Primary extrahepatic hydatid cysts are rare, and primary splenic hydatid cysts even more so, constituting 2% to 3.5% of all hydatid cysts. We report here a case series of isolated splenic hydatid cysts. Case records of 382 adult patients of abdominal hydatid cysts were analyzed; eight of them (2%; aged 23 to 45 years, 5 women and 3 men) had primary splenic hydatid cysts. Seven patients presented with dull dragging pain in the left hypochondrium. Four patients had splenomegaly. Diagnosis was made at ultrasonography and/or contrast-enhanced computed tomography. Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay for hydatid antibodies tested positive in all patients. One patient presented with hemoperitoneum. All patients underwent splenectomy. Primary splenic hydatid cyst is rare but should be considered in patients with cystic lesions of the spleen.

Purpose: To report the ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) and surgical findings in a subject with a syndrome of ectopia lentis, spontaneous filtering blebs, and craniofacial dysmorphism (Traboulsi syndrome). Methods: Case report, using a 40-MHz UBM wide-field anterior segment scan and anterior segment optical coherence tomography (OCT). Results: A 16-year-old orphan girl presented with visual loss to the level of 6/60 (20/200) bilaterally. She had a central corneal opacification with retrocorneal fibrosis. The anterior chamber was flat with a very poorly dilating pupil. The lens was central in location. Perilimbal conjunctival blebs were bilateral with an intraocular pressure of 8 mm Hg. UBM and anterior segment OCT revealed chronic apposition of the iris to the cornea with angle closure, delineation of the bleb tract and rarefaction of the zonules. The girl had abnormal facial features (a beaked nose and long face) with normal chromosomal studies, negative fluorescent in situ hybridization study for velocardiofacial syndrome and an absence of signs suggesting Marfan syndrome. Under general anesthesia, attempts at deepening the anterior chamber with sodium hyaluronate 3% led to a spontaneous dislocation of the lens into the anterior chamber, facilitating its aspiration. Deepening of the angle was found after lens removal. Retrocorneal fibrosis persisted after surgery, but the bleb height decreased. Best corrected visual acuity did not improve from the preoperative level beyond 6/60 (20/200) because of central retrocorneal fibrosis. Conclusions: Early surgical removal of the lens is necessary in this syndrome to avoid irreversible corneal and trabecular meshwork damage in chronic apposition of the iris to the cornea. UBM can help in the delineation of the bleb tract and document resolution of angle closure after surgery.

BackgroundFine-needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) may yield different results depending on its operator. We compared the proportions of unsatisfactory aspirates obtained by pathologists vs. surgeons.MethodsIn a retrospective review, all FNAB reports and slides performed between March 2002 and February 2003 were grouped by organ/site and according to whether they were done by a pathologist or a surgeon. The proportions of unsatisfactory aspirates for pathologists and surgeons were compared.ResultsOf 692 FNABs, 390 were performed by pathologists at the FNAC clinic and the remainder by surgeons. Overall, 15.5% of aspirates obtained were unsatisfactory (n=107). Of aspirates obtained by surgeons, 29.5% were unsatisfactory, compared to 4.6 % of those obtained by pathologists (P<0.001). Pathologists had significantly lower proportions of unsatisfactory aspirates in all sites. A 33% reduction in the number of lymph node excisional biopsies has been reported subsequent to establishment of the FNAC clinic.ConclusionsThe advantages of a pathologist performing FNAB are that a rapid evaluation can be rendered regarding specimen adequacy and the need for repeating the procedure. In addition, pathologists can direct the distribution of aspirated material for other tests such as culture study, flow cytometry and electron microscopy, as indicated by preliminary evaluation of the smears. These factors significantly lower the proportions of unsatisfactory specimens and improve the diagnostic accuracy of FNAB technique.

We report a case of a primary cutaneous cryptococcosis (PCC) in immunocompetent man diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and confirmed by special stains and culture study. The patient presented with a 2-wk history of two separate skin nodules over the forehead and the left lumbar region. FNA smears revealed a necrotizing suppurative granulomatous inflammation with numerous yeasts of Cryptococcus surrounded by clear halos, which were present within multinucleated giant cells and in the intercellular spaces. This was confirmed subsequently by special stains and a culture of the aspirated material. This case report reemphasizes the role of FNA as a useful modality in the early diagnosis of cutaneous cryptococcosis, especially in clinically unsuspected cases.

