Massive Cervico-Lingual Cystic Hygroma

Cystic Hygroma (CH) is an aberrant proliferation of lymphatic vessels  creating fluid-filled sacs that result from blockage in the abnormal lymphatic system. These benign lesions are characteristic in their capability to grow to an enormously huge size has potential pressure effects on the neighboring structures. The massive expansion can also lead to gross disfigurement of the neck and face. In this paper, we present a rare case of cervico-lingual CH in a 17-year old Rwandese boy. Though the lesion had caused massive expansion of the tongue (12cm x 10cm) and led to gross deformity of the mandible, the boy had no signs of respiratory distress. His main concerns were inability to eat solid foods and compromised speech. The management challenges and literature review on cystic hygroma of the head and neck region are discussed.Key Words: Cystic Hygroma, Cervico-Lingua

A Paleogene calcareous microfossil Konservat-Lagerstatte from the Kilwa Group of coastal Tanzania

Microfossil assemblages and their shell geochemistry are widely used in paleocean-ography, but they can be significantly altered by subtle variations in preservation state. Clay-rich, hemipelagic sediments of the Paleogene Kilwa Group of coastal Tanzania host calcareous microfossils that are exceptionally preserved, as evidenced by morphological, taxonomic, and geochemical data. The planktonic foraminifera are preserved as glassy, translucent tests with original microgranular wall textures that resemble well-preserved modern specimens, and they arguably yield geochemical values that are relatively unaffected by recrystallization. The calcareous nannofossils are extraordinarily diverse and represented by unique assemblage compositions that include dissolution-susceptible taxa, especially holo-coccoliths and rhabdoliths, and fragile and very small (< 3-mu m) heterococcoliths, many of which are new taxa. Notably, the extant, deep-photic-zone taxon Gladiolithus is documented for the first time in the pre-Quaternary fossil record. The Kilwa Group calcareous nannofossil diversities are consistently higher than all coeval assemblages and provide a benchmark against which to compare other Paleogene biodiversity data. Highest diversities are preserved in hemipelagic, clay-rich lithologies and the greatest losses occur in lithified, carbonate-rich sediments. Most of the lost diversity, however, is confined to distinct taxonomic groups (holococcoliths and Syracosphaerales), and in general the preservational potential of Paleogene coccolithophores was greater than in the modern oceans because a larger proportion of the biodiversity fell within the larger size fractions. For both foraminifera and coccolithophores, incorporation into impermeable clay-rich sediments that have never been deeply buried appears to have been critical in producing this Konservat-Lagerstatte preservation

For king and country: Jack O’Connell, the CIA and the Arab-Israeli conflict, 1963-71

Jack O’Connell, who served as CIA Station Chief in Jordan between 1963 and 1971, was a unique and remarkable figure in the contemporary history of United States involvement in the Middle East. He established a closer personal relationship with King Hussein than any other foreigner before or since. Subsequently he went on to serve as the King's attorney-at-law in the United States and as his informal diplomatic adviser. This article explores O’Connell's role as CIA Station Chief, focusing in particular on his account of the events leading up to the outbreak of the 1967 war and of the covert diplomacy which followed it. It concludes that if O’Connell's claims are sustained, the United States must bear a greater share of responsibility for failing to prevent the outbreak of war and for the failure to secure a diplomatic settlement in its aftermath than has hitherto been acknowledged

Stratigraphy and sedimentology of the Upper Cretaceous to Paleogene Kilwa Group, southern coastal Tanzania

The geology of southern coastal Tanzania has remained poorly understood since the first comments on its stratigraphy were made over 100 years ago. However, new field surveys combined with shallow drilling along the coast between Kilwa and Lindi are beginning to resolve the depositional history and structural evolution of this region over the past 85 Ma. Here we present the first attempt to synthesize the results of these studies to provide a coherent sedimentological, litho- and sequence stratigraphic framework, including new geological maps, for the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene of the coastal zone. Santonian to Oligocene sediments crop out along a broad coastal belt south of the Rufiji River from the Kilwa peninsula to Lindi Creek in southern Tanzania. During �55 Ma, over 1 km of a broadly homogeneous, mid to outer shelf clay-dominated succession was deposited across the passive margin, which we define here as the Kilwa Group. This lies disconformably across the shelf on Albian marls and is itself unconformably overlain by shallow water Miocene clays and more recent limestones, sands and gravels. Four formations can be identified within the Kilwa Group on the basis of characteristic secondary lithologies and facies, described here for the first time; the Nangurukuru, Kivinje, Masoko and Pande Formations. These formations include conformable stratigraphic intervals through both the Paleocene–Eocene and Eocene–Oligocene boundaries. Within the Kilwa Group, 12 sequence stratigraphic cycles can be identified at present, demonstrating relatively uniform and continual subsidence across the margin from Santonian to Early Oligocene time. A further major bounding surface is present between the Upper Cretaceous and Paleogene, but this may become partly conformable in the Lindi area. Although the principal lithology in all formations is clay or claystone, there are more permeable intervals containing pervasive coarser siliciclastic sediments and these have yielded traces of crude oil which is likely to have migrated from lower in the succession. The Kilwa Group thus also provides important new evidence for petroleum play development in the southern coastal zone

