[Peritoneal tuberculosis: evaluation of the response to treatment by analysing the CA 125 levels]. / Tuberculosis peritoneal: valoración de la respuesta al tratamiento mediante los niveles de CA 125.

A case of a 32 years old woman with fever and exudative ascites is described. Tuberculous peritonitis was confirmed by abdominal laparoscopy, peritoneal biopsy and Lowënstein culture. A serum CA 125 level was 861 U/ml before therapy. The CA 125 level decreased a 30% after three weeks of antituberculous treatment. This tumor marker may be used to follow disease activity in tuberculous ascites.

[Adenosquamous carcinoma of the stomach]. / Carcinoma adenoescamoso del estómago.

Adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) of the stomach is a rare tumour. In this report we present a case of adenosquamous carcinoma in the antrum involving the duodenal bulb in a 84 year old woman. Although several theories about the possible origin of this kind of tumours had been proposed, histological and immunohistochemical findings agree with the possibility of a preexisting adenocarcinoma as the most reliable cause. The prognosis of ASC seems worse than that of adenocarcinoma because of the more extensive tumour depth and higher frequency of lymphatic and vascular permeation of the carcinomas cells when it is discovered.

[Intraabdominal desmoid tumor associated with Gardner's syndrome]. / Tumor desmoide intraabdominal asociado a síndrome de Gardner.

An intra-abdominal desmoid tumour included in Gardner's syndrome is described. Some aspects of this unusual tumour are reviewed, emphasizing the value of CT to evaluate shape, location, size and relation with adjacent structures and therefore to decide the therapeutic plan, to avoid the need for exploratory laparotomies which are, moreover, so inadvisable in these patients. Although the, treatment of choice is surgery, it must be performed in accordance with CT findings. When surgery is not possible is incomplete or after recurrences, alternative methods are recommended.

[Primary esophageal melanoma]. / Melanoma esofágico primario.

Primary malignant melanoma of the esophagus is an extremely rare non-epithelial neoplasm with a fatal prognosis. At present, approximately 184 cases have been published in the world literature. Of all published cases, 10 (5.4%) occurred in Spain. A 76 year-old man with malignant melanoma of the esophagus presented with dysphagia and weight loss, and treated by subtotal esophageal resection is reported. There was no history of previous cutaneous melanoma and ophthalmologic examination had been normal. At esophagoscopy a polypoid and pigmented mass (diameter 5 cm) almost completely occluding the lumen in the lower third of the esophagus was found. Multiple tumor biopsies were obtained. Histological diagnoses were made by examining endoscopic biopsy specimens and confirmed with resected specimens. The purpose of this communication is to present a case of primary esophageal malignant melanoma proved preoperatively by histological and immunohistochemical studies (positive reaction to the HMB-45 and S-100 antigen), followed by a review of the literature of these exceptional tumors.