Sukhpal Sawhney

Idiopathic Granulomatous Mastitis: Diagnostic strategy and therapeutic implications in Omani patients

OBJECTIVES Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis (IGM) is a rare benign disorder of the breast whose aetiology is controversial, and is often misdiagnosed clinically and radiologically as mammary malignancy; as a result, it may be incorrectly treated. Although no standard treatment is available for this chronic disease, surgery with or without corticosteroids has been tried with controversial results. This study discusses the clinical presentation, diagnosis, management, recurrence, and follow-up data of IGM with a review of relevant literature. METHODS From 2009-2012, the Breast Unit at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital, Oman, conducted a clinical study on 20 patients with breast lumps. Their clinical and radiological examinations were indeterminate, and a diagnosis of granulomatous mastitis was established only by histopathology. RESULTS The majority of the patients were cases of unknown aetiology, who presented with a unilateral breast mass. A few patients had a mass with an abscess, along with axillary lymphadenopathy. A total of 4 patients were suspected of malignancy using radiology. In all patients, sterilised pus was sent for culture and sensitivity. Microscopy showed the characteristic pattern of granulomatous inflammation. All patients were treated with antibiotics for 6 weeks, and the mean follow-up period was 15 months (11-33 months). All patients had complete remission with no further recurrence. CONCLUSION This single largest study of cases of IGM in Oman highlights the pitfalls in diagnosing this non-neoplastic disease of unknown aetiology and uncertain pathogenesis. It emphasises IGMs excellent response to antibiotics, which is crucial, as IGM is a disease which is notoriously difficult and controversial to treat.

Clinically Significant Anatomical Variants of the Paranasal Sinuses

OBJECTIVE Anatomic structural variations of the paranasal sinuses have a practical significance during surgical procedures conducted on the sinuses by otolaryngologists. This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of clinically significant anatomical variations of the paranasal sinuses. METHODS A prospective analysis of 435 computed tomography (CT) examinations of adult Omani patients was conducted to determine the prevalence of clinically significant anatomical variations of the paranasal sinuses. A total of 360 CT scans were included from January 2009 to January 2010. RESULTS The findings showed abnormal Agger nasi cells in 49% of cases (95% CI: 44-54%), concha bullosa in 49% (95% CI: 44-54%), Haller cells in 24% (95% CI: 18-31%), asymmetry in anterior ethmoidal roof 32% (CI: 29-37%), Onodi cells in 8% (CI: 5%-10%). The type of skull base were as follows; Type 1 was 30% (n=107; 95% CI: 25-35%), Type 2 was 34% (n=123; 95% CI: 29-39), and Type 3 was 36% (n=130; 95% CI: 31-41%). Many other surgically significant anatomical variations in small numbers (1-3) were incidentally identified. CONCLUSION Knowledge of the presence of anatomical variations of the sinuses has a clinical significance as it minimizes the potential for surgical complications. There is an ethnical difference in the prevalence of anatomical variations. Further studies of anatomical variations with clinical disease correlations are needed.

Bimanual, intra-operative, fluoroscopy-guided removal of nasopharyngeal migratory fish bone from carotid space.

AIM We report a rare and unusual case of a patient with an ingested fishbone which migrated from the oropharynx to the anterior compartment of the retropharyngeal space and then to the deep neck space in the nasopharynx (i.e. the carotid space). This report aims to describe a successful, minimally invasive method of foreign body removal which avoided both major skull base surgery and any potential life-threatening complications. A secondary aim is to highlight the role of intra-operative fluoroscopy, an under-used tool. CASE REPORT We present a 67-year-old man with a history of fish bone impaction but no fish bone visible on plain X-ray or flexible endoscopy. The diagnosis of fish bone lodged in the retropharyngeal space was confirmed by computed tomography. Surgical exploration of the anterior retropharyngeal space failed to locate the fish bone, as it had migrated to a new, unknown location. Intra-operative fluoroscopy was vital for the removal of the fish bone, as it was impossible to see with the naked eye and had migrated from its previously imaged position. The fish bone was finally retrieved bimanually using external pressure on the submandibular region, which displaced the fish bone, and fluoroscopic guidance, which assisted its removal from the nasopharyngeal lumen. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bimanual, intra-operative, fluoroscopy-guided, intra-luminal removal of a migratory fish bone from the deep neck space in this region of the nasopharynx.

