Double pathological fracture of mandibula caused by actinomycotic osteomyelitis: a case report.

Actinomycosis is an uncommon chronic granulomatous infection that cause formation of abscesses and cutaneous fistula. In mandibular actinomycosis the alveolar bone and mandibular body are usually not involved and the pathogenetic mechanisms of the actinomycotic infiltration is unknown. The patients usually report pain at the alveolar arch with development of a purplish-red swelling firmly attached to the mandibula; the fibrous tissue produces the continued development of new cutaneous fistulas with oncoming pus-secretion. An uncommon case of actinomycotic osteomyelitis with a double pathological fracture of mandibula is reported. Ortopanoramic X-ray and computed tomography scan of the mandibula are effective and relevant diagnostic procedures to quantify the entity and site of the osteolitic areas and to define the precise position of fractures. In association with the intravenous infusion of benzilpenicillina, daily local irrigations of rifamicina have been performed. Moreover, the patient underwent surgical drainage of abscesses with accurate curettage of osteomyelitic lesions and several biopsies of the trabecolar bone and fistulas were taken. It has been also necessary to perform a mandibular blockage using a resinal plaque anchored on premolars. To reach a precise diagnosis, an histopathological examination togheter with batterioscopic-coltural examination is needed. Antibiotic therapy alone is not a sufficient therapeutic approach and surgical treatment must be quickly performed with clean up of the osteomyelitic lesions and contention of fractures by alveolar blockage for at least 40 days.

[Use of vascular endostapler in surgery of the lower rectum]. / Impiego dell'endostapler vascolare nella chirurgia del retto basso.

A practical and effective method for rapid and bloodless preparation of the rectum using endovascular stapler devices during low anterior resection, or abdominal-perineal excision, is described. This method is presented as an effective means for easily dividing the anterior and lateral attachment of the rectum. The application of this technique is the absence of intraoperative bleeding related to injury of middle hemorrhoidal vessels, with minimal risk of autonomic pelvic nerve damage. An additional factor relevant in the choice of this technique, is the easier possibility to perform rectal dissection of an oncologically adequate tumor clearance from the margin of rectal tumor and with complete radical transection of the lateral ligaments fastly proceeding with the downward mobilization of the rectum close to the pelvic side walls, between the parietal and visceral layer of the pelvic fascia.

[Carcinoma of the gastric stump. Our experience in 28 treated cases]. / Carcinoma del moncone gastrico. Nostra esperienza su 28 casi trattati.

A chart review was conducted on 28 patients with gastric stump cancer who were radically treated at the First Department of Surgery of University "La Sapienza" of Rome between 1978 and 1990. The data obtained were compared with those of 401 patients radically treated, in the same period, for primary cancer of the proximal third of the stomach. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of stage and nodal involvement. Surgical treatment was total gastrectomy in 86% of cases, and an extended procedure in 57% of patients. The morbidity rate was similar to patients treated for primary gastric cancer, as well the 5-year survival, which depend on the stage of disease. We can conclude that gastric stump cancer must be treated surgically with radical intent as the prognosis is similar to that of primary gastric cancer.

[Effectiveness of quarterly assessment of CEA, TPA and GICA serum levels in gastric and colorectal carcinomas: Prospective study of 174 patients undergoing radical surgery]. / Efficacia della valutazione trimestrale dei livelli sierici del CEA TPA e GICA nei carcinomi gastrici e colorettali. Studio prospettico su 174 pazienti operati radicalmente.

One-hundred seventy four consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for gastric and colorectal cancer between 1983 and 1985, were studied prospectively to evaluate the roles of sequential CEA, TPA and GICA determinations and independent clinical examinations, in the early diagnosis of resectable recurrences. Sixty-six recurrences (33 from gastric and 33 from colorectal cancer) were detected between 6 and 42 months after primary surgery. In gastric cancer CEA, TPA and GICA showed a sensitivity of 64%, 73%, and 60%, and a specificity of 67%, 65% and 54% respectively. Nine patients (27%) underwent surgical treatment for the recurrent disease, and 4 of them (44.4%) had resectable recurrence, for a total resectability rate of 12%. Out of these four patients, three patients are still living after 12, 36 and 44 months respectively from re-operation without evidence of neoplastic disease. In one of these patients re-operation was performed on the basis of the elevation of the three markers, without any other clinical sign of disease, this patient had a resectable solitary hepatic recurrence. In colorectal cancer CEA, TPA and GICA showed a sensitivity of 73%, 73%, and 49%, and a specificity of 77%, 87%, and 97% respectively. Fourteen patients (42.4%) underwent surgical treatment for the recurrent disease, and 8 of them (57%) showed a resectable recurrence, for a total resectability rate of 24.2%. Six patients are still living after 9, 16, 21, 31, 41 and 53 months respectively from reoperation without evidence of neoplastic disease.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Elastofibroma of the back. Considerations on 2 cases]. / Elastofibroma del dorso. Considerazioni su due casi.

Two cases of fibroelastoma of the back are reported. It is pointed out that probability diagnosis in mainly entrusted to the objective examination and to the typical site of tumefaction, backed by echotomography, xeroradiography and computerised tomography and demonstrated by histological examination of the operative piece. Differential diagnosis has to be established versus fibrosarcoma, liposarcoma, desmoid tumour and malignant tumour of the synovia. The need for surgical removal is reiterated.