Further Paleogene and Cretaceous sediment cores from the Kilwa area of coastal Tanzania: Tanzania Drilling Project Sites 6-10

Initial results from scientific drilling in southern coastal Tanzania are described. In a field season in 2003, a total of five sites was drilled (mostly using continuous coring) by the Tanzania Drilling Project for paleoclimate studies. The sediments are predominantly marine clays and claystones deposited in an outer shelf or slope environment and often contain excellently preserved microfossils suitable for geochemical analysis. The studies reported here include summaries of the lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy (planktonic foraminifers, calcareous nannofossils, benthic foraminifers, and palynology) and organic geochemistry.TDP Site 6 was drilled near Kilwa Masoko (UTM 37L 555752, 9014922), 350 m to the south-east of a previous site, TDP Site 1. The top 59.58 m, which was mostly drilled without coring, consists of an Oligocene clay formation belonging to nannofossil Zone NP23. The rest of the hole, to a total depth of 61.25 m, consists of a fault zone in which the Oligocene sediments are intermixed with middle Eocene clays of planktonic foraminifer Zone E9 and nannofossil Subzone NP15b.TDP Site 7 consists of two holes (Hole TDP7A: UTM 37L 547126, 9030142; Hole TDP7B: UTM 37L 0547130, 9030140) drilled just 5 m apart at Kwamatola, a creek to the south of Kilwa Kivinje. Underneath approximately 20 m of unconsolidated sands and gravels, claystones and siltstones were recovered to a total depth of 128.00 m. The site spans lower Eocene planktonic foraminifer Zones E1, E2 and E3 and nannofossil Subzones NP 9b and NP10. The bottom of Hole TDP7B approaches the Paleocene-Eocene boundary but no unambiguously Paleocene sediments were recovered.TDP Site 8 was drilled to the south-east of Singino Hill (UTM 37L 548033, 9025811). Below a covering of surface gravels, it yielded predominantly dark greenish-grey claystones to a total depth of 22.95 m. The sediments are from the lower Eocene and span the boundary between planktonic foraminifer Zones E3 and E4 and fall within nannofossil Zone NP10.TDP Site 9 was drilled near Nangurukuru junction (UTM 37L 538987, 9027049). It yielded predominantly dark greenish-grey siltstones to a total depth of 88.80 m. Thin siliciclastic beds with trace fossils of the Nereites ichnofacies are common in the lower third of the site. These sediments span the Campanian-Maastrichtian stage boundary and are assigned to the Globotruncanella havanensis to Gansserina gansseri planktonic foraminifer zones and nannofossil Subzones UC15e(TP) to UC17.TDP Site 10 was drilled to the west of Singino Hill, adjacent to the main Kilwa road (UTM 37L 0541243, 9028791). Below a superficial covering of gravel, it yielded predominantly dark greenish-grey silty claystones to a total depth of 100.80 in. These sediments are assigned to Paleocene planktonic foraminifer Zone P4c-P5 and nannofossil Subzone NP9b.Organic geochemical analyses from all the sites revealed biomarkers of predominantly terrestrial origin and collectively indicate an unusually low degree of thermal maturity for the area, suggesting shallow maximum burial depths. Traces of migrated hydrocarbons were found in TDP Sites 7 and 10. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Paleogene and Cretaceous sediment cores from the Kilwa and Lindi areas of coastal Tanzania: Tanzania Drilling Project Sites 1-5

