[Reflexions on techniques of preoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of carcinoma of the bladder. Initial results and discussion of a therapeutic protocol based upon histo-prognosis (author's transl)]. / Réflexions sur les modalités de l'irradiation préopératoire dans le traitement des cancers de vessie. Premiers résultats et discussion d'un protocole thérapeutique basé sur l'histo-pronostic.

Basing their indications on the histo-prognosis of Opperman and Bittard in malignant tumours of the bladder, the authors decided to irradiate before cystectomy those bladder tumours in which the histo-prognostic index indicated that it was a local disease with metastatic potential with a spontaneous life expectancy of 18 to 30 months. Radiotherapy was given spread over 23 or 27 fractions providing a total of 46 Gy. Four to 6 weeks later, cystoprostatectomy with trans-ileal cutaneous ureterostomy was performed, before chemotherapy for one year. Amongst 11 patients treated, in 6 cases the bladder was completely "sterilised" from a histological standpoint. However there was persistence of tumour in 5 bladders with an increase in the histo-prognostic index. Amongst these 11 patients, with a minimum follow-up of 18 months, there has been a pelvic recurrence in two cases and three developed fatal metastases. In the opinion of the authors, these preliminary results represent an encouragement to continue along the same lines.

[Paraganglioma of the organs of Zuckerkandl. A case report (author's transl)]. / Paragangliome de l'organe de Zuckerkandl. A propos d'un cas.

Endocrine manifestations were absent in a patient presenting with pain in the left peri-umbilical region from a paraganglioma of the organs of Zuckerkandl. The authors describe the embryology of paragangliomas and review the published literature concerning the noradrenaline-secreting forms of these tumors. Only 86 references to those of Zuckerkandl, situated on the side of the aorta in relation to the inferior mesenteric artery, were found. Diagnosis of non-secreting forms is confirmed by arteriography which in this present case demonstrated three pedicles arising from the inferior mesenteric, celiac, and one of the lumbar arteries respectively. The only evidence of malignancy is the presence of metastases. Their diagnosis is therefore difficult but essential as one-third of the localisations of malignant pheochromocytomas (10 p. cent of pheochromocytomas) outside of the adrenals affect the organs of Zuckerkandl.

[Role of extracorporeal surgery in the treatment of severe lesions of the renal artery and its branches]. / Place de la chirurgie extra-corporelle dans le traitement des lésions graves de l'artère rénale et de ses branches.

This method has been used with good results in three patients, two of whom had single kidneys.