The spectrum of male breast disease at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital - a 3-year retrospective review

BACKGROUND

The spectrum of male breast disease (MBD) and its relative proportions is not well documented. This study aims to describe the demographics, clinical, radiological and histopathological characteristics of the spectrum of MBD managed at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH).

METHODS

This is a retrospective, descriptive study of all male patients diagnosed with MBD at CMJAH between 1 January 2016 and 31 December 2018. Patients' data were extracted from the Breast Imaging Department, CMJAH Breast Clinic and the National Health Laboratory Services patients' records. Data collected included patients' demographics, clinical presentation, radiological findings and histopathological diagnosis, where available. The collected data were captured using REDCap™ and were analysed using Statistica 13 and SAS version 9.2. P-value of 0.05 was used for statistical significance.

RESULTS

Of the 269 males imaged, 244 (91%) had a diagnosed breast condition, 90% of which were benign. Gynaecomastia accounted for 85% of all breast disease diagnosed. Patients who presented with benign breast disease were significantly younger than those with malignant breast disease, with a mean age of 45.59 years vs 58.29 years (p = 0.0007). Seventyone per cent of patients had a known HIV status with 39% being HIV positive. There was a significant association between patients with HIV and benign breast disease (p = 0.0129).

CONCLUSION

Gynaecomastia is the most common MBD seen at CMJAH. There was a significant association between HIV and benign breast disease. This association should be explored further with respect to the direct effects of the virus and to those of the antiretroviral medication.

Unusual histopathologies of the appendix

INTRODUCTION

Appendicitis is the most common surgical emergency. Most commonly it is a result of luminal occlusion that leads to ischaemia and eventually to perforation with resultant localised or diffuse peritonitis. Unusual causes have been documented including viral infections, parasites, tuberculosis and neoplasms. These conditions are important to recognise, as they may need additional specific management. This study endeavours to identify the incidence and type of unusual histopathology of appendicitis.

METHOD

A retrospective review of histopathological reports of appendix specimens obtained during appendectomies done between January 2012 and December 2014 in the three academic hospitals of Johannesburg - Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital (CHBAH), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital (CMJAH), and Helen Joseph Hospital (HJH). All specimens were examined by pathologists of the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS).

RESULTS

A total of 2 408 histopathology results were obtained from the NHLS. 164 specimens were excluded because they were part of colonic resection for unrelated conditions. Of the 2 244 specimens included, 8.1% were normal, 52.7% showed acute appendicitis and 30.1% showed complicated appendicitis. Unusual pathology comprised 5.3% (119/2 244). The median age of all patients was 25.6 years (0-88yrs) and the gender distribution was 61.9% males and 38.1% females. The most common unusual causes were parasites (37%), mainly schistosomiasis (24.3%), followed by neoplasm (20%) and fibrous obliteration (14.2%).

CONCLUSION

All appendectomy specimens must be submitted to the pathologist for histological diagnosis. It is important that the result be checked before the patient is discharged as further specific treatment may be indicated.

A prospective study of receptor profiles in breast cancer and the ipsilateral axillary lymph node metastases measured simultaneously in treatment naïve cases

BACKGROUND

The heterogeneity of receptor profiles in breast cancer is well known. The differing receptor profiles of primary breast cancer and nodal metastases have been investigated and found to range between 10-50% depending on the hormone receptor tested. A study comparing the hormone status of primary breast cancers and the synchronous ipsilateral involved sentinel lymph node has not been performed in a South African population.

METHOD

This is a prospective study where two specialist radiologists performed the simultaneous core needle biopsies of the primary breast cancer and the clinically positive axillary nodes. All receptor status analysis was conducted by one specialist histopathologist.

RESULTS

Of 141 patients who gave written informed consent for this study, 29 were excluded; 112 patients met the inclusion criteria. Anonymised demographics of age, clinical stage, HIV status and metastatic screening were recorded. The simultaneous biopsies and receptor measurements identified 10 patients with discordant receptor status in the positive axillary lymph nodes. In each case, the receptor profile of the axillary lymphatic metastases was more aggressive than that of the primary tumour. The luminal A subtype had a significantly greater risk of discordance than other subtypes (p = 0.02).

CONCLUSION

Core needle biopsy and receptor analysis should be considered on the positive axillary nodes in breast cancer patients. Adjuvant treatment should be targeted to the receptor profile of the lymph node metastases.