Initial results of scientific drilling in southern coastal Tanzania are described.A total of five sites was drilled (mostly using continuous coring) by the Tanzania Drilling Project for paleoclimate studies.The sediments are predominantly clays and claystones deposited in a deep marine shelf environment and often contain excellently preserved microfossils suitable for geochemical analysis. The studies reported here include summaries of the lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy (planktonic foraminifers, calcareous nannofossils, benthic foraminifers, and palynology), magnetostratigraphy, and organic geochemistry. TDP Site 1 was drilled near Kilwa Masoko airstrip (8�54.5160S, 39�30.3970E).It yielded 8.55 m of barren blue-grey clays that may be Miocene in age, followed by 1.2 m of greenish-black to dark greenish-grey clay probably of the same age. The remainder of the hole cored 62.35 m of lower Oligocene sediments (nannofossil Zone NP23), which are predominantly greenish-black to dark greenish-grey clays.Total penetration was 74.10 m.The coring represents the first report of a thick Oligocene clay formation in the area. TDP Site 2 was drilled near Kilwa Masoko prison (8�55.2770S, 39�30.2190E).It yielded 92.78 m of predominantly dark greenishgrey clay with occasional allochthonous limestone beds that consist mostly of redeposited larger foraminifers.The site encompasses lower to middle Eocene planktonic foraminifer Zones P8/9 to P11 and nannofossil Subzones NP14b to NP15c.It encompasses a rarely cored interval across the Ypresian–Lutetian transition. TDP Site 3 was drilled near Mpara in the Kilwa area (8�51.5850S, 39�27.6550E).It yielded 56.4 m of predominantly dark greenishgrey clays and claystones.The site is assigned to lower Eocene planktonic foraminifer Zone P6 and nannofossil Zone NP11. TDP Site 4 was drilled near Ras Tipuli on the northwest side of Lindi creek (9�56.9990S, 39�42.9850E).It yielded 19.8 m of predominantly dark greenish-grey clay with allochthonous limestone interbeds.The site encompasses middle Eocene planktonic foraminifer Zones P12–P14 and nannofossil Zone NP17. TDP Site 5 was drilled at Machole, near Lindi, south of Kitulo Hill (10�01.6460S, 39�41.3750E).It yielded 31.6 m of predominantly greenish-black to dark greenish-grey clay assigned to the upper Cretaceous Globotruncana falsostuarti planktonic foraminifer zone and nannofossil zones UC15e–UC17 (upper Campanian–lower Maastrichtian).Paleomagnetic analysis suggests that the site straddles two magnetic reversals, between Chrons C32r.2r and C32r.1n. Samples from TDP Sites 1–5 yielded dinocyst and miospore assemblages that are integrated with the calcareous stratigraphy. Organic geochemical analyses of samples from each of the cores revealed biomarkers of predominantly terrestrial origin and an unusually low degree of thermal maturity, suggesting shallow burial depths.X-ray diffraction studies suggest that much of the Paleogene clay may be reworked from eroded Mesozoic formations

Further Paleogene and Cretaceous sediment cores from the Kilwa area of coastal Tanzania: Tanzania Drilling Project Sites 6-10

Initial results from scientific drilling in southern coastal Tanzania are described. In a field season in 2003, a total of five sites was drilled (mostly using continuous coring) by the Tanzania Drilling Project for paleoclimate studies. The sediments are predominantly marine clays and claystones deposited in an outer shelf or slope environment and often contain excellently preserved microfossils suitable for geochemical analysis. The studies reported here include summaries of the lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy (planktonic foraminifers, calcareous nannofossils, benthic foraminifers, and palynology) and organic geochemistry. TDP Site 6 was drilled near Kilwa Masoko (UTM 37L 555752, 9014922), 350 m to the south-east of a previous site, TDP Site 1. The top 59.58 m, which was mostly drilled without coring, consists of an Oligocene clay formation belonging to nannofossil Zone NP23. The rest of the hole, to a total depth of 61.25 m, consists of a fault zone in which the Oligocene sediments are intermixed with middle Eocene clays of planktonic foraminifer Zone E9 and nannofossil Subzone NP15b. TDP Site 7 consists of two holes (Hole TDP7A: UTM 37L 547126, 9030142; Hole TDP7B: UTM 37L 0547130, 9030140) drilled just 5 m apart at Kwamatola, a creek to the south of Kilwa Kivinje. Underneath approximately 20 m of unconsolidated sands and gravels, claystones and siltstones were recovered to a total depth of 128.00 m. The site spans lower Eocene planktonic foraminifer Zones E1, E2 and E3 and nannofossil Subzones NP 9b and NP10. The bottom of Hole TDP7B approaches the Paleocene–Eocene boundary but no unambiguously Paleocene sediments were recovered. TDP Site 8 was drilled to the south-east of Singino Hill (UTM 37L 548033, 9025811). Below a covering of surface gravels, it yielded predominantly dark greenish-grey claystones to a total depth of 22.95 m. The sediments are from the lower Eocene and span the boundary between planktonic foraminifer Zones E3 and E4 and fall within nannofossil Zone NP10. TDP Site 9 was drilled near Nangurukuru junction (UTM 37L 538987, 9027049). It yielded predominantly dark greenish-grey siltstones to a total depth of 88.80 m. Thin siliciclastic beds with trace fossils of the Nereites ichnofacies are common in the lower third of the site. These sediments span the Campanian–Maastrichtian stage boundary and are assigned to the Globotruncanella havanensis to Gansserina gansseri planktonic foraminifer zones and nannofossil Subzones UC15eTP to UC17. TDP Site 10 was drilled to the west of Singino Hill, adjacent to the main Kilwa road (UTM 37L 0541243, 9028791). Below a superficial covering of gravel, it yielded predominantly dark greenish-grey silty claystones to a total depth of 100.80 m. These sediments are assigned to Paleocene planktonic foraminifer Zone P4c–P5 and nannofossil Subzone NP9b. Organic geochemical analyses from all the sites revealed biomarkers of predominantly terrestrial origin and collectively indicate an unusually low degree of thermal maturity for the area, suggesting shallow maximum burial depths. Traces of migrated hydrocarbons were found in TDP Sites 7 and 10