MyMedR

Risk assessment and microbiological profile of infections in paediatric cancer patients with febrile neutropenia

Latiff Z, Zulkifli SZ, Jamal R

Malays J Pathol, 2002 Dec;24(2):83-9.

Febrile neutropenia is a common and potentially fatal problem encountered in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. We carried out an observational study to evaluate the possible risk factors of developing fever amongst neutropenic children with an underlying malignancy. We also looked at the microbiological profile of causative pathogens in patients with febrile neutropenia. During a study period of 1 year, a total of 90 neutropenic episodes were recorded amongst 57 patients who were on treatment and follow-up during the study period. Multivariate analysis showed that factors such as chemotherapy status, underlying disease, existing central venous catheters, presenting white blood cell counts at chemotherapy, use of steroid therapy or hospitalisation at the onset of neutropenia, were not significant risk factors for developing fever during neutropenic episodes. Although the presence of a central venous catheter was associated with a higher risk of developing fever, it did not reach statistical significance (p=0.11). Of the 90 neutropenic episodes, 59 (65.6%) developed fever and 25 of these had positive blood cultures. The causative organisms include gram-negative bacteria (64%), gram positive bacteria (16%) and fungus (20%). Of the gram-negative organisms, Klebsiella spp. predominated (28%) with the extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing strain forming the majority (16%). Amongst those with fungaemia, Candida spp. and Candida tropicalis formed the majority (8% each) of the isolates.

Matched MeSH terms: Neoplasms/complications*

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma and nasal allergy: any correlation?

Prepageran N, Lingham OR, Krishnan G, Jalaludin MA, Raman R

Ear Nose Throat J, 2003 Jun;82(6):438-40.

PMID: 12861869

Although it has been observed that nasal allergy is rarely seen in patients who have nasopharyngeal carcinoma, to our knowledge, no actual study of such a lack of association has been previously reported. To fill this void, we conducted a pilot study to investigate any such inverse relationship. We conducted skin-prick allergen tests on 22 patients with newly diagnosed but not-yet-treated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Combining these test results with findings on the history and clinical examination, we concluded that only one of the 22 cancer patients (4.5%) had allergic rhinitis. Our study also confirmed the validity of using findings on the history, clinical examination, and skin-prick testing as a reliable means of diagnosing allergic rhinitis.

Matched MeSH terms: Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms/complications*

A case report of primary hyperparathyroidism with severe bony involvement and nephrolithiasis

Chan SP, Hew FL, Jayaram G, Kumar G, Chang KW, Tay A

Ann Acad Med Singap, 2001 Jan;30(1):66-70.

PMID: 11242630

INTRODUCTION: Although the majority of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism have a relatively asymptomatic benign disorder, there are patients who have a more aggressive disorder.

CLINICAL PICTURE: We report a case of primary hyperparathyroidism presenting during pregnancy complicated by antepartum haemorrhage and severe prematurity. The diagnosis was made postpartum, when her problems rapidly progressed to result in severe neuromuscular weakness, bilateral pathological hip fractures as well as nephrolithiasis.

TREATMENT: Surgical parathyroidectomy was performed. The underlying lesion was a large solitary parathyroid adenoma with cystic elements.

CONCLUSION: Primary hyperparathyroidism is not an innocuous disease and can result in severe morbidity if left untreated.

Matched MeSH terms: Parathyroid Neoplasms/complications

Recurrent gigantic pyogenic granuloma disturbing speech and mastication: a case report and literature review

Ong MA, Chai WL, Ngeow WC

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1998 Mar;27(2):258-61.

PMID: 9663321

A case of gigantic pyogenic granuloma with three recurrences in the lower anterior gingiva is presented. Surgical wide excision of the lesion is the treatment of choice. The tumour must be excised down to the periosteum and the irritants around it removed to avoid recurrence. A contributing factor to the gigantic lesion is hormonal changes during pregnancy. Long-term review for 18 months after the third surgery showed no evidence of recurrence at the surgical site.

Matched MeSH terms: Gingival Neoplasms/complications*

Microcalcification clustering parameters in breast disease: a morphometric analysis of radiographs of excision specimens

Ng KH, Looi LM, Bradley DA

Br J Radiol, 1996 Apr;69(820):326-34.

