Synchronous nasal rhinosporidiosis and inverted papilloma in a paediatric patient in Dodoma, Tanzania: Case report

INTRODUCTION

Nasal rhinosporidiosis refers to a rare chronic granulomatous disease caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. It affects the mucous membrane of sites such as nasopharynx, conjunctiva and palate. Inverted papillomas are relatively rare and are benign epithelial tumors of the nasal cavity that are locally aggressive, exhibit recurrence tendency and malignant transformation. Both entities are very rare in our setting and this is perhaps the first documented case in Tanzania.

CASE PRESENTATION

The patient was a 7-year old boy with a 1-year history of left-sided nasal obstruction and intermittent epistaxis for 6 months. He had no history of cheek swelling, pain or numbness, loss or loosening of teeth or alveolar ridge fullness. There were no ophthalmological, otological or neurological complaints reported. Endoscopic excision of the nasal mass was done and histopathological analysis confirmed co-existence of rhinosporidiosis and inverted papilloma. Postoperatively, the patient was kept on oral dapsone at a dose of 50 mg/day for 6-months and with no residual disease recurrence noted after 6-months follow up.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

The patient underwent endoscopic excision of the nasal mass and histopathological analysis confirmed co-existence of rhinosporidiosis and inverted papilloma. Postoperatively, the patient was kept on oral dapsone at a dose of 50 mg/day for 6-months and with no residual disease recurrence noted after 6-months of follow up.

CONCLUSION

Nasal rhinosporidiosis and inverted papilloma lesions may resemble the routinely encountered nasal polyps thus important for both clinicians and pathologists to have a high index of suspicion when managing patients with nasal masses even from non-endemic areas.

Nasal rhinosporidiosis masquerading as pyogenic granuloma in a pediatric patient at a Zonal Referral Hospital in Central Tanzania: Case report

Being rare, rhinosporidiosis is a chronic granulomatous disease that is characterized by polypoidal lesions of the mucous membrane and is caused by Rhinosporidium seeberi. The disease commonly affects the mucous membrane of the nasopharynx, conjunctiva, and palate and its very rare in our geographical location.

Nasal rhinosporidiosis lesions may greatly mimic other ordinary nasal polyps, and it is crucial for otorhinolaryngologists to consider rhinosporidiosis as a differential diagnosis whenever encountering patients with nasal masses during routine clinical practice.

Social vulnerability, frailty and their association with mortality in older adults living in rural Tanzania

Background

Social vulnerability correlates with frailty and is associated with mortality and disability. However, few studies have investigated this relationship outside of high-income country settings. This study aimed to produce and analyze a culturally adapted social vulnerability index (SVI) to investigate the relationship between social vulnerability, frailty, and mortality in older adults in Tanzania.

Methods

An SVI was produced using data from a cohort study investigating frailty in older adults in Tanzania. Variables were selected based on previous SVI studies using the categories established by Andrew et al. from the Canadian Study of Health and Aging, and National Population Health Survey. The SVI distribution was examined and compared with a frailty index (FI) produced from the same sample, using mutually exclusive variables. Cox regression survival analysis was used to investigate the association between social vulnerability, frailty, and mortality.

Results

A stratified cohort of 235 individuals were included in the study at baseline, with a mean age of 75.2 (SD 11.5). Twenty-six participants died within the follow-up period, with a mean of 503 days (range: 405–568) following the initial assessment. The SVI had a median score of 0.47 (interquartile range: 0.23, range: 0.14–0.86). Social vulnerability significantly predicted mortality when adjusting for age and gender, but not when also adjusting for frailty.

Conclusions

Social vulnerability can be successfully operationalized and culturally adapted in Tanzania. Social vulnerability is associated with mortality in Tanzania, but not independently of frailty.

Photomicrograph-Based Neuropathology Consultation in Tanzania

OBJECTIVES

Since neuropathologic diagnosis in the developing world is hampered by limitations in technical infrastructure, trained laboratory personnel, and subspecialty-trained pathologists, the use of telepathology for diagnostic support, second-opinion consultations, and ongoing training holds promise as a means of addressing these challenges. This study aims to assess the utility of static teleneuropathology in improving neuropathologic diagnoses in low- and middle-income countries.

METHODS

Consecutive neurosurgical biopsy and resection specimens obtained at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania between July 1, 2018, and June 30, 2019, were selected for retrospective, blinded static-image neuropathologic review followed by on-site review by an expert neuropathologist.

RESULTS

A total of 75 neuropathologic cases were reviewed. The agreement of static images and on-site glass diagnosis was 71% with strict criteria and 88% with less stringent criteria. This represents an overall improvement in diagnostic accuracy from 36% by general pathologists to 71% by a neuropathologist using static telepathology (or from 76% to 88% with less stringent criteria).

CONCLUSIONS

Telepathology offers a promising means of providing diagnostic support, second-opinion consultations, and ongoing training to pathologists practicing in resource-limited countries. Moreover, static digital teleneuropathology is an uncomplicated, cost-effective, and reliable way to achieve these goals.

A brief frailty screening tool in Tanzania: external validation and refinement of the B-FIT screen

BACKGROUND

Identifying older people who are most vulnerable to adverse outcomes is important. This is particularly so in low-resource settings, such as those in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where access to social and healthcare services is often limited.

AIM

To validate and further refine a frailty screening tool for SSA.

METHODS

Phase I screening of people aged 60 years and over was conducted using the Brief Frailty Instrument for Tanzania (B-FIT). In phase II, a stratified, frailty-weighed sample was assessed across a range of variables covering cognition, physical function (including continence, mobility, weakness and exhaustion) nutrition, mood, co-morbidity, sensory impairment, polypharmacy, social support and self-rated health. The frailty-weighted sample was also assessed for frailty according to the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), which we used as our 'gold standard' diagnosis.

RESULTS

Of 235 people in the frailty-weighted sample, 91 (38.7%) were frail according to CGA, the median age was 73 years and 136 (57.9%) were female. In multivariable modelling, physical disability (Barthel index), cognitive impairment (IDEA cognitive screen), calf circumference, poor distance vision and problems engaging in social activities were found to be associated with frailty. After developing a scoring system, based on regression coefficients, a modified B-FIT screen (B-FIT 2) had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.925, a sensitivity of 86.2% and a specificity of 88.8%.

DISCUSSION

The inclusion of items assessing nutrition, social support and sensory impairment improved the performance of the B-FIT.

CONCLUSIONS

The B-FIT 2 should be externally validated.