Diagnostic dilemmas in Intraductal papillomas of the breast - Experience at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital in the Sultanate of Oman

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective study was to correlate the significance and accuracy of the colour of nipple discharge and breast ultrasound imaging in the diagnosis of intraductal papilloma. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 34 patients who underwent 36 microdochectomies in Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) in the Sultanate of Oman, over a 4 year period of January 2009 till December 2012. The confounders considered were patient age, physical examination findings, nipple discharge cytology result, ultrasound results and biopsy report following microdochectomy. Comparisons analysis, charts and graphs were made using the SPSS software (version 20). Results: The mean age of the patients was 44(27-73) years old. Twenty-seven out 36 (75%) patients had presented with nipple discharge, 14 out 27 (52%) had blood stained nipple discharge and 13(48%) with coloured discharge (yellow, brown and green), 9 patients had no discharge. The final histopathology showed intraductal papilloma 13 (36%), duct ectasia 18(50%), DCIS 1 (2.7%), fibrocystic disease 3(8.3%) and LCIS 1(2.7%). Thirteen out of 36 had intraductal papilloma on final histopathology. The correlation between blood stained discharge and final histopathology of intraductal papilloma was insignificant (p=0.44). Conclusion: Nipple discharge is irrelevant to the diagnosis of intraductal papilloma. Spontaneous nipple discharge regardless of color is to be referred to breast surgeon and to be assessed with triple assessment. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment.

Metastatic Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast Masquerading as a Primary Renal Malignancy = ورم الكلية قد يكون مؤشرا لإنتشار سرطان الثدي الحويصلي

Breast cancer is known to metastasise to different organs in the body, but an initial presentation of breast cancer with loin pain secondary to a metastatic renal mass is extremely rare. We report a 58-year-old woman who presented with recurrent left loin pain due to a metastatic deposit of invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast. The detection of a renal mass on computed tomography led to the assumption of a renal pelvic malignancy. The diagnostic dilemma posed by the detection of a breast mass during staging and the usefulness of immunohistochemistry in the confirmation of diagnosis are discussed.

Lost and Found: Unusual location of a urinary tract calculus.

A 41-year-old male patient presented to the Emergency Department (ED) of Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) complaining of left flank pain of one day’s duration which was colicky and increasing in intensity. There was no history of fever, nausea or vomiting or other significant medical history; however, a similar episode had occurred previously. The patient’s vital signs were stable and he was afebrile. Physical examination of the abdomen was non-contributory; routine microscopic urinalysis was normal. In view of the suspicion of left renal colic, he was referred for a non-contrast enhanced computed tomography (NCCT) scan, the gold standard at SQUH to assess urinary tract calculi in patients presenting with renal colic. The scan showed significant left perinephric fat stranding and mild left hydroureteronephrosis and evidence of periureteric fat stranding around the left ureter. No calculi could be identified in the left kidney or the left ureter. There was a direct inguinal hernia on the right side which contained part of the urinary bladder and a small radio-opaque calculus. These findings suggested the recent passage of a left ureteric stone into the bladder and the migration of this stone into the herniated part of the urinary bladder. It is also possible that the patient had passed out the ureteric stone via the urethra, and that the stone in the herniated bladder was an incidental finding. Clinically, the pain decreased over the period of observation in the ED, and the patient was discharged. At Urology Clinic follow-ups, there was no recurrence of pain, and the patient was managed conservatively. Inguinal hernias can be direct or indirect; the Hesselbach triangle is usually the site for direct inguinal hernias. On CT, the direct inguinal hernia lies medial to the inferior epigastric artery.1 A total of 1–3% of all inguinal hernias involve the bladder;2 in obese men aged 50–70 years, the incidence may reach 10%.3 Inguinal hernias generally occur on the right side.2 Urinary bladder hernias are mostly diagnosed incidentally during hernia surgeries,4 or during imaging.2 The herniated parts of the urinary bladder can contain tumors or calculi.2,5 These may migrate from upper tracts or form de novo in the hernia due to stasis. CT is the best modality for the diagnosis and evaluation of inguinoscrotal urinary bladder herniation after injection of intravenous contrast. The post-processing of the CT using 3D reconstructions can demonstrate the contents of the hernia and its relationships.6 Our patient’s calculus, could possibly have passed from the left ureter. However, it is possible that it may instead have travelled to the herniated component of the urinary bladder and been overlooked, especially as the herniated part of the bladder was small and did not significantly distort the urinary bladder in the pelvis. Therefore, we suggest that the protocol for the routine NCCT of the kidney, ureter and bladder for urolithiasis should extend below the pubic symphysis so as not to miss posterior urethral calculi or calculi in unusual areas.