Introduction: Histopathology Request Forms (HRFs) serve as interphase between clinicians and pathologists in making diagnosis of tissue pathology. Inadequacies of the completion of HRFs have been a source of major frictions between the two groups of physicians. Various reports have highlighted this inadequacy. The need for adequate information on the HRF to be standardized cannot be overemphasized. Aim: The paper aims to evaluate the histopathology request forms from institutions in Nigeria and to propose an improved prostate disease-specific histopathology request form. Methodology: Histopathological request forms from some major Nigerian health institutions were analyzed for adequacy based on required information for a standardized histological reportage. A request form specific for suspected prostate diseases was designed from the review of literature. Results: Histopathology request forms (HRFs) from sixteen Nigerian health institutions were received from all the geopolitical zones of the country following a request. All the HRFs were neither organ nor disease specific. None of the HRFs was adjudged to be satisfactory to produce enough information adequate for comprehensive histopathology reportage. A prostate disease-specific histological request form is proposed following review of literature. Discussion: The need for a comprehensive prostate-specific HRF cannot be overemphasized to improve the relationships between surgeons and pathologists and to improve reportage of prostate pathologies and the management of prostatic diseases. Conclusion: Adequate clinical information is needed for early and complete reportage of histopathological report of prostate diseases.
Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been particularly blamed for the deep-seated and progressive destruction of the middle ear and mastoid structure through its toxins and enzymes. Drug-resistant P. aeruginosa has been found to increase along with its frequency. Aim: This study aimed to assess the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of P. aeruginosa and the effectiveness of ciprofloxacin in chronically discharging ears. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective review of 180 patients who were managed for chronic suppurative otitis media between January 2009 and December 2018. Results: Out of the 180 patients, majority 67 (37%) were in the age group 1–10 years, range of 1 month to 70 years with mean age of 18 years and standard deviation of ± 16.8 years and M: F of 1.5:1. Most have had ear discharge for more than 6 months and the majority 78 (43.4%) of the patients had bilateral disease. Central tympanic membrane perforation was the predominant finding, 81 (45.0%) with a complication rate of 21.1%. Abscess formation was the most common complication seen among the patients. P. aeruginosa was the most common bacterial isolate, 43 (23.9%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus, 39 (21.7%). In the pediatric population, P. aeruginosa was most sensitive to levofloxacin, as opposed to gentamicin in the adult population. Ciprofloxacin was seen to be more effective in adults than in children. Resistance to ciprofloxacin was seen more in the children than in adults. There was a significant association between gender and occurrence of the organism. Conclusion: P. aeruginosa is most sensitive to levofloxacin and gentamicin in the pediatric and adult population, respectively. Resistance to ciprofloxacin is most common among adults.
The emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused global health concerns in the various strata of health-care authorities. The detection of the etiologic agent, SARS-CoV-2 became essential for case identification and prevention of transmission. In this review, literature was retrieved and sifted from different search engines. We highlighted some mainstream pointers vis-a -vis preanalytical, analytical, and postanalytical phases of laboratory detection of SARS-CoV-2 using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay. The quantitative RT-PCR is considered as the gold standard for establishing the diagnosis of COVID-19. However, laboratories must pay attention to all the testing phases from sample collection to final release of results in order to avoid false-negative or false-positive results. It is also necessary to understand possible challenges and conduct risk assessment before the commencement of testing in the designated laboratory.
The report of clusters of pneumonia-like cases in Wuhan, China, on December 31, 2019, began a tumultuous cascade of health, social, and economic disruptions globally. Consequently, this resulted in the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, described as one of the most lethal pandemics the world has had to face. Several aspects of infection and its implications on different organ systems have been reported in formal literature, with more studies generated daily. Although the infection is reported to be dominantly respiratory, it may result in multisystem dysfunction. In this review, we discuss the hematological abnormalities induced by COVID-19 infection. These findings could contribute to a better understanding of the disease pathophysiology and ultimately guide in prognostication, guide assessment, monitoring, and treatment approaches and help develop targeted adjuvant therapies.
Columnar cell variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland is a rare and aggressive thyroid malignancy with the clinical course predicated on the clinical stage, with the presence or absence of extrathyroid invasion. The tumors tend to occur in the elderly. We herein report a case of columnar cell variant of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid gland with lymph node metastasis in a 22-year-old African female who presented with 2 years' history of anterior neck swelling. The clinical examination, imaging, and cytological examination were suggestive of a benign neoplasm. An initial subtotal thyroidectomy was histologically diagnosed to be a columnar variant of papillary carcinoma. She subsequently had a completion thyroidectomy with resection of residual malignant thyroid tissue and lymph node, which showed metastasis. The patient is on follow-up.
