[Results of FDG-PET scanning in the pre-operative staging of broncho-pulmonary tumors]. / Résultats de la TEP [18F]-FDG dans la stadification préopératoire des tumeurs pulmonaires.

BACKGROUND: Positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) has recently established itself as an important imaging strategy in the management of respectable non-small cell bronchial carcinoma (NSCLC). In this study we report our experience of the impact of FDG-PET in the pre-operative assessment of NSCLC. METHODS: In a single centre retrospective study between 01 January 2000 and 31 Dec 2002, 108 FDGPET scans were performed during the preoperative assessment of histologically proven or strongly suspected NSCLC. RESULTS: The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of FDG-PET for the characterization of a parenchymatous opacity were 96%, 71% and 92% respectively (4 false negatives, 5 false positives). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for mediastinal node involvement were 62%, 94% and 84% respectively (10 false negatives and 4 false positives). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy for the characterization of adrenal nodules were 88%, 100% and 97% (1 false negative) and for satellite pulmonary nodules 50%, 75% and 64% (2 false negatives and 3 false positives). CONCLUSION: FDG-PET is a useful imaging modality in the pre-operative management of NSCLC but is limited particularly in the characterization of lesions less than 10 mm in diameter and in the evaluation of mediastinal lymph nodes.

[Intestinal invagination caused by colonic lipoma]. / Invaginazione intestinale da lipoma del colon.

The observation of a case of intestinal intussusception caused by lipoma of the colon prompted the authors to review the literature on the subject and to examine the main characteristics of lipoma of the colon which represent the most frequent benign neoplasia of the large intestine after adenomatous polyps. Lipomas of the colon are localised in 90% of cases at the submucous level, are usually solitary, of varying size and may be sessile or pedunculated. They are almost always asymptomatic; only when they are of a reasonable size do they become manifest following alterations of the alveus, rectorrhagia, abdominal pain or the occupation of the colic lumen by the mass, or intestinal intussusception caused by the progression of the pedunculated lipoma. This difficult diagnosis may be aided by colonscopy with biopsy and dual contrast opaque enema. The prognosis of the disease depends on the presence or absence of complications and, in the case of the former, on early diagnosis and treatment. Lipoma of the colon of less than 2 cm may be electively removed endoscopically, those greater than 2 cm by laparotomy or laparoscopy. In emergency cases, it is advisable to perform a more or less extensive resection of the colon depending on the size of the tumour. In the case reported by the authors, an intussusception manouevre was first performed followed by left segmentary colectomy.

[Low anterior resection of the rectum using mechanical anastomosis in intestinal endometriosis]. / Resezione anteriore bassa del retto con anastomosi meccanica per endometriosi intestinale.

A case of sigmoid-rectal endometriosis prompted the authors to focus attention on the question of indications for surgery and operative tactics in intestinal endometriosis. In this case, the presence of a pelvic mass which could not be cut away from the intestinal wall without the risk of perforation led to the performance of a low anterior resection of the rectum with mechanical stapler, a choice which was certainly radical but necessary in view of the impossibility of excluding the malignant nature of the mass either macroscopically or extemporaneously.

A simplified method of pig islet isolation.

This study reports a simplified, low-cost, easily performed chemico-mechanical isolation method of the islets of Langerhans. The experimental study was carried out on 15 adult pigs. Our method used collagenase and a digestion chamber for islet isolation and yielded 2,240 +/- 613 islets per g treated pancreas after purification. This demonstrates that the method is reliable and can give satisfactory results.

[Oxiracetam treatment of exogenous post-concussion syndrome. Statistical evaluation of results]. / Trattamento con oxiracetam della sindrome post-commotiva esogena. Valutazione statistica dei risultati.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical use of a GABOB by-product in the treatment of exogenous post-concussion syndrome. Thirty-six patients affected by this syndrome were included in the study and divided into two groups. Patients in the first group were treated with the drug, while patients in the second group were not treated. Variations in the average time taken for symptoms to disappear in both groups showed a statistically significant difference in favour of the drug-treated group of patients. Following an analysis of the results it was possible to affirm that the drug had a statistically significant effect in patients affected by medium-severe symptomatology.