[Aseptic meningitis caused by the rupture of an epidermoid cyst]. / Meningitis aséptica causada por la ruptura de quiste epidermoide.

INTRODUCTION: Epidermoid cysts are rare tumours. The aseptic meningitis that comes about as a result of their rupture is frequent after tumour resection, although they may occasionally occur spontaneously. CASE REPORT: A 36-year-old male who had been submitted to surgery twice because of an epidermoid cyst in the cerebellopontine angle presented a month old history of clinical features consisting in high temperature, headache, a stiff neck and ataxia. After computerized tomography (CT) scans and a spinal tap had been performed because of the suspicion of meningitis, empirical antibiotic therapy was administered but no improvement was observed. Thus, the usual studies employed to diagnose aseptic meningitis were carried out. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed and showed lesions that suggested tumorous recurrence and perilesional meningeal hyperenhancement. Corticoid therapy quickly lessened the symptoms and the patient was asymptomatic when discharged. A week later he returned with headaches and disorders affecting behaviour and memory. A CT scan was performed and revealed the presence of tetraventricular hydrocephalus, which required the introduction of ventriculoperitoneal drainage. Spinal MRI carried out two weeks later revealed perimedullar foci of hyperenhancement. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the case of a patient with aseptic meningitis brought on by the rupture of an epidermoid cyst, which followed a subacute course and responded to corticoid therapy in a spectacular manner. Nevertheless, the patient still went on to develop tetraventricular hydrocephalus. Spontaneous aseptic meningitis is rare and corticoids lower its development time, but hydrocephalus may occur as a complication due to upsets in the reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid.

Meningitis aséptica causada por la ruptura de un quiste epidermoide / Aseptic meningitis caused by the rupture of an epidermoid cyst

Introducción. Los quistes epidermoides son tumores raros. La meningitis aséptica ocasionada por su ruptura es frecuente después de la resección tumoral, aunque de forma inusual puede ocurrir espontáneamente. Caso clínico. Varón de 36 años intervenido en dos ocasiones de quiste epidermoide en el ángulo pontocerebeloso que presentaba una clínica de un mes de evolución consistente en fiebre, cefalea, rigidez de nuca y ataxia. Tras realizar una tomografía computarizada (TC) y una punción lumbar por la sospecha de meninigitis se administró tratamiento antibiótico empírico, pero no se observó mejoría, por lo que se realizaron los estudios habituales para el diagnóstico de meningitis aséptica. Se practicó una resonancia magnética (RM) que mostró lesiones sugestivas de recidiva tumoral e hipercaptación meníngea perilesional. El tratamiento con corticoides redujo rápidamente la sintomatología y el paciente fue dado de alta asintomático. Una semana después acudió por presentar cefalea y trastornos de la conducta y de memoria. Se realizó una TC que demostró la presencia de hidrocefalia tetracameral, la cual requirió la colocación de drenaje ventriculoperitoneal. En la RM espinal realizada dos semanas después se objetivaron focos perimedulares de hipercaptación. Conclusiones. Presentamos el caso de un paciente con meningitis aséptica originada por la ruptura de quiste epidermoide, que sigue un curso subagudo y responde espectacularmente al tratamiento corticoideo, a pesar de lo cual desarrolla hidrocefalia tetracameral con posterioridad. La meningitis aséptica espontánea es rara y los corticoides disminuyen su tiempo de evolución, pero puede complicarse con una hidrocefalia por alteración en la reabsorción del líquido cefalorraquídeo (AU)

