Evaluation of buffy-coat microscopy for the early diagnosis of bacteraemia.

Three hundred and sixty samples of blood from 230 hospital patients were examined and compared with the results of simultaneous blood culture to determine the value of buffy-coat microscopy in detecting bacteraemia. One observer found 86 positive smears, 12 of which were from patients with positive blood cultures and 74 from patients with negative blood cultures. The buffy-coat smear was negative in 274 specimens, 8 of which yielded positive blood cultures. A second observer considered that only 34 of the buffy coats were positive. Only six of these were associated with positive blood cultures. Although there was a statistically significant association between positive smears and positive blood cultures, the procedure has little practical value because of the high incidence of false positives and negatives.

Completeness of excision and follow up cytology in patients treated with loop excision biopsy.

AIMS: To assess the relation between the grade and the status of follow up cytology, the completeness of loop excision biopsies with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), and the findings at follow up cytology, as well as the differences between complete and incomplete exclusion, using the odds ratio. Treatment failure was assessed. METHODS: 1600 women with CIN (290 CIN1, 304 CIN2, 1006 CIN3) were followed for a minimum of six months and a maximum of 10 years. A database was created and comparisons performed. The mean age of the patients was 37 years. RESULTS: Excision was complete in over 84% of loops. Residual disease and recurrence of high grade dyskaryosis was more common in women with CIN 3 than CIN 2 or 1. No high grade dyskaryosis was seen in the fifth follow up smear in patients with CIN 1 and CIN 2. Residual, recurrent, and persistent disease was most common in patients with incompletely excised CIN at ectocervical and endocervical margins and deep margins of resection than in patients with completely excised CIN. The odds ratios were significantly higher in the women who had incomplete excision of CIN at ectocervical, endocervical, both ecto- and endocervical, and deep margins of resection compared with those with apparent complete excision of CIN lesions. One patient developed invasive squamous cell carcinoma 44 months after loop excision which showed CIN 3 invading endocervical crypts and extending to both ectocervical and endocervical margins of resection. CONCLUSIONS: At long term follow up, patients with CIN who have residual disease are at increased risk of persistent disease and should therefore be followed up regularly with cytology and colposcopy. The findings support national policy of returning women with treated CIN of any grade to normal recall after five years except for cases of CIN3 where excision was incomplete or equivocal. In these cases follow up with annual smear for 10 years is recommended.

Crohn's disease of the appendix.

This study reports eight patients who underwent appendicectomy between 1978 and 1986 for apparently isolated, previously undiagnosed Crohn's disease of the appendix. All patients have since remained well with no sign of disease recurrence. This may represent a less aggressive form of Crohn's disease or be a different entity, namely granulomatous appendicitis.

Extraskeletal Ewings sarcoma of the small bowel: case report and literature review.

Extraskeletal Ewings sarcoma is a tumour of neuroectodermal origin sharing close similarities with Ewings sarcoma of bone. We report the case of a 21 year old 16 week pregnant woman presenting with vomiting and weight loss and found to have an extraskeletal Ewings sarcoma of the small bowel. In a review of the literature there are no previous reports of extraskeletal Ewings sarcoma occurring in the small bowel. The diagnosis of extraskeletal Ewings sarcoma and the complicated management of a young pregnant woman with a malignant tumour are described.

The role of thyroid fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology in a District General Hospital setting.

The pilot study was undertaken to evaluate the role of FNA cytology in the clinical management of patients with thyroid swelling, in a District General Hospital (DGH) setting. One hundred and eleven patients were investigated over a period of 3 years, with a total of 142 fine needle aspirations. Statistical analysis showed a sensitivity of 71%, a specificity of 91% and a false negative rate of 2.7%. These results compare very favourably with other institutions. This study therefore shows that thyroid nodule FNA cytology can be performed in a DGH with a high standard of diagnostic accuracy, the results of which play a key role in patient management.

Coexistent Crohn's disease and sigmoid diverticulosis.

This study reports six patients with a diagnosis of diverticular disease with associated localized Crohn's colitis who were all treated by segmental resection. Two patients died in the post-operative period from disease unrelated to their colonic pathology. The remaining four patients remain well, show no signs of recurrent disease and have required no further surgery. The behaviour and significance of the two conditions occurring in the same patient is discussed.