management.

Diagnostic accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology for palpable breast lumps in a Nigerian teaching hospital.

BACKGROUND: Breast lump is a very common problem in the surgical units of many hospitals. Considering our unique socio-cultural and economic peculiarities, the ideal initial preoperative diagnostic tool for breast diseases should be cost-effective, simple with minimal physical and psychological trauma. AIMS: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) in the management of palpable breast lesions in our center. METHODSOLOGY: This is a prospective study that lasted for one year. Fine needle aspiration cytology was done after clinical examination of all patients who gave consent. Open surgical biopsy was used as a reference standard. RESULTS: One hundred and fifteen patients were enrolled. We found that unsatisfactory smears (C1) were seven (6.1%), benign smears (C2), 57 (49.6%), atypical smears (C3), five (4.3%), suspicious of malignancy smears (C4), six (5.2%) and unequivocally malignant smears (C5), 40 (34.8%). Fine needle aspiration cytology achieved high sensitivity (90.4%), specificity (93.7%), positive predictive value (92.2%), negative predictive value (92.2%) and overall diagnostic accuracy (92.2%) for breast lumps in this study. The false positive and negative rates of 7.8% each are both higher than values recommended by National Health Services Breast Screening Program (NHSBSP) of United Kingdom. CONCLUSION: In view of the high sensitivity, specificity and overall diagnostic accuracy combined with early retrieval of pathologic results on first clinic visit reported in this study, FNAC should become a useful tool in the management of breast lumps in our center.

The need for high index of suspicion in early diagnosis of typhoid fever in young children.

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of typhoid fever in young children is more difficult than in the adult due to the unusual pattern of presentation. This letter aims to sensitize general physicians and paediatricians on the need for a high index of suspicion in the diagnosis of typhoid fever in children. METHOD: The case records of a child diagnosed with typhoid fever and a review of literature on the subject were used. RESULT: A five year old female misdiagnosed as a case of severe malaria and sepsis was found to have typhoid fever on post mortem examination. CONCLUSION: It is important to make an early diagnosis of typhoid fever in young children in order to prevent mortality from this treatable disease.

Dicephalic-dipus: a case report.

Bipagous conjoined twins are rare with an incidence of 1 in 50,000 to 1 in 100,000 births, but rarer still are heteropagous dicephalic dipus with an incidence of 0.1-0.2 per 10,000 births. No more than 4 sets of such surviving twins-sharing an undivided torso and two legs have been recorded in history consequently, the usual recommendation is for termination of pregnancy following prenatal diagnosis since historically, postnatal survival is unlikely. We present a case of dicephalic-dipus seen in our institution.

Effect in inutero exposure to an aqueous extract of Hibiscus Sabdariffa on offspring's postnatal growth in Sprague-Dawley rats

"In folk medicine; extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (HS) are used in the treatment of several complaints including high blood pressure; liver diseases and fever. To the best of our knowledge; no documented evidence exists on the effect of inutero exposure to an aqueous extract of HS on postnatal growth. The purpose of the present study; therefore; was to investigate this. Three groups of pregnant rats were used for this study. Group C had tap water while groups A and B had 0.6g and 1.8g HS extract respectively in 100ml tap water to drink throughout pregnancy. All groups had normal rat chow ad libitum. On the day of birth; birth weights were recorded and two pups each from dams in groups A and B were substituted for 4 pups from dams in group C such that dams in group C had two pups each from groups A and B and at least two pups from its own litters to nurse. Thereafter; weights were recorded at 10days; 14days; 20days and 34 days postpartum.Results of the present study show a statistically significant (p0.05) growth reduction in groups A and B pups (exposed group) compared with group C (unexposed group) at 10 days through 20 days postpartum with no statistically significant growth reduction at 34 days postpartum. We conclude that inutero exposure to an aqueous extract of HS attenuates early postnatal growth in SD rats with a possible ""catch-up"" growth later in life."

Effect of Inutero Exposure to an Aqueous Extract of Hibicus Sabdariffa on Offspring's Postnatal Growth in Sprague-Dawley Rats

"In folk medicine; extracts of Hibiscus Sabdariffa (HS) are used in the treatment of several complaints including high blood pressure; liver diseases and fever. To the best of our knowledge; no documented evidence exists on the effect of inutero exposure to an aqueous extract of HS on postnatal growth. The purpose of the present study; therefore; was to investigate this. Three groups of pregnant rats were used for this study. Group C had tap water while groups A and B had 0.6g and 1.8g HS extract respectively in 100ml tap water to drink throughout pregnancy. All groups had normal rat chow ad libitum. On the day of birth; birth weights were recorded and two pups each from dams in groups A and B were substituted for 4 pups from dams in group C such that dams in group C had two pups each from groups A and B and at least two pups from its own litters to nurse. Thereafter; weights were recorded at 10days; 14days; 20days and 34 days postpartum. Results of the present study show a statistically significant (p0.05) growth reduction in groups A and B pups (exposed group) compared with group C (unexposed group) at 10 days through 20 days postpartum with no statistically significant growth reduction at 34 days postpartum. We conclude that inutero exposure to an aqueous extract of HS attenuates early postnatal growth in SD rats with a possible ""catch-up"" growth later in life."