Axillary lymph node dissection for patients with invasive breast cancer at Charlotte Maxeke and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospitals

BACKGROUND

The extent of axillary surgery correlates with its morbidity and sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has become the standard of care in clinically node-negative (cN0) patients.This study aims to evaluate the application of SLNB and axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and the associated risk factors for node-negative ALND in our units.

METHODS

We included female patients with primary breast cancer who underwent axillary surgery in the breast units at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital and Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital from March 2013 to March 2015. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine factors associated with pathological node-negative (pN0) ALND.

RESULTS

505 patients were included and 344 patients were staged clinically node-positive (68.1%), 161 (31.9%) were assessed as clinically node-negative and deemed eligible for SLNB. Sensitivity of clinical nodal staging was 85.9% with a positive predictive value of 76.5%. The majority of patients (313, 61.9%) underwent primary surgery while 192 (38.1%) underwent surgery after NACT. We performed 118 SLNBs and 387 ALNDs of which 97 were pathologically node-negative. Risk was not increased after NACT (OR 1.06, p = 0.790). We identified a significant risk in patients with triple-negative and HER-2 enriched subtypes compared to hormone receptor-positive patients (OR 3.05, 95% CI: 1.6-5.7, p = 0.001 and OR 2.25, 95% CI: 1.1-4.8, p = 0.035).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of pN0 ALND was 25.06%. In our cohort a significantly higher risk was found in hormone receptor-negative tumours. Preoperative nodal assessment needs to be optimised and include pathological confirmation. SLNB needs to be extended to patients after NACT despite resource-constraints.

"The profile of thyroid cancer in patients undergoing thyroidectomy at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital

BACKGROUND

The histological type of thyroid cancer in well-resourced countries is predominantly papillary. Follicular carcinoma is predisposed by iodine deficiency that was present the Black population of South Africa until salt iodination in 1995. The aim of this study was to analyse the profile of thyroid cancer in Black South Africans from January 2001 to December 2017 and to identify any temporal changes in thyroid cancer histological subtypes since salt iodination.

METHOD

Histopathological reports of patients who underwent thyroidectomy for cancer at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa between January 2001 and December 2017 were retrospectively assessed. Data captured included name, age, gender, race, the date when the specimen was sent and the detailed histopathological report.

RESULTS

Of the 143 thyroidectomies performed for malignancy, papillary thyroid cancer was the predominant type (65%) with a papillary to follicular thyroid cancer ratio of 4:1. Follicular, medullary and anaplastic cancers were 16.8%, 9.8% and 2.8% respectively. The reports were incomplete in 5 cases and there were 3 non-epithelial neoplasms.

CONCLUSION

There is a gradual temporal increase in the frequency of resected papillary cancer over a 16 year period while follicular has remained static. These changes may be attributable to better salt iodination.

An overview of risk factors for recurrent breast cancer

The multidisciplinary management of Breast Cancer (BC) has evolved over the past 50 years: the patient is offered a choice of surgical procedures with or without radiation therapy, cytotoxics and treatments targeting the nuclei of the cancer cells. This has resulted in a reduction of disease recurrence and a significant increase in 5-year survival. But these good results deteriorate over time and almost 20% women with early stage, oestrogen-receptor (ER) positive BC will suffer recurrent cancer at 10 years. The aim of this review is the identification of risk factors for the recurrence of BC, to examine pathogenic pathways leading to BC and to report on modifications to lifestyle, surgical procedures and treatment regimes which can reduce the recurrence of BC. Patient factors associated with increased risk included the extremes of age, ethnicity, genetic inheritance obesity and alcohol ingestion. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was not identified as a cause of BC. Treatment-related factors included microscopically positive excision margins, delay in initiation of adjuvant chemoradiation and lack of compliance with endocrine therapy. Reclassifying BC according to molecular subgroups more accurately identifies patients at risk for recurrence and aids in the appropriate selection of therapy targeted to the primary and lymphatic metastases.

The role of Ki-67 in breast cancer

The proliferative marker, Ki-67, is a human nuclear antigen, and forms an integral part of cell division in both normal and malignant tissue. Since the hallmark of cancer is uncontrolled and relentless cell proliferation, the Ki-67 proliferative index is increasingly used to assess and manage breast cancer. The value of Ki-67 as a prognostic indicator, a guide to the selection of therapy, and a method of measuring response to ongoing treatment, is examined in this review.

