[Microcytic and hypochromic anemia due to a high-grade undifferentiated, embryonal, pleomorphic sarcoma]. / Anemia microcítica e hipocroma como consecuencia de un sarcoma pleomorfo indiferenciado de alto grado.

Undifferentiated (embryonal) sarcoma (UES) of the liver is a primary malignant tumor, rarely diagnosed in adults. Because of the absence of specific symptoms, rapid tumor growth, and normality of the common tumor markers, this neoplasm has a poor prognosis. Histologically, UES of the liver is characterized by anaplastic cells within myxoid matrix. Histological, immunohistochemical and chromosomic alterations are similar in UES and in mesenchymal hamartoma, suggesting a relation between these entities. The mainstay of treatment is surgery, while adjuvant treatment could increase survival.

[Tumor markers in colorectal cancer]. / Marcadores tumorales en el cáncer colorrectal.

INTRODUCTION: In 2008, colorectal cancer represented the third most commonly diagnosed tumor in Spain, and the second tumor with more deaths. Despite the new potential biomarkers in colorectal cancer, there are many challenges that need to be overcome, resulting in a need for the standardization of its determinations. DISCUSSION: The continuous advance in tumor disease knowledge makes this review a summary of the current accepted, recommended and studied tumor markers for the diagnosis and monitoring of colorectal cancer, such as fecal markers, tissue markers and serological markers, and various prognostic markers on which there are different lines of treatment in colorectal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Oncological guidelines recommend only a minority of tumor markers for routine use, such as the study of fecal occult blood, CEA determination in the postoperative followup, microsatellite instability to identify people susceptible to hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cáncer, and mutation of APC in the diagnosis of familial adenomatous polyposis.