Straight-to-Test Pathway in Faecal Immunochemical Testing (FIT)-Negative Patients: A Cost-Effective Approach.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the fourth most common malignancy in the UK and represents a high-volume diagnostic and clinical burden on the National Health Service (NHS). To maximise the use of limited diagnostic resources and increase efficiency, the colorectal services at University Hospitals North Midlands Trust (UHNM) developed the triage-to-test (TTT) service with risk stratification for diagnostic testing in patients with suspected colorectal cancer using faecal immunochemical testing (FIT) result. Our retrospective cohort study looked at the pick-up rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) and non-colorectal cancer (non-CRC) in FIT-negative patients.

Coexistence of pulmonary thromboembolism and pulmonary tuberculosis: a diagnostic dilemma.

A man in his early 50s with previously treated pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) presented with a 3-month history of cough, expectoration and progressive breathlessness, accompanied by significant weight loss. Examination revealed tachycardia, tachypnoea, hypoxaemia and unilateral diminished breath sounds. Investigations showed anaemia, leucocytosis and a homogeneous opacity on the left side of the CXR.

Adenocarcinoma of the Lung Masquerading As Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in an Elderly Lady: A Diagnostic Challenge.

A 59-year-old hypertensive woman presented with a year-long history of cough, expectoration, and progressive breathlessness, recently complicated by hemoptysis and significant weight loss. Initial investigations, including a chest x-ray and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) of the thorax, suggested an infective pathology. Despite negative bacterial, fungal, and tuberculosis cultures, elevated bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) galactomannan and serum Aspergillus-specific IgG levels led to a diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), and antifungal treatment commenced.

Hamman's syndrome - with audio file recording Hamman's sign.

A boy in his late adolescence, with no history of airway disease or medication use, presented with acute history of non-exertional chest pain increased on coughing and deep inspiration accompanied by dysphonia and odynophagia in the last 1 day. He had a notable history of viral fever with non-productive cough 2 weeks prior, which resolved spontaneously. Examination revealed stable haemodynamic parameters.

Hidden Behind a Veil: A Rare Case of Pulmonary Nocardiosis.

A 48-year-old male, a known case of seizure disorder, presented with complaints of cough for four months, which increased for two weeks, fever for two weeks and weight loss. Computed tomography (CT) scan of the thorax showed multiple heterogeneously enhancing lesions of bilateral lung fields predominantly in peribronchovascular distribution with enlarged, necrosed and conglomerated lymph nodes suggestive of infective etiology. On routine blood investigations, he was found to be reactive for the human immunodeficiency virus.

Coccidioidomycosis where you least expect it.

An elderly man without history of travel presented with complaints of intermittent fever for 2 months, cough with scanty expectoration for 15 days and history of weight loss of 5 kg in 1 year. The chest X-ray and CT scan of the thorax showed dispersed centrilobular nodules and patchy subpleural consolidation in both lungs with mediastinal lymphadenopathy. He underwent bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage culture grew He was prescribed antibiotics based on culture sensitivity; however, patient continued to have symptoms.

Outcomes of Laparoscopic vs. Open Reversal of Hartmann's Procedure: A Single Centre Experience.

Introduction Hartmann's procedure is widely performed to fix colonic obstruction and perforation. It should ideally be followed by a reversal to restore bowel continuity. Reversal of Hartmann's procedure was traditionally performed using an open technique.

Oncological adequacy of laparoscopic rectal cancer resection: An audit in Indian perspective.

Background: Laparoscopic resection for rectal cancer (LRR) has gained popularity because of better short-term outcomes and less post-operative morbidity. However, LRR is still not endorsed as a standard of care mainly due to concerns centred on oncological safety in comparison with open approach. Moreover, two recent randomised trials (Australian Laparoscopic Cancer of the Rectum [ALaCaRT] and the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group [ACOSOG] Z6051) have failed to prove that LRR is non-inferior to open resection.

Retrieval methods for urinary stones.

This paper attempts to assess the current status of the various modalities of available treatment for urinary stone disease in the Kerala scenario. A total of 300 patients who attended the stone clinic with urinary stone disease and had stones retrieved by different means were selected for the study. Their clinical symptoms, demographic profile, size, number and position of stones, metabolic profiles, retrieval modalities and end result of treatment in terms of stone clearance were assessed.

Investigations for recognizing urinary stone.

This study was done to identify the value of the commonly performed investigations available for identifying urinary stone disease, namely X-ray of the kidney, ureter and bladder (KUB) regions and ultrasound scan (USS) to recognize stones in patients suspected to have the disease. Two hundred patients who attended the stone clinic with symptoms suggestive of urinary stone disease and had either stone retrieved or have been followed up for minimum of 6 months were interviewed. The final opinion on stone disease was made after follow-up to assess the efficacy of the initial opinion based on the plain X-ray KUB or USS.