Rectal metastasis from lobular breast carcinoma 15 years after primary diagnosis.

Lobular breast carcinoma represents 2-20% of infiltrative carcinomas of the breast. The incidence of extrahepatic gastrointestinal (GI) tract metastases observed in necropsy studies varies from 6% to 18% and the most commonly affected organ is the stomach, followed by colon and rectum [1-4]. Reported herein is the case of a 67-year-old woman who was primarily diagnosed and surgically treated for a lobular carcinoma of the breast 15 years ago and is now referred with back pain and right hydronephrosis caused by a metastasis in rectum. Frequently, the absence of specific symptoms of digestive metastases of breast cancer leads to a misdiagnosis of this pathology [5-7]. The treatment will be based on a detailed clinical history and histopathological findings. Metastases from breast cancer in GI tract tumours must be excluded in a patient with previous history of breast carcinoma, as in the case reported herein.

Biliopancreatic diversion in a renal transplant patient.

Surgery is usually the only solution to modify the evolution of morbid obesity and resolve the associated co-morbidities. There is very little written regarding malabsorptive surgery and transplantation. A 48-year-old male with hypertension, hyperuricemia and obesity underwent renal transplantation in 1994 for renal amyloidosis. He was maintained on oral immunosuppressive cyclosporine. The patient developed uncontrollable hypertension, hyperlipemia, hyperglycemia and increasing weight to a BMI of 44. Thus, in December 2004, he underwent biliopancreatic diversion (BPD). After 18 months follow-up, he has lost 85% of his excess weight, and his hypertension, hyperglycemia and hyperlipemia are markedly improved. Renal function was not modified, nor were the levels of cyclosporine. He has had no complications derived from the BPD, and has a better quality of life.

Effects of weight loss after biliopancreatic diversion on metabolism and cardiovascular profile.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is associated with increased prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. Biliopancreatic diversion (BPD) for morbid obesity has been reported to produce anemia and malnutrition in short-term follow-up. The aim of our study was to analyze the effect of weight reduction on cardiovascular profile, renal function and nutritional status. METHODS: 35 morbidly obese patients underwent BPD. We analyzed the presence of cardiovascular risk factors, renal status, proteinuria and nutritional status before and 1 year after BPD. RESULTS: Excess weight loss was 67% at 1 year after BPD. All cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia) improved during follow-up. We could not find any relevant signs of malnutrition in the patients. Microalbuminuria decreased and proteinuria disappeared after weight loss. We observed less urinary calcium and citrate excretion, with an increase in oxaluria, but these changes did not increase the incidence of renal stones. CONCLUSIONS: BPD was followed by improved cardiovascular profile and a lower pro-inflammatory state. BPD did not produce significant malnutrition, anemia or renal stone disease.