Fractionated high dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy in palliation of advanced esophageal cancer

PURPOSE

To optimize the dose of fractionated brachytherapy for palliation of advanced esophageal cancer.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

One hundred and seventy-two patients with advanced esophageal cancer were randomized to receive 12 Gy/2 fractions (group A); 16 Gy/2 fractions (group B), and 18 Gy/3 fractions (group C) by high dose rate intraluminal brachytherapy (HDRILBT). Treatment was given weekly and dose prescribed at 1 cm from the source axis. Patients were followed up monthly and assessed for dysphagia relief and development of complications.

RESULTS

Twenty-two patients died before completing treatment due to advanced disease and poor general condition. The overall survival was 19.4% at the end of 12 months for the whole group (A--9.8%, B--22.46%, C--35.32%; p > 0.05). The dysphagia-free survival was 28.9% at 12 months for the whole group (A--10.8%, B--25.43%, C--38.95%; p > 0.05). Forty-three patients developed fibrotic strictures needing dilatation (A--5 of 35, B--15 of 60, C--23 of 55; p = 0.032). Twenty-seven patients had persistent luminal disease (A--11, B--6, C--10), 15 of which progressed to fistulae (A--7, B--2, C--6; p = 0.032). There was no effect of age, sex, race, histology, performance status, previous dilation, presenting dysphagia score, presenting weight, grade, tumor length, and stage on overall survival, dysphagia-free, and complication-free survival (p > 0.05). On a multivariate analysis, brachytherapy dose (p = 0.002) and tumor length (p = 0.0209) were found to have a significant effect on overall survival; brachytherapy dose was the only factor that had an impact on local tumor control (p = 0.0005), while tumor length was the only factor that had an effect on dysphagia-free survival (p = 0.0475). When compared to other forms of palliation currently available (bypass surgery, laser, chemotherapy, intubation, external radiotherapy), fractionated brachytherapy gave the best results with a median survival of 6.2 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Fractionated brachytherapy is the best modality for palliation of advanced esophageal cancer. It offers the best palliation to patient when compared to all other modalities currently available. The optimal brachytherapy dose ranges between 16 Gy in two fractions and 18 Gy in three fractions given a week apart.

Internal jugular vein thrombosis following functional neck dissection

Twenty-five patients on whom 27 functional neck dissections were performed for upper aerodigestive tract squamous carcinoma were prospectively investigated to determine the frequency of venous thrombosis on the side of the neck dissection. Retrograde venography, performed within 1 month postoperatively, was used to determine the status of the internal jugular vein. Nineteen veins were patent at venography, but ipsilateral occlusion was demonstrated in 8. In 5 of the 8 patients, venous thrombosis followed major wound sepsis or fistula formation. No causes for the remaining 3 cases of internal jugular vein thromboses were identified. Possible mechanisms for "spontaneous" internal jugular vein occlusion following functional neck dissection are endothelial trauma, reduction in venous flow during anesthesia, and the altered coagulability profile of some cancer patients. The finding that functional neck dissection does not always maintain patency of the internal jugular vein is especially important when surgical treatment to the opposite side of the neck is planned, as the surgeon may be faced with an unexpectedly complicated postoperative course.

Tumour kinetics in breast cancer

In vivo bromodeoxyuridine was used to measure the 'bromo' labelling index (LI,%), the duration of the S-phase (Ts, hours) and the potential tumour doubling time (Tpot, days) in women with stages I-IV breast cancer. These were studied in relation to lymph node status, tumour size, histological grade, oestrogen receptor status (ER), ploidy and S-phase fraction (SPF). In our patients, a LI of 10%, a Tpot of 2 days or an SPF of 9-10.5% predicted aggressive breast cancer. The LI was significantly higher (5%) in ER-negative than in ER-positive (2%) tumours (P = 0.03). There was a trend towards increased DNA synthesis in cancers with an SPF over 10% (P = 0.08). ER-negative breast cancers over 2 cm in diameter had shorter median Tpots of 5.3 days (P = 0.02) and 8 days (P = 0.05) compared with smaller, ER-positive tumours. A trend towards faster growth rates was seen in lymph node-positive, high-SPF (> 10%) breast cancers. Tumour kinetics may have additional prognostic value in the selection of node-negative patients for adjuvant therapy.

