[Single diverticulum of perforated cecum. Report of 5 cases]. / Divertículo único de ciego perforado. Reporte de cinco casos.

Cecal diverticulitis is a relatively rare disease, which closely mimics the picture of acute appendicitis. At times it is difficult to differentiate from carcinoma. Five cases of cecal diverticulitis are reported, with a discussion of some salient features of this condition. Although two cases were treated with a right hemicolectomy, a plea for conservatism in the treatment of this disease is made.

[Pulmonary hydatid cyst. Presentation of a case]. / Quiste hidatídico pulmonar. Presentación de un caso.

One case of pulmonary hydatid cyst from Venezuela is reported. A 54-year-old man from Syria, was admitted to the hospital because of dyspnoea, fever and weight loss. A thoracic roentgenogram revealed a tumor in the basis of the left lung; a lobectomy was carried out. Histological study showed an unilocular hydatid cyst. The presence of scolices in alveoli and vessels suggest a probable dissemination of the parasite. Due to the rarity of the pulmonary hydatid cyst in Venezuela, the case is reported to call the attention about the existence of this pathology in the country, so that it can be diagnosed and treated correctly.

[Granular cell tumor of the vulva]. / Tumor de células granulares en la vulva.

Granular cell tumor is a relatively uncommon entity of unknown etiology and uncertain histogenesis. A case of granular cell tumor of the vulva is presented with a discussion of the clinical features, pathological characteristics and the histogenic theories of its origin.

[Seroprevalence of delta infection in a group of patients with HBsAg positive in the city of Maracaibo]. / Seroprevalencia de la infección por virus delta en un grupo de pacientes AgsHB positivo de la ciudad de Maracaibo.

In order to establish a preliminary information about the penetration of delta infection in our population, 40 HBsAg positive sera were tested for antidelta. 20 were asymptomatic patients and 20 were symptomatics. In the group of asymptomatic patients 3 belong to a high risk population: 1 homosexual, 1 dialysis patient, 1 nurse of dialysis unit. None of the patients of this group were positive for antidelta. In the group of symptomatics one was positive for antidelta. It's represents a seroprevalence of 5%. This patient was an indian who lives in the city but was born in Perijá where severe epidemics have been reported. These results support that the infection seems to be restricted to this indigenous group but the spread must be considered because the patient was living in the city. In addition, the use of antidelta as the unique serologic marker should undervalue the real prevalence of infection in the cases of acute hepatitis, which represent the majority of symptomatics patients. In consequence the paper of delta agent must be considered in the genesis of hepatitis in our population as well as its further epidemiologic course.