Update in imaging tests used for the localization of parathyroid pathology.

Preoperative localization of parathyroid pathology, generally a parathyroid adenoma, can be difficult in some cases due to the anatomical variants that these glands present. The objective of this review is to analyse the different imaging techniques used for preoperative localization of parathyroid pathology (scintigraphy, ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET). There is great variability between the different tests for the preoperative localization of parathyroid pathology. The importance of knowing the different diagnostic options lies in the need to choose the most suitable test at each moment and for each patient for an adequate management of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP) with surgical criteria.

Toxoplasmosis in cord blood transplantation recipients.

Toxoplasmosis is a devastating opportunistic infection that can affect immunocompromised patients such as cord blood transplantation (CBT) recipients. The clinical characteristics of 4 toxoplasmosis CBT patients treated at our institution are reviewed, together with 5 cases collected from the literature. The rate of toxoplasmosis in our hospital was 6% in CBT recipients and 0.2% in other types of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (P < 0.001). Five patients (56%) presented disseminated toxoplasmosis and 4 patients (44%) had localized infection in the central nervous system. In 5 of the 9 patients considered (56%), cytomegalovirus viral replication had been detected before the clinical onset of toxoplasmosis. Seven patients (78%) had previously developed graft-versus-host disease. All patients who exhibited disseminated disease died due to Toxoplasma infection. Pre-transplant serology was positive in 1 patient, negative in 3 patients, and not performed in another. Only 1 of these 5 patients with disseminated disease had received Toxoplasma prophylaxis with cotrimoxazole. It could be concluded that mortality in CBT patients with disseminated toxoplasmosis is unacceptably high. The negative results of serology in the majority of these cases, and its unspecific clinical presentation, makes diagnosis exceedingly difficult. Better diagnostic tests and prophylaxis strategy are needed in CBT recipients.

[Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma]. / Prevalencia de infección por el virus de la hepatitis C en pacientes con linfomas no hodgkinianos.

BACKGROUND: To know the prevalence of HCV infection in patients diagnosed with B-NHL in our area. PATIENTS AND METHOD: A group of patients diagnosed with B-NHL between 1998-99 were carefully reviewed (serological tests, HCV RNA, laboratory studies, toxicity, response to treatment and evolution) in a transversal study. RESULTS: Overall 9/77 (11.68%) of patients tested positive for HCV. Of the 9 patients HCV(+) showed abnormal elevated trans aminases in opposition with 10.3% of patients that tested seronegative. CONCLUSION: Compared with normal individuals, we have seen a higher prevalence of HCV in our B-NHL patients. It may be possible that HCV play a role in that lymphoma's pathogenesis.

[Results of extended resections in colorectal cancer]. / Resultados de las resecciones ampliadas por cáncer colorrectal.

We present 50 cases of super-radical surgery in cancer of the colon and rectum with tumoral spread. In the same period of time a total of 426 colorectal neoplasms were operated on, which represents 11% of the total. The mean age was 65.7 years, with a predominance of females (29/21). In every case the primitive tumor and contiguous organ affected were excised with an oncologic criterion; the principal location was the rectum, with 14 cases, and the viscus most affected was the female genital tract. The mean hospital stay was slightly longer than that of the general series (20.9/14); the mortality was 4%, a figure similar to that of the general series; the index of morbidity did not rise, survival was comparable and the patient's comfort was enhanced. In our opinion, this technique is indicated in all cases in which the tumor invades contiguous regions when local and/or general conditions permit.