Primary malignant melanoma of the oesophagus. Report of a case with flow cytometric DNA analysis

Primary malignant melanoma is a very rare tumour of the oesophagus, and although this is the first case reported in a black patient in South Africa, the clinical, radiographic and histopathological features were characteristic of this malignancy. Primary oesophageal melanoma is a highly lethal tumour--fewer than 2% of patients are surviving 5 years after diagnosis. Flow cytometric DNA analysis of the resected specimen in this case revealed two populations of malignant cells, one of which had grossly abnormal DNA. Existence of two clones of malignant melanoma cells supports the observations that this tumour is biologically aggressive, radioresistant and almost always incurable.

Risk factors for complications after thyroid surgery

Data on 60 patients who underwent thyroid surgery were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathological data were compared with the occurrence of the complications of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy, hypocalcaemia and laryngeal oedema. Age, pressure symptoms and types of pathology were not associated with complications. Large glands and radiological evidence of a compressed trachea were statistically significant risk factors for postoperative complications.

Pancreatic leiomyosarcoma. A case report

The pancreas is an unusual site for leiomyosarcoma. Only 12 such cases have previously been reported. A case of pancreatic leiomyosarcoma in a 68-year-old man is presented and the diagnostic dilemma and management of such a tumour are discussed.

Phaeochromocytoma. A report of 10 patients

A spectrum of presentation of phaeochromocytoma in black South Africans is described. Ten patients were reviewed over a 9-year period. Sweating, headache, and palpitations were prominent symptoms in 9 patients; postural dizziness occurred in 5; gastro-intestinal symptoms in 7; diabetes in 3; and hypertension in all. One patient developed a phaeochromocytoma crisis, characterised by hypotension and pulmonary oedema, before operation. One woman presented in pregnancy. Urinary vanillylmandelic acid was elevated in 9 out of 10 subjects tested; plasma catecholamines were elevated in 6 out of 6 tested. Computed tomography detected 7 adrenal tumours and 3 paragangliomas. All patients were stabilised pre-operatively with alpha- and/or beta-receptor blockers. Intraoperative pressor crises were controlled with sodium nitroprusside, phentolamine, or magnesium sulphate infusions. At operation all tumours appeared benign, each was successfully removed, and the diagnosis confirmed on histological examination. There was no operative mortality. Two patients had residual hypertension. This study highlights the various challenges presented by this catecholamine-producing tumour.

Superior mesenteric artery aneurysms: a case report

Aneurysms of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) are rare, accounting for 8% of visceral artery aneurysms. Aneurysms at the site are very liable to rupture, irrespective of size, and may be difficult to manage even in the elective situation. The fact that 50-60% of SMA aneurysms are mycotic has important implications in the selection of the appropriate surgical procedure. In this paper we report a case of an SMA aneurysm diagnosed at the time of impending rupture and treated successfully. The aetiology, mode of presentation, diagnosis and management of SMA aneurysms are discussed.

Evaluation of the results of oesophagectomy for oesophageal cancer

The long-term results of standard techniques of oesophagectomy were examined in 127 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the oesophagus. A near-total oesophagectomy with a cervical anastomosis was performed in 93 patients and an oesophagogastrectomy with an intrathoracic anastomosis was carried out in 34 patients. One hundred and eight patients had a curative oesophagectomy and 19 patients had a palliative resection. Eight patients received radiotherapy to the tumour bed. There were 15 deaths in hospital and the overall 5-year survival rate including perioperative deaths was 13.2 per cent. Survival was adversely affected by incomplete excision of macroscopic tumour (P less than 0.001), positive regional lymph nodes (P less than 0.05) and distant lymphatic metastases (P less than 0.02). The 5-year survival rate of patients with tumour invasion beyond the oesophageal wall (T3) and negative nodes was 20 per cent. Postoperative irradiation had no effect on the survival of patients with gross residual tumour. Complete clearance of microscopic tumour was achieved in 50 per cent of patients with T3 tumours and this group did not benefit from adjuvant radiotherapy. Survival in patients undergoing curative oesophagectomy with residual microscopic tumour, however, was significantly improved by irradiation of the tumour bed (P less than 0.01). These results suggest that the survival of patients can be increased significantly by the excision of all gross tumour and by identification of those who will benefit from local radiotherapy.

