Patterns of Palliative Radiotherapy Utilization for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Purpose: In sub-Saharan Africa, radiotherapy (RT) utilization and delivery patterns have not been extensively studied in patients with metastatic breast cancer.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study of female patients with metastatic breast cancer seen at Parirenyatwa Radiotherapy Centre in Zimbabwe from 2014 to 2018 was conducted. Demographics, pathology, staging, and treatment data were abstracted through chart review.

Breast cancer in Zimbabwe: patterns of care and correlates of adherence in a national referral hospital radiotherapy center cohort from 2014 to 2018.

Background: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in Zimbabwe. Patients face socioeconomic barriers to accessing oncology care, including radiotherapy. We sought to understand patterns of care and adherence for women with breast cancer in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) with radiotherapy access.

Spontaneous closure of an extensive postdebridement perineal wound in a newly diagnosed diabetic patient presenting with necrotizing fasciitis.

Diabetes mellitus may present for the first time with necrotizing fasciitis. Early treatment of septic shock and immediate surgical debridement reduces mortality. A diverting loop colostomy prevents soiling of extensive postdebridement wound.

Penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries from multiple-spiked spear stabbing: Case report and literature review.

Penetrating thoracoabdominal injuries carry high morbidity and mortality. Concurrent clinical evaluation and resuscitation followed by early surgery are associated with good outcome. In a resource-limited setting, plain X-rays are valuable in surgery planning.

Validation of POSSUM, P-POSSUM and the surgical risk scale in major general surgical operations in Harare: A prospective observational study.

Background: Raw mortality and morbidity, though commonly studied in surgical audit can nonetheless be misleading because of differences in preoperative and intraoperative findings of patients. There are some common scoring systems specifically designed to cater for case mix but these have not been tried locally. This study sought to validate these scoring systems and hopefully adopt them for our teaching hospitals.

Successful nonoperative management of high output enterocutaneous fistulae in high surgical risk HIV-positive patients: Two case reports and literature review.

Management of enterocutaneous fistulae is challenging, often requiring a multidisciplinary approach. In high output fistulae, surgery is advocated after control of sepsis, adequate fluid and electrolyte repletion, and nutritional support. Surgery may, however, be contraindicated in the presence of sepsis and malnutrition.

Diagnostic and surgical challenges of a giant pheochromocytoma in a resource limited setting-A case report.

Introduction: Pheochromocytomas are catecholamine producing tumours which arise from chromaffin cells within the adrenal medulla. Patients with these tumours commonly present with a triad of headache, palpitations and hypertension.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a 37-year-old male patient who presented with dull left sided abdominal pain and discomfort for 6 weeks.

Fatal haemorrhagic duodenal mucormycosis in a non-immunocompromised host: A case report.

Mucormycosis is an opportunistic infection caused by the fungi of the Mucorales order of the class Zygomycetes. Gastrointestinal mucormycosis is an uncommon, fatal condition accounting for only 7% of the cases. We present the case of a gastroduodenal mucormycosis presenting as recurrent massive hematemesis.