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Background: Myocarditis and dilated Cardiomyopathy continues to be an important cause of hospital admission in our part of the world. Systemic embolism due to thrombi in left ventricle is a rare but important complication of these patients. Study objectives: To determine the incidence, course and outcome of thrombo-embolism in children with dilated dysfunctioning heart due to acute myocarditis or dilated Cardiomyopathy. Design: A 5 year analysis (December 1999- Nov 04) of all children under 16 years of age admitted and diagnosed as having myocarditis or dilated Cardiomyopathy in a single tertiary care center. Patients and Methods: The charts and echocardiography records of all patients with dilated dysfunctioning heart and systemic thrombo-embolism were reviewed. Data was reviewed for mode of presentation, age, hospital course and outcome. Echocardiography data was reviewed with special reference to the size, function and presence of thrombus in LV. Results: Of all admissions to the paediatric cardiology unit over the study period, myocarditis and dilated Cardiomyopathy was the underlying lesion in 405 patients. The mean age of patients was 2.1 4 years. Systemic embolism was the presenting feature in 28 (6.9%) patients (Group A); while another 17 (4.2%) developed it during the hospital stay (Group B). Another 5 patients had thrombus in the LV but did not develop embolism. All 50 patients showed seriously impaired LV function with mean ejection fraction (EF) for those with vs. those without thrombo-embolism was 17.5 5.5 vs. 20.0 6.9 (p = 0.08). The groups were similar with respect to other baseline characteristics, co morbid illnesses, and drug therapies other than anticoagulants. In group A 26/28 patients presented with a stroke. Only 6 had a thrombus in LV at the time of admission. All 28 patients with or without LV thrombus were treated with heparin and then oral anticoagulant warfarin. There were two deaths. In group B, 3/17 patients had thrombus in the LV on echocardiography at presentation. They were started anticoagulation but still went on to develop a stroke. There were 2 deaths in this group as well. Conclusions: Myocarditis and dilated Cardiomyopathy is an important cause of hospital admission in our set up accounting for 15% of all admissions to a paediatric cardiology unit. These patients are at risk of developing thromboembolism, which may well be the presenting feature. The risk is higher in patients with lower ejection fraction of the LV. All patients with EF below 17% should be treated with prophylactic anticoagulation. A peripheral embolic event adds to morbidity and is related to poor long-term survival in this patient group.

Background Open reduction and internal fixation of distal radius fractures is one of the most common procedures performed in wrist surgery. The use of volar locking plate has gained increasing interest in the past decade. Epiphyseal fixation can be done either with locking screws or smooth locking pegs, with no evidence supporting the use of one rather than the other. Purpose The aim of this study is to compare the stability of distal radius fixation by volar locking plate using locking screws or smooth locking pegs. Methods Adult patients with A2–A3 AO fractures treated with a volar plate with locking screws only or smooth locking pegs only were retrospectively included. Radiographic assessment was performed to evaluate extra-articular parameters in the intraoperative postreduction and fixation period and after bony healing. Forty-seven distal radius fractures were included. Results Twenty-four fractures had fixation with locking screws and 23 had fixation with smooth locking pegs. For both groups, all radiographic parameters measured showed a statistically significant difference between the intraoperative postreduction and fixation period and the remote postoperative period after union of the fracture (p < 0.05) attesting a slight loss of reduction. Nevertheless, there were no significant differences between the groups in radiographic extra-articular parameters. Conclusion This clinical study shows that there is no difference in stability fixation between locking screws or smooth locking pegs in A2–A3 distal radius fractures. Clinical Relevance The use of smooth locking pegs only for epiphyseal fixation appears to be safe in volar plating of A2–A3 distal radius fractures in adult patients and could be an alternative to locking screws. More clinical data are needed to confirm these results. Level of Evidence Level III; retrospective comparative study.