Parotid haemangioma. A case report

The presentation of a rare cavernous haemangioma of the parotid in a 17-year-old male is the twenty-first case in the English literature, and the first report in a black adult patient. The aetiology of this lesion is unknown and differs from that of the infantile capillary type. The pathognomonic signs of fluctuating size, discoloration and bruit are rare; the diagnostic hallmark in this case was spontaneous tumour regression. Doppler studies and arteriography may be valuable in diagnosis and management, in which surgical excision is the treatment of choice.

Insulinoma in a black South African. A case report

A 69-year-old black woman with an insulinoma presented with recurrent episodes of sweating and confusion culminating in two episodes of hypoglycaemic coma. The diagnosis was confirmed by finding an inappropriately elevated serum insulin level in the presence of hypoglycaemia after a fast of 14 hours. Computed tomography revealed a large tumour in the head of the pancreas. Removal of the tumour necessitated partial resection of the head and body of the pancreas, which in turn necessitated certain repair and drainage procedures. Postoperative complications, while not insignificant, were acceptable. At 1-year follow-up the patient is well.

DNA ploidy in oesophageal cancer. A preliminary report

Prognosis in oesophageal cancer is directly related to depth of invasion and lymph node metastases. However, without surgical exploration, assessment of the spread of oesophageal cancer is notoriously inaccurate and there is a need for another objective measurement of prognosis. In this study, the relationship of DNA-ploidy status to tumour length, histological appearance, extra-oesophageal spread and survival was examined in 42 patients with squamous oesophageal cancer. No correlation was found between DNA-ploidy status and tumour length or histological appearance. But the DNA-aneuploidy rate in cancers with extra-oesophageal spread was significantly greater than the rate in tumours localised to the oesophagus (P = 0.038). Short-term survival was poorer in patients with DNA-aneuploid cancers than in those with a DNA-diploid pattern. DNA analysis may prove to be a more accurate guide to prognosis in oesophageal cancer than either clinical or operative staging.

Pancreatic candidiasis. A case report

A rare case of pancreatic candidiasis is described. The patient presented with weight loss, obstructive jaundice and a mass in the head of the pancreas. Intra-operative fine-needle aspiration cytology was consistent with a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the pancreas and a radical pancreaticoduodenectomy was performed. However, histological examination of the resected specimen revealed acute-on-chronic pancreatitis complicated by candidiasis with no evidence of malignant disease. The association between this variety of pancreatic candidiasis and pancreatic abscesses due to Candida albicans in acute pancreatitis is discussed.

Oesophageal cancer in South Africa. A review of 1926 cases

From November 1985 to August 1988, the National Study Group for Oesophageal Cancer collected and centralized data on 1926 new cases of oesophageal cancer in South Africa. A standard data sheet was used to record the age, sex, and condition of the patients, the site, length, and circumferential extent of the tumor, the presence of extraoesophageal and distant spread, associated pulmonary disease, and the therapeutic technique selected for each case. A computerized audit of cases was reviewed to examine the performance status, stage of disease, and methods of treatment. There were 1438 men and 488 women (male to female ratio, 3 to 1) and their ages ranged from 20 to 100 years (mean age, 56 years). Twenty-four percent were admitted to the hospital with total dysphagia. The performance status was excellent or good in 49% of the patients and fair in 29%. Those in poor or desperate condition included 13% of the patients with oesophago-airway fistulae. The most common site of cancer was the mid-thoracic oesophagus (53% of the cases), but 8.3% had tumors longer than 10 cm involving two or more oesophageal segments. Using the American Joint Committee (AJC) system of staging, 2.8% of the patients were assessed as Stage I, 19.8% as Stage II, and 77.4% as Stage III. Thirty-seven percent of the patients were treated by oesophageal intubation, 35% by radiation therapy, and 22% by chemotherapy. Surgery was selected for 17% of the patients. Although the number of young patients appears to have increased, the typical South African patient with oesophageal cancer is a man 56 years of age, in excellent or good condition, with a mid-thoracic tumor 6 cm in length and Stage III disease. This patient is frequently treated by palliative intubation of the oesophagus but may be a candidate for more intensive anti-cancer therapy.