PMID: 8665132

X-ray microradiography of surgically excised breast specimens offers the possibility of morphological characterization of calcifications. When combined with digital imaging techniques there exists added potential for obtaining valuable basic quantitative morphometric information regarding differences between microcalcifications in tissues exhibiting evidence of fibrocystic change, benign and malignant tumours. A total of 157 excised breast specimens from 84 patients were microradiographed using a Softex Super Soft X-ray unit and Kodak AA high resolution industrial film. A Quantimet 570C image analysis system was used to digitize and analyse the microradiographs. Of the 157 microradiographs, 51 (from 30 patients) revealed microcalcification clusters. The existence of significant differences between the three identified categories of tissue were indicated by clustering parameters. These included the number of particles per cluster, area of clusters, maximum distance to nearest neighbour, and geometric mean distance to nearest neighbour. The distribution pattern index (DPI), another of the clustering parameters used in this study, has been observed to be a particularly powerful discriminator. The value for fibrocystic change was found to be significantly smaller (0.514) than that for benign tumour (0.796) whilst that for benign tumour was observed to be significantly larger than that for malignant tumour (0.604) at a p-value of less than 0.05 (Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance).

Matched MeSH terms: Breast Neoplasms/complications

Chronic hepatitis B infection in Malaysians

Yap SF

Malays J Pathol, 1994 Jun;16(1):3-6.

PMID: 16329567

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection constitutes a major public health problem particularly in developing countries in East Asia, South-East Asia, the Pacific Basin and Africa. In Malaysia, a developing nation in the South East Asian region, the chronic HBV carrier rate varies between < 1% to about 10% depending on the ethnic group studied. The highest frequency is seen among the Chinese, followed by the Malays and lastly the Indians, with a male preponderance of between 2 : 1 and 3 : 1. Exposure to the virus among the adult population is estimated to be about 15%, 26% and 36% among the Indians, Malays and Chinese respectively. Serological study of adult chronic HBV carriers showed a frequency of HBe antigenemia of about 35%, with a significant decreasing trend with age. HBV DNA status generally correlated with the HBe status. An atypical profile of anti-HBe associated with serum HBV DNA is found in some carriers; in most instances, this is related to seroconversion from HBe antigenemia to anti-HBe. Chronic complications of HBV infection include the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the occurrence of which closely parallel that of HBsAg carrier rate. In Malaysia, HCC is the third most common malignant neoplasm and among the 10 leading causes of death. About 80% of our HCC cases are HBV associated. All 3 ethnic groups are afflicted, the highest frequency being among the Chinese. Males show a disproportionate risk with an odds ratio of 3.93 (p < 0.0001).

Matched MeSH terms: Liver Neoplasms/complications

Fulltext Cardiac tumours in children

Ram SP, Malik AS

Med J Malaysia, 1994 Mar;49(1):96-9.

PMID: 8058000

Three children with cardiac tumors are described: a 12-year-old female child who had left atrial myxoma, and two males having rhabdomyoma of the right ventricle associated with tuberous sclerosis. The child with left atrial myxoma was symptomatic and the tumour was subsequently excised. The other two children with rhabdomyoma were managed conservatively.

Matched MeSH terms: Heart Neoplasms/complications

Cemento-ossifying fibroma with mandibular fracture. Case report in a young patient

Ong AH, Siar CH

Aust Dent J, 1998 Aug;43(4):229-33.

PMID: 9775467

The cemento-ossifying fibroma is classified as an osteogenic neoplasm of the jaws. It commonly presents as a progressively growing lesion that can attain an enormous size with resultant deformity if left untreated. A case of a large cemento-ossifying fibroma involving the left mandible is described in a 15 year old male patient. The clinical, radiographic and histological features as well as surgical findings are presented. The treatment of choice of this lesion is also emphasized. Two years after surgery, there was no evidence of recurrence and the transosseous wire used to immobilize the fracture was found to be completely buried in the jaw bone.

Matched MeSH terms: Mandibular Neoplasms/complications

Septicaemia in paediatric cancer patients: a 5-year surveillance study in university hospital, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Ariffin H, Ariffin W, Peng LH, Parasakthi N

J Trop Pediatr, 1997 10;43(5):279-81.

PMID: 9364125 DOI: 10.1093/tropej/43.5.279

Infectious complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in children with malignancy. Empirical antimicrobial therapy in the management of fever of unknown origin should be tailored to local bacteriological data and antibiotic sensitivity patterns. Five-hundred-and-fifty-nine cases of culture-proven septicaemia occurring in pediatric cancer patients between 1990 and 1994 were retrospectively analysed and compared with a similar study done in our centre between 1976 and 1979. A wide spectrum of organisms was isolated. Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most common and consistent bacteria isolated during the 5 year period. More than 70 per cent of the staphylococci were sensitive to methicillin and universally sensitive to vancomycin. However, a worrying trend of ceftazidime-resistance amongst gram-negative organisms was found. In these situations, the use of imipenem is recommended as resistance to this antimicrobial agent was exceedingly rare.

