S. B. Naaeder

Breast Cancer in Ghanaian Women

OBJECTIVESnTo evaluate breast cancer in Ghanaian women and to compare these findings with those of previous studies by using histopathologic data.nnnMETHODSnA review of all breast cancer specimens from January 2005 through December 2009 in our institution was conducted.nnnRESULTSnOf 4,109 female breast specimens reviewed, 1,342 (32.7%) were malignant. Mean (SD) patient age was 50.3 (13.3) years, and mean size of the primary tumors was 4.5 cm. Eighteen (1.3%) specimens were malignant phyllodes tumors. Significant positive associations were found between size of the primary tumor and histologic type (P = .01), histologic grade (P = .001), nodal involvement (P < .001), and TNM stage (P < .001).nnnCONCLUSIONSnMore than 3 decades after the first publication of breast cancer in Ghanaian women, patients are still presenting with large clinically and histologically advanced invasive cancers.

Ileal stricture following strangulated inguinal hernia

Small intestinal stenosis due to ischaemia following strangulated hernia is uncommon as patients with external hernias have ready access to elective herniorrhaphy. Small intestinal stenosis secondary to ischaemia may lead to acute small bowel obstruction, acute-on-chronic obstruction or chronic small bowel obstruction. It may also give rise to the blind loop syndrome. Preoperative diagnosis of this condition is difficult. We report four cases of small intestinal stenosis who presented to one surgical unit at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital with acute intestinal obstruction over a period of 15 months.

Clinicopathological aspects of adenocarcinoma of the large bowel in a low incidence population

The presentation of the different histopathologic subtypes of adenocarcinoma of the large bowel vary within the colorectum and appears to impact on treatment. This study evaluated the relationships between the clinical features of adenocarcinoma of the large bowel, the histopathologic subtypes, and treatment.