Role of pyloroplasty in the retrosternal stomach: results of a prospective, randomized, controlled trial

A prospective, randomized, controlled trial comparing clinical outcome and emptying of a solid meal from the retrosternal stomach, with and without pyloroplasty is described. Forty consecutive patients with oesophageal cancer undergoing retrosternal gastric reconstruction of the oesophagus were studied. In 20 patients the pylorus was left intact (group 1) and 20 patients underwent an Aust pyloroplasty (group 2). Nine patients in group 1 suffered postoperative symptoms of gastric stasis compared with only one patient in group 2 (P = 0.0106). Three patients in group 1 died from aspiration pneumonia before discharge from hospital. A gastric emptying test was performed on 24 patients between 1 and 3 months after surgery. By this time, most survivors had recovered from symptoms attributed to gastric stasis and no significant difference in gastric emptying could be demonstrated between the two groups. Selection of patients, a wide range of emptying times and improvement in gastric emptying on follow-up may explain the lack of correlation between postoperative symptomatology and the gastric half-emptying times. A pyloroplasty is advised to prevent the potentially lethal effects of gastric stasis in the early postoperative period following retrosternal reconstruction of the oesophagus.

Oesophageal cancer in South Africa. A review of 1926 cases

From November 1985 to August 1988, the National Study Group for Oesophageal Cancer collected and centralized data on 1926 new cases of oesophageal cancer in South Africa. A standard data sheet was used to record the age, sex, and condition of the patients, the site, length, and circumferential extent of the tumor, the presence of extraoesophageal and distant spread, associated pulmonary disease, and the therapeutic technique selected for each case. A computerized audit of cases was reviewed to examine the performance status, stage of disease, and methods of treatment. There were 1438 men and 488 women (male to female ratio, 3 to 1) and their ages ranged from 20 to 100 years (mean age, 56 years). Twenty-four percent were admitted to the hospital with total dysphagia. The performance status was excellent or good in 49% of the patients and fair in 29%. Those in poor or desperate condition included 13% of the patients with oesophago-airway fistulae. The most common site of cancer was the mid-thoracic oesophagus (53% of the cases), but 8.3% had tumors longer than 10 cm involving two or more oesophageal segments. Using the American Joint Committee (AJC) system of staging, 2.8% of the patients were assessed as Stage I, 19.8% as Stage II, and 77.4% as Stage III. Thirty-seven percent of the patients were treated by oesophageal intubation, 35% by radiation therapy, and 22% by chemotherapy. Surgery was selected for 17% of the patients. Although the number of young patients appears to have increased, the typical South African patient with oesophageal cancer is a man 56 years of age, in excellent or good condition, with a mid-thoracic tumor 6 cm in length and Stage III disease. This patient is frequently treated by palliative intubation of the oesophagus but may be a candidate for more intensive anti-cancer therapy.

Giant submandibular calculus. A case report

A case of giant mandibular calculus, 6.5 X 5.5 cm, is presented. The management of this condition is reviewed and an explanation offered for the occurrence of these calculi.

The prolonged course of gastrointestinal tuberculosis

Review of biopsy specimens showed that a patient incorrectly diagnosed 7 years ago as having Crohn's disease actually had histologically proven gastrointestinal tuberculosis of 7 years' duration. It is significant that gastrointestinal tuberculosis and Crohn's disease can mimic each other not only in their clinical, radiologic, and histologic manifestations but also temporally. We discuss the interrelationship between AIDS, tuberculosis, and inflammatory bowel disease.

Carboplatin in the treatment of oesophageal cancer

Cisplatin has modest activity in squamous cancer of the oesophagus but substantial toxicity limits its usefulness. Carboplatin (Paraplatin; BM Group), a second-generation platinum analogue, was developed to maintain the antitumour activity of cisplatin and reduce toxicity. Eleven patients with advanced oesophageal cancer were treated with carboplatin. A partial response was seen in 1 patient (9%) and minor responses in 2 cases. The median survival was 12 months in responding patients and 3 months in non-responders. One patient suffered reversible myelosuppression but nephrotoxicity and vomiting were not observed. Carboplatin is well tolerated and may have a role as a less toxic substitute for cisplatin in combination chemotherapy regimens for oesophageal cancer.

Respiratory obstruction after thyroidectomy. A report of 2 cases

Respiratory obstruction is the principal danger in thyroid surgery and is almost always caused by laryngeal oedema. Two patients who suffered from this complication are presented, and the factors which increase the risk of laryngeal oedema are identified. Prophylactic measures to prevent respiratory obstruction after thyroidectomy are discussed.

