1.Enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma: An extremely rare cause of chronic diarrhoea
Chee-Chiat Liong ; Sarala Ravindran ; Gnana Kumar Gnanasuntharam ; Edmund Fui-Min Chin ; Peng-Soon Koh ; Wah-Kheong Chan
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2016;71(2):88-90
Chronic diarrhoea in tropical countries may be due to a
myriad of causes from infective to non-infective. This case
report illustrates the challenges faced in the investigation of
a middle-age Chinese gentleman who presented with
chronic diarrhoea and weight loss. The diagnosis of type II
enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma (EATL) was finally
made. The diagnosis of EATL was least suspected as the
condition is almost unheard of in this part of the world. The
epidemiology, presentation, diagnosis, management and
prognosis of this rare condition are discussed.
2.Anxiety and depression in patients with haematological neoplasms in Malaysia
Gin Gin Gan ; Diana Leh Ching Ng ; Yeh Chwan Leong ; Ping Chong Bee ; Edmund Fui Min Chin ; Habibah Abdul Halim ; Tengku Ahmad Hidayat Tengku Aziz ; Henning Loo ; Alan KH Teh
The Medical Journal of Malaysia 2019;74(3):191-197
Background: It is not uncommon that anxiety and
depression occur in patients with cancers, and past
researches have shown that the quality of life of patients is
negatively affected. This study aims to determine the
prevalence of anxiety and depression of patients with
haematological cancers in Malaysia and to investigate the
possible association of these psychological symptoms with
their quality of life.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study where patients with
haematological cancers attending two major hospitals were
recruited. Anxiety and depression symptoms were assessed
using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale (HADS).
Quality of life (QoL) of these patients was measured using
the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of
Cancer quality of life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ C30). An
overall summary QoL score in combination with financial
difficulty score and global health score were used for
analysis.
Results: A total of 319 patients were recruited. Thirty-three
percent of patients had anxiety symptoms, 23.5% had
depression symptoms. In summary the overall score of QoL
is significantly lower in patients with higher scores for
depression and anxiety, (p<0.05). Patients who exhibit
anxiety symptoms were more frequently female, still
undergoing treatment whereas patients who had higher
depression scores were older and had acute leukemias or
myeloproliferative neoplasms. Patients who have
depression are significantly associated with a higher
financial difficulty score, p<0.05.
Conclusion: The poor quality of life in patients who have
anxiety and depression should raise awareness amongst the
health professions treating them so that additional support
can be provided.