Matched MeSH terms: Neoplasms/complications*

Primary hyperparathyroidism presenting with pathological fracture

Deshmukh RG, Alsagoff SA, Krishnan S, Dhillon KS, Khir AS

J R Coll Surg Edinb, 1998 Dec;43(6):424-7.

PMID: 9990797

Primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) is an intriguing condition. Routine automated biochemical screening has made the diagnosis commonplace in developed countries and the disease is diagnosed early in its course when it is often asymptomatic. In developing countries or in recent immigrants from these countries, PHPT is often seen in an advanced stage with bone involvement. Associated dietary deficiencies may alter the biochemical profile and cause a diagnostic dilemma. It is important to include it in the differential diagnosis of pathological fractures. We report three cases of PHPT presenting with pathological fractures and discuss their diagnosis and management.

Matched MeSH terms: Parathyroid Neoplasms/complications

Uterine leiomyomata in pregnancy

Hasan F, Arumugam K, Sivanesaratnam V

Int J Gynaecol Obstet, 1991 Jan;34(1):45-8.

PMID: 1671020

Sixty cases with uterine leiomyomata in pregnancy are presented. The incidence was 1 in 1033 deliveries. The median age of the patients was 33.4 years. The majority were primigravidae (60%). A significant number of patients gave a history of infertility (43%) and spontaneous abortions (25%). The commonest antenatal complication was malpresentation and in all these patients the myomata were larger than 6 cm. Typical features of red degeneration occurred in 10% of cases. The cesarean section rate was 73%, the commonest indication being obstructed labor. Severe hemorrhage was encountered at cesarean section in 10 patients, 3 of whom needed hysterectomy. There were no perinatal deaths.

Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Neoplasms/complications

Intratumour amyloidosis in Malaysians: an immunohistochemical study

Looi LM

Ann Acad Med Singap, 1986 Jan;15(1):52-6.

PMID: 3010797

Congo red screening of tumour material examined at the Department of Pathology, University of Malaya revealed intratumour deposits of amyloid in 12% of nasopharyngeal carcinomas, 66% of basal cell carcinomas, 100% of medullary carcinomas of the thyroid, 56% of islet cell tumours of the pancreas, 1 out of 16 carcinoids and 1 out of 100 thyroid adenomas. All the deposits were permanganate resistant and did not contain AA protein, indicating that what was encountered was not secondary amyloid. The deposits showed variable staining for immunoglobulin light chains and amyloid P component with a standard peroxidase antiperoxidase method. The possibility that intratumour amyloid has a neoplastic origin is discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Neoplasms/complications

Fulltext Autopsy findings in 35 cases of leprosy in Malaysia

Jayalakshmi P, Looi LM, Lim KJ, Rajogopalan K

Int. J. Lepr. Other Mycobact. Dis., 1987 Sep;55(3):510-4.

PMID: 3655465

The findings of autopsies performed on 35 leprosy subjects in the University Hospital, Kuala Lumpur, between January 1981 and December 1985 are presented. This is the first report based on autopsy findings from Malaysia. The patients were elderly subjects with a mean age of 74 years. Sixty-six percent had lepromatous leprosy. None had active skin lesions. The most common cause of death was pyogenic infection, particularly bronchopneumonia. Tuberculosis was noted in 25% of the cases. The other important causes of death included cardiac and renal failure. Renal lesions were evident in 71% of the cases, and the most common pathology was interstitial nephritis. Generalized amyloidosis complicated six (17%) patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Neoplasms/complications

Syringomyelia associated with a cauda equina meningioma involving the conus medullaris

Chee CP, Tan CT, Nuruddin R

Br J Neurosurg, 1990;4(6):529-33.

PMID: 2076215

An unusual case of syringomyelia secondary to a cauda equina meningioma involving the conus medullaris is described. The tumour was totally removed with decompression of an adjacent cyst and syrinx resulting in resolution of the symptoms and radiological appearance.

Matched MeSH terms: Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms/complications*

Fulltext Lung cancer: a review of 589 Malaysian patients

Gopal P, Iyawoo K, Hooi Lai Ngoh, Parameswary V

Med J Malaysia, 1988 Dec;43(4):288-96.

PMID: 2853822

Matched MeSH terms: Lung Neoplasms/complications

Fulltext Acute appendicitis: pathology of 1,000 cases

Thanaletchimy N

Med J Malaysia, 1986 Dec;41(4):336-42.

PMID: 3670157

A retrospective study of the pathology seen in 1,000 consecutive appendicectomy specimens with a pre-operative diagnosis of acute appendicitis, was made in an attempt to find common factors which might throw light on the aetiology of the disease. Acute inflammation was seen in 775 cases. In 225 cases where no inflammation was seen, 168 appendices were associated with other pathology, i.e., lymphoid hyperplasia, fibrosis and tumour. In 57 cases the appendix was not inflamed. Acute inflammation was seen more in males and in patients aged below 30 years, while normal appendices were more commonly seen in females of reproductive age.