The role of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 as a tumour marker of oesophageal cancer

Carcinoma of the oesophagus is endemic in certain well demarcated areas throughout the world, and a method of screening population groups at high risk for oesophageal cancer is urgently needed. In this study the sensitivity and specificity of the carbohydrate antigen CA19-9 as a marker of carcinoma of the oesophagus in African patients was examined. The normal range was established by assay of serum samples from healthy black blood donors, using a solid phase radioimmunoassay with mouse monoclonal antibody to CA19-9 labelled with 125I. Serum concentrations of CA19-9 were then measured in 100 African patients with oesophageal cancer and 28 patients with benign oesophageal disease. The upper limit of CA19-9 in the normal controls was 40 U ml-1. Thirty-four patients with oesophageal cancer and five with benign oesophageal disease had elevated levels. Therefore, in this series, the sensitivity of CA19-9 as a marker of oesophageal cancer was 34% and the specificity was 82%. While CA19-9 is not sufficiently sensitive to be used as a screening test of oesophageal cancer, it compares favourably with other known tumour markers of this disease, and may have a role in monitoring disease recurrence and response to treatment.

Parotid tumours in black patients. The Baragwanath Hospital experience, 1981-1986

Parotid tumours are rare, but their diagnosis and management continue to be a surgical challenge. In a retrospective review of 60 patients over a 6-year period, the value of clinical features in distinguishing malignant from benign parotid tumours was examined. The sex of patients, the consistency, size and site of tumour, smoking, length of history and rate of growth were not helpful in differentiation. However, the association of pain, facial nerve paralysis, skin infiltration and enlarged ipsilateral cervical nodes with a final diagnosis of cancer was significant (P less than 0.005). Fixity of tumour and old age were also significant indicators of malignancy (P less than 0.05). When these symptoms and signs suggestive of malignant disease are associated with a parotid tumour, the patient should be prepared for the possibility of a radical operation. The surgeon should make extra efforts to obtain a histological diagnosis before proceeding to definitive surgery.

Surgical management of chronic pancreatitis: long-term results in 141 patients

The management of pancreatic pain is a controversial subject and the treatment recommended varies from one extreme to the other. Some authorities advise simply waiting for chronic pancreatitis to 'burn out', while others practise removal of the entire gland. In this paper we present 141 patients who underwent surgery for chronic pancreatitis at the Mayo Clinic. The main indication for operation was pancreatic pain and the choice of operation was based on anatomical abnormalities in the gland. The long-term results of the policy are reviewed (mean follow-up 8.5 years). Length of history, aetiology of disease, pancreatic dysfunction and pathology, time after operation and continued alcohol abuse were computer analysed for a statistically significant influence on pain relief, ability to work, pancreatic function and survival. There was one operative death (mortality rate 0.7 per cent). Continued drinking was not shown to affect postoperative pain relief but 10-year survival was significantly less in alcoholics than in those with non-alcoholic pancreatitis (P less than 0.02). Dilated ducts and duct calculi were associated with good results for pain relief although this association did not achieve statistical significance. Parenchymal calcification and time after operation did not influence the results of surgery. When the operation failed to relieve pain, spontaneous remission occurred in a few cases only. Seventy-seven per cent of patients had lasting relief of pain and operations selected on the basis of gross pathology were equally effective in relieving pain. Longitudinal pancreaticojejunostomy in those with dilated ducts and a Whipple operation for disease of the pancreatic head gave good results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bypass surgery for unresectable oesophageal cancer: early and late results in 124 cases

The early and late results of bypass surgery in 124 patients with unresectable oesophageal cancer are reported. Patients were grouped according to the extent of disease: group A, tumour localized to the oesophagus where severe pulmonary disease contra-indicated oesophagectomy (n = 9); group B, tumour less than or equal to 10 cm in length with mediastinal invasion (n = 81); group C, tumour greater than 10 cm in length with mediastinal invasion and/or fixed malignant lymph nodes (n = 33). Extent of disease was not recorded in one patient. The operative mortality was 4 per cent but 9 other patients died in hospital (hospital mortality, 11 per cent). Mortality was increased in patients undergoing colon bypass and in those with a large tumour load but these differences failed to reach statistical significance. The most frequent complication was neck sepsis, secondary to leakage from the proximal end of the excluded oesophagus. Eighty-nine per cent of the survivors could eat a normal, unrestricted diet on discharge and eighty-two per cent of survivors had complete and lasting relief from dysphagia. Median survival after bypass was 5 months but survival was significantly improved by radiotherapy to the tumour (P less than 0.001). Gastric bypass with radiotherapy is indicated in patients with extra-oesophageal spread of malignancy and in patients with tumours localized to the oesophagus who are unfit for resection. Bypass surgery may be contra-indicated in patients with a primary tumour greater than 10 cm in length and/or fixed lymph node metastases because mortality is increased and survival after operation is short.

