BACKGROUND:Laparoscopic appendectomy is becoming the preferred technique for treating acute appendicitis. However, its role in the treatment of complicated appendicitis is controversial. This study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of laparoscopic appendectomy for appendicular mass.MATERIALS AND METHODS:A retrospective review was performed of all the patients who were treated laparoscopically for appendicular mass from March 2007 to October 2009. Setting: Tertiary care hospital.RESULTS:A total of 120 patients were treated for appendicitis. A retrospective review of the patients’ records demonstrated that 19 patients (15.8%) had appendicular mass at the time of admission. The average operative time was 95 minutes (range 45-140 minutes). Pathological evidence of appendicitis was present in all the patients. The average length of hospital stay was six days (rang 6-9 days). Three patients (15.7%) had post- operative complications. Two patients developed wound infections and one patient was re-admitted with pain and a lump below the umbilical port.CONCLUSION:The findings suggest that laparoscopic appendectomy is feasible in patients with appendicular mass. The authors propose a prospective, randomized trial to verify this finding.

Background: Adolescence is a transitional phase linking childhood to adulthood. Among adolescents, girls are especially vulnerable and more susceptible biologically to reproductive tract infections. In rural India, health education given to these girls, builds knowledge, motivates them to improve and maintain their health, prevent disease and reduce risky behaviors. This study aims to evaluate the impact of adolescent health education on these rural teenage girls. Methods: This is a school-based educational interventional study on adolescent health education, on the girls 11 to 19 years old, in our area, during the period from January 2012 to February 2014. A pretest and post-test were done along with the health education, which covered various topics concerning adolescent health. Results: There were 1249 girl students enrolled into the study. The knowledge on menstruation and menstrual hygiene improved significantly after health education. The awareness of ill effects of child marriage, consanguineous marriage and teenage pregnancy was known by only 82.9%, 29.5% and 5.8% respectively. The knowledge about selfbreast examination, Pap smears and awareness that chronic white discharge after marriage, leads to cancer of cervix in the long run, were known by none. By this study, it is seen that their knowledge was poor during pretest and remarkable improvement took place after the educational intervention. Conclusions: This study shows the feasibility of adolescent health education program implementation on girls in the rural schools.

We report a case of cutaneous angiomyolipoma (AML) found on the anterior abdominal wall of a 3-year-old female child. Histologic examination showed a well-circumscribed nodule in the dermis composed of an intimate mixture of convoluted thick-walled blood vessels, smooth muscle, and mature fat. This lesion differs from renal AML in terms of a lack of association with tuberous sclerosis, circumscription, absence of epithelioid cells, and male predominance. We concluded that the unique features of this lesion distinguish it from other lesions such as angiomyoma, angiolipoma, myolipoma, haemangioma, and other mixed mesenchymal tumors. This case report suggests that the features considered diagnostic of AML can occur in extrarenal sites and, therefore, this diagnosis cannot be excluded on the basis of site alone.