Prevalence, location and concurrent diseases of ultrasonographic cyst-like lesions of abdominal lymph nodes in dogs.

Lymph nodal cyst-like lesions are occasionally identified during abdominal ultrasound in dogs. However, a study evaluating their prevalence and clinical significance is lacking. The aim of this observational cross-sectional study was to evaluate prevalence, most common location and concurrent diseases of cyst-like lymph nodes detected during abdominal ultrasound. Affected lymph nodes, patient signalment and concurrent diseases of dogs with cyst-like lymph nodal lesions having undergone abdominal ultrasound over a one-year period were recorded. Twenty-three affected lymph nodes were observed in 17/553 dogs (prevalence=3 per cent). The most commonly affected was the lumbar lymphocenter (7/23), followed by the coeliac (6/23), the cranial mesenteric (5/23) and the iliosacral (5/23). Twenty-three concurrent diseases were diagnosed in 17 dogs, among which 16/23 were non-neoplastic (70 per cent). The most common concurrent disease was renal insufficiency (8/23), followed by neoplasia (7/23), gastroenteropathy (3/23), benign prostatic disease (2/23), pancreatitis (1/23), peritonitis (1/23) and neurological disease (1/23). No statistical correlation existed between cyst-like lymph nodal lesion and a specific neoplastic or non-neoplastic disease. In conclusion, in the present study, cyst-like lymph nodal lesions have a low prevalence, involve different lymphocenters and were found in dogs affected by different diseases, including both non-neoplastic and neoplastic aetiologies.

Tratamento de tumores avançado do esôfago: experiência do Hospital Erasto Gaertner / Treatment of esophageal advanceds tumors: an experience at Erasto Gaertner Hospital

O estudo tem como objetivo principal comparar os resultados referentes ao controle local, sobrevida livre de doença e sobrevida global dos pacientes com câncer de esôfago tratados no Hospital Erasto Gaertner em relação ao protocolo internacional da Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG).

Patent ductus arteriosus. Follow-up of 677 operated cases 40 years later.

BACKGROUND: This review is about the patency of ductus arteriosus (PDA), with particular care concerning diagnosis, surgical techniques, survival and postoperative pregnancy in operated females. METHODS: a) Sperimental study: the research has been conducted retrospectively and the follow-up is 40 years. b) ENVIRONMENT: all the patients were operated on in the Division of Cardiac Surgery, University of Turin (public structure) and in the Italian Institution of Cardiac Surgery (private structure). c) PATIENTS: from 1958 to 1987, 677 patients were operated on: mean age was 11.5 +/- 8.7 years. A complete follow-up was made on 487 patients (72%). d) Technique of operation: left lateral thoracotomy was often performed; in younger children, however, the tying of PDA was frequently made within the pericardium by left anterior thoracotomy in the third intercostal space. In uncomplicated situations, PDA was tied more frequently than divided, by two purse string stitches and one or two transfixed ligatures. e) SURVEY: overall early and late mortality, the clinical conditions of all patients, pregnancies and preor postoperative miscarriages of operated women were examined. RESULTS: From 1958 to 1967 overall early mortality was 5%; during the following years, there was no hospital mortality. The recurrence of PDA occurred only in 4 patients. 72% of the operated females became pregnant. CONCLUSION: Life expectancy is normal after surgical closure of an uncomplicated PDA in infancy or in childhood but premature death may not always be avoided operating on adults with long-standing chronic congestive heart failure. At least, postoperative pregnancy is not a risk factor for the mother and PDA seems not to be correlated to foetal transmission.