An unusual cause of haemoperitoneum. A case report

A case of pedunculated exogastric leiomyosarcoma presenting with haemoperitoneum is described. The difficulties in the diagnosis and management are discussed.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy for pancreatic trauma. A case report

Pancreatic trauma is uncommon and severe, combined pancreaticoduodenal injuries are rare. Different surgical techniques for the management of these injuries have been used. In this article a case of severe pancreaticoduodenal injury which required pancreaticoduodenectomy is reported. This case is unusual because there was no history of trauma, the serum amylase level and abdominal radiograph were normal and the abdominal findings on admission to hospital were minimal. A system of grading pancreatic trauma in terms of severity is advocated and the management of pancreaticoduodenal injuries is discussed.

Axillary intercostal drain in traumatic haemopneumothorax

During an 8-month period, 242 patients with thoracic injuries were admitted to one of the general surgical units at Baragwanath Hospital. Of these, 7.4% required surgical exploration, while 92.6% had pneumothorax treated conservatively by insertion of a single drain at the mid-axillary line in the 5th intercostal space. Of patients managed conservatively 76 had pneumothorax and 148 haemopneumothorax. There were no deaths in this series. All patients explored recovered well from the operation and were discharged after a mean period of 6 days. Of those with a pneumothorax managed conservatively full expansion of the lung was obtained in 98.7%. In 80% of the patients with haemopneumothorax, axillary intercostal drainage proved adequate treatment and resulted in prompt re-expansion of the lung. However, 6.8% of the patients in this group required further needle aspiration of the pleural cavity and in 2.7% a second drain was inserted for evacuation of residual blood. Eight (5.4%) patients were discharged with a small and insignificant residual haemothorax.

Oesophagectomy: the lessons learnt from 128 cases

The mortality and morbidity of oesophagectomy are examined in this retrospective review of 128 patients with benign and malignant oesophageal disease. There were 11 deaths in hospital. The operative mortality was not influenced by age, sex, or the approach to oesophagectomy, but was significantly greater in patients given chemoradiation therapy before surgery. Complications were frequent in the early postoperative period and some were due to avoidable errors in technique or selection of operative approach. Follow-up was complete in over 90% of survivors. Late complications included aspiration pneumonia secondary to gastric stasis following total oesophagectomy and anastomotic recurrence after the one-stage procedure of gastro-oesophagectomy. When the whole stomach is used to replace the oesophagus a pyloroplasty is advised. The one-stage operation is not recommended for squamous cancer of the distal oesophagus and adenocarcinoma of the cardia.

Factors influencing survival after resection for ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

Twenty-three patients with pancreatic cancer who survived greater than or equal to 3 years after surgical treatment and 56 who survived less than 12 months were studied. The association of steatorrhea with long survival was significant (p less than 0.05), and the association of back pain with short survival showed a trend toward significance (p = 0.06). Other presenting symptoms, as well as the age, sex, or past medical history of the patients; the gross morphology of the tumor and regional lymph nodes; the operations performed; and the use of postoperative adjuvant therapy had no significant influence on survival. Certain histopathologic characteristics of the resected specimens were significantly associated (p less than 0.05) with a poor prognosis: malignant infiltration of the pancreatic capsule, proximity of the tumor to lymphatic and blood vessels, a round-cell infiltrate at the tumor margin, and epithelial atypia in the uninvolved pancreatic ducts. The association of Broders' grades 3 and 4 in the primary tumor and metastases to lymph nodes showed a trend toward significance with short survival. Multivariate analysis confirmed that the associations of Broders' grades 3 and 4 in the primary tumor, a round-cell infiltrate at the tumor margin, and atypia of the pancreatic ductal epithelium with short survival were statistically significant.

Sebaceous carcinoma of the parotid gland in a black patient. A case report

A case of sebaceous cell carcinoma of the parotid gland in a black woman is described. The pathology, treatment and prognosis of this rare tumour are discussed.

Kaposi's sarcoma of the oral cavity. A case report

A case of Kaposi's sarcoma of the oral cavity in a 54-year-old black man is reported. The possible association with acquired immune deficiency syndrome is emphasized and the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of oral Kaposi's sarcoma are discussed.