Matched MeSH terms: Appendiceal Neoplasms/complications

Internal iliac and ovarian artery ligation in the control of pelvic haemorrhage

Thavarasah AS, Sivalingam N, Almohdzar SA

Aust N Z J Obstet Gynaecol, 1989 Feb;29(1):22-5.

PMID: 2562595

Bilateral ligation of the internal iliac artery with or without ligation of the ovarian arteries was carried out in 17 patients who had life-threatening pelvic haemorrhage; 14 were due to obstetric haemorrhage, 2 followed abdominal hysterectomy and 1 intractable haemorrhage associated with carcinoma of the cervix. The procedure was successful in arresting the haemorrhage in 13 patients but 4 needed hysterectomy in spite of the ligation; 1 patient died from disseminated intravascular coagulation following surgery and 1 had cardiac arrest due to extensive blood loss during surgery and died 12 hours later. A review of the literature, a brief description of the procedure and its indications are discussed.

Matched MeSH terms: Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/complications

Fulltext The efficacy and tolerability of scalp cooling in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients with breast cancer receiving anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy in an Asian setting

Saad M, Chong FLT, Bustam AZ, Ho GF, Malik RA, Ishak WZW, et al.

Indian J Cancer, 2019 1 4;55(2):157-161.

PMID: 30604728 DOI: 10.4103/ijc.IJC_581_17

BACKGROUND: Scalp cooling has been shown in several studies to be an effective method in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia (CIA). Data on the use of scalp cooling in Asian countries are limited, and evidence for its use and efficacy among our patients are not available.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness and tolerability of scalp cooling among breast cancer patients in our study population.

METHODS: Consecutive breast cancer patients receiving FE75C, FE100C, FE100C-D, docetaxel75 or docetaxel, and cyclophosphamide (TC) at our treatment center were recruited and allocated to the treatment (scalp cooling, DigniCapTM system) or control group in this prospective nonrandomized controlled study. The assessment of alopecia was carried out using the World Health Organization grading system and clinical photographs.

RESULTS: Seventy patients were recruited, but only 25 completed the study and were evaluable for analysis. Five of 12 patients (42%) in the scalp cooling group managed to preserve hair. Two of three patients who received FE75C and TC regimens had minimal hair loss. All patients treated with FE100C had severe hair loss. Half of all patients who received scalp cooling throughout chemotherapy rated the treatment as reasonably well tolerated. The most common reason for discontinuing scalp cooling was intolerance to its side effects.

CONCLUSION: Scalp cooling is potentially effective in reducing CIA caused by docetaxel, TC, and FE75C chemotherapy regimen. However, it was not well tolerated by our study population. The dropout rate was high, and this needs to be taken into consideration when pursuing further trials in a similar setting.

Matched MeSH terms: Breast Neoplasms/complications*

Paraneoplastic relapsing minimal change disease associated with type A thymoma in an elderly patient: A case report and literature review

Ngoh CLY, Goh GHS, Wong WK

Med J Malaysia, 2019 02;74(1):97-98.

PMID: 30846674

Thymoma is a rare mediastinal tumour that can be accompanied by different paraneoplastic syndromes. Here we report a case of Type A thymoma associated with relapsing minimal change disease (MCD). This case highlights: (1) The need to balance rapid prednisolone weaning against risk for relapse in an elderly patient at risk for steroid-induced complications. (2) The addition of calcineurin inhibitor in relapsed thymoma-related MCD, to achieve steroid sparing effects. Resection of the offending tumour and prompt immunosuppressive therapy are critical in getting best renal and overall outcomes in this rare entity.

Matched MeSH terms: Thymus Neoplasms/complications*

Hyperandrogenism caused by ovarian Leydig cell tumour: finding the needle in a haystack

Tong CV, Tai YT

BMJ Case Rep, 2020 Dec 13;13(12).

PMID: 33318251 DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2020-238012

Leydig cell tumours (LCTs) of the ovary are rare ovarian tumours that usually present with hyperandrogenism. Conventional radiological imagings are helpful in localising these tumours. However, some tumours may be too small to be localised before curative surgical removal. It is important to identify these androgen-secreting neoplasms which originate mostly from adrenals or ovaries because they are potentially malignant and require specific treatment. When conventional imagings are unrevealing, selective ovarian and adrenal venous sampling (SOAVS) is the next option. We report a case of LCT that was localised by SOAVS after results from other imaging modalities remained inconclusive.

Matched MeSH terms: Ovarian Neoplasms/complications*

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