BackgroundThe global burden from cancer is rising, especially as low-income countries like Bangladesh observe rapid aging. So far, there are no comprehensive descriptions reporting diagnosed cancer group that include hematological malignancies in Bangladesh.MethodsThis was a multi-center hospital-based retrospective descriptive study of over 5000 confirmed hematological cancer cases in between January 2008 to December 2012. Morphological typing was carried out using the “French American British” classification system.ResultsA total of 5013 patients aged between 2 to 90 years had been diagnosed with malignant hematological disorders. A 69.2% were males (n = 3468) and 30.8% females (n = 1545), with a male to female ratio of 2.2:1. The overall median age at diagnosis was 42 years. Acute myeloid leukemia was most frequent (28.3%) with a median age of 35 years, followed by chronic myeloid leukemia with 18.2% (median age 40 years), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (16.9%; median age 48 years), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (14.1%; median age 27 years), multiple myeloma (10.5%; median age 55 years), myelodysplastic syndromes (4.5%; median age 57 years) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (3.9%; median age 36 years). The least common was chronic lymphocytic leukemia (3.7%; median age 60 years). Below the age of 20 years, acute lymphoblastic leukemia was predominant (37.3%), followed by acute myeloid leukemia (34%). Chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma had mostly occurred among older patients, aged 50-over.ConclusionsFor the first time, our study presents the pattern and distribution of diagnosed hematological cancers in Bangladesh. It shows differences in population distributions as compared to other settings with possibly a lower presence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. There might be under-reporting of affected women. Further studies are necessary on the epidemiology, genetics and potential environmental risk factors within this rapidly aging country.

PurposeTreatment of malignant and nonmalignant hematologic diseases with hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT) was first described almost 60 years ago, and its use has expanded significantly over the last 20 years. Whereas HSCT has become the standard of care for many patients in developed countries, the significant economic investment, infrastructure, and health care provider training that are required to provide such a service have prohibited it from being widely adopted, particularly in developing countries.MethodsOver the past two decades, however, efforts to bring HSCT to the developing world have increased, and several institutions have described their efforts to establish such a program. We aim to provide an overview of the current challenges and applications of HSCT in developing countries as well as to describe our experience in developing an HSCT program at Dhaka Medical College and Hospital in Bangladesh via a partnership with health care providers at Massachusetts General Hospital.Results and ConclusionWe discuss key steps of the program, including the formation of a collaborative partnership, infrastructure development, human resource capacity building, and financial considerations.

Acute megakaryocytic leukemia (AML M7) is a rare type of acute leukemia often presented with myelofibrosis.This report describes a 65 years old female who presented with progressive weakness and fatigue. She was diagnosed as a case of de novo AMLM-7 on the basis of peripheral blood finding, bone marrow examination report and immunophenotyping. She refused chemotherapy, received only supportive therapy and died after two months of diagnosis. Key Words: Acute megakaryocytic leukemia; thrombocytosis; immunophenotyping. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jdmc.v20i1.8590 J Dhaka Med Coll. 2011; 20(1) :89-92

Cold agglutinin disease (CAD) is a chronic compensated hemolytic anemia. We report a case of cold agglutinin disease secondary to multiple myeloma (MM) in a patient of erythrodermic psoriasis. The patient presented with acral cyanosis, progressive weakness and generalized desquamating scaly lesions. After confirming the diagnosis (80-90% plasma cells in bone marrow, M- spike in serum protein electrophoresis, G-ë restriction pattern in immune electrophoresis) he was given chemotherapy with CTD (cyclophosphamide, thalidomide and dexamethasone) protocol. His clinical symptoms improved and he has now completed 4 cycles of chemotherapy. The interim follow up showed achievement of PR (partial response).DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jom.v15i2.20688 J MEDICINE 2014; 15 : 141-143

Bangladesh College of Physicians and Surgeons (BCPS) was established in June 1972 through an Order revised in 2018 as an act with six functions which cover post-graduate education of all specialties of medical science. This commission report is to document the spectrum of contribution of BCPS in the health and education sector through its fellows and members. The data obtained for this report covers selected literature review, consultation with key official documents- Year Book of BCPS, Annual report of honorary secretary of BCPS, Health Bulletin of DGHS, various website, information from a brief quick Google survey on the fellows and focus group discussion (FGD) with senior present and past leaders of BCPS. BCPS is providing a skill based supervised comprehensive logbook based clinical training of five years’ duration through its recognized/accredited hospitals in different tiers of mostly public health system across the country. While undergoing clinical training the ‘would be fellows’ provide supervised quality clinical services to the patients attending the BCPS accredited hospitals. BCPS is producing specialists’ human resources by offering fellowship covering general and specialized subjects (n=59) and membership (n=16) in various branches of medicine. Immediately after independence there were 247 specialists altogether in the country. Since its inception, in 1972 after the liberation, 8266 fellows are entered as fellows, 7887 fellows with examinations, 111 without examinations and 268 honorary fellows; 3222 are entered as members of the College. The fellows of BCPS are engaged in providing specialized patient care in various fields of medical science as professor, associate professor, assistant professor and consultants in various public and non-government medical college hospitals, medical universities, post-graduate institutes, district hospital, and upazila health complexes. As a teacher most of the fellows are also heavily engaged in human resource development at both under-graduate and post-graduate level. Through their active voluntary engagement, the fellows of the College participate in the core activities of the College for HR development through activities related to monitoring & supervision, assessment, continuous professional development, skill development of the trainees and the fellows. Fellows are equally contributing in the armed forces medical services as clinical and para clinical specialists and development of specialist HRs. Additionally, fellows are contributing to various aspects of important public health topics relevant for SDG and Bangladesh. Fellows are also engaged in doing funded and non-funded quality researches and writing of scientific intellect at national and international publication system. Having achieved the various positions in academic, research and administrative arena BCPS fellows’ role in policy development and implementation, and scientific development deserve special appreciation. Future contribution of BCPS should prioritize quality assurance strategy for training-learning, enrich effectiveness of examination system, effective branding of BCPS, increase allocation and creating a conducive environment for conducting research. Conclusion: The glorious contribution of BCPS in the development of quality specialist health human resources over the last 50 years attained almost a self-sufficiency. Further ensuring quality assurance in training learning of future fellows and continued advanced training of the newly qualified fellows will help in branding of BCPS and technology transfer saving government exchequer. J Bangladesh Coll Phys Surg 2022; 40: 5-18