Introduction. Epidermoid cysts are rare tumours. The aseptic meningitis that comes about as a result of their rupture is frequent after tumour resection, although they may occasionally occur spontaneously. Case report. A 36-year-old male who had been submitted to surgery twice because of an epidermoid cyst in the cerebellopontine angle presented a month old history of clinical features consisting in high temperature, headache, a stiff neck and ataxia. After computerized tomography (CT) scans and a spinal tap had been performed because of the suspicion of meningitis, empirical antibiotic therapy was administered but no improvement was observed. Thus, the usual studies employed to diagnose aseptic meningitis were carried out. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed and showed lesions that suggested tumorous recurrence and perilesional meningeal hyperenhancement. Corticoid therapy quickly lessened the symptoms and the patient was asymptomatic when discharged. A week later he returned with headaches and disorders affecting behaviour and memory. A CT scan was performed and revealed the presence of tetraventricular hydrocephalus, which required the introduction of ventriculoperitoneal drainage. Spinal MRI carried out two weeks later revealed perimedullar foci of hyperenhancement. Conclusions. We describe the case of a patient with aseptic meningitis brought on by the rupture of an epidermoid cyst, which followed a subacute course and responded to corticoid therapy in a spectacular manner. Nevertheless, the patient still went on to develop tetraventricular hydrocephalus. Spontaneous aseptic meningitis is rare and corticoids lower its development time, but hydrocephalus may occur as a complication due to upsets in the reabsorption of cerebrospinal fluid (AU)

[Surgical treatment of benign prostatic hypertrophy: what and when TURP vs adenomectomy]. / Terapia chirurgica dell'ipertrofia prostatica benigna. Quale e quando TURP vs adenomectomia.

Surgical treatment is the gold standard for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) therapy. At the present diagnostic approach allows better patient selection and treatment assignment. In this work we have studied retrospectively the outcome of 120 BHP patients who underwent trans urethral resection (TURP) and of 145 BPH patients underwent "open" prostatectomy. In all the patients surgical time, prostate weight, indwelling catheter standing, rest in bed, early and late complications were evaluated. Irritative symptoms occurred after TURP in 10% of the cases. The two therapeutical options are not comparable for they technically different. The choice between the two depends on the accurate patient characterization and selection.

[Nerve-sparing retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in patients with non-seminomatous testicular tumors at clinical stage 1]. / La LAD retroperitoneale nerve sparing nei pazienti con tumori non seminomatosi del testicolo in primo stadio clinico.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for low stage testicular cancer involves a low rate of dry ejaculation. The nerve-sparing technique avoids the damage of sympathetic fibers. 7 cases of non seminomatous testicular cancer have been treated by the Author. Through midline incision and intestinal derotation the vascular plane and the sympathetic fiber are identified before starting lymph node dissection. All the patients report physiological ejaculation; the post-operative follow-up is still short but at the present all patients are tumor free. In low stage testicular cancer nerve-sparing lymphadenectomy preserve physiological ejaculation and reducing surgical morbidity as well.

[Conservative therapy of parenchymal renal carcinoma]. / Terapia conservativa del carcinoma renale parenchimale.

From January 1987 to October 1990, 20 patients (16 M. 4 F.) affect by localized renal cell carcinoma, underwent a conservative surgical treatment. This case study includes 8 patients with bilateral (4 synchronous-4 asynchronous), and 12 patients with unilateral renal carcinoma. In the latter group only two patients had a pathological contralateral kidney. A parenchyma sparing operation was performed electively in 10 cases and was necessary in the other 10. The tumors were found to be PT1 or pT2 in all the elective cases, except one unexpected pT3a; 1pT1, 5pT2, 1pT3a and 3pT3b in the remaining group. The follow up ranges between 1 and 36 months, two deaths in bilateral tumors cases were observed. No local recurrences have been detected up to now.

[Neoadjuvant chemotherapy of locally advanced tumors of the bladder: preliminary experience]. / Chemioterapia neoadiuvante nei tumori vescicali localmente avanzati: esperienza iniziale.

From february 1988 to march 1989, 6 patients with locally advanced bladder cancer (T3b-T4, N0-N1, M0) were treated with 4 courses of neoadjuvant MP chemotherapy (methotrexate 300 mg/mq. + cisplatinum 100 mg/mq). In two patients chemotherapy was stopped because minimal or no response after two courses. Partial response (RP) was achieved in three patients (50%). Two patients died 2 and 5 month later. One patients developed metastases at 11 month. The remaining three cases showed NED at 3, 4 and 15 months of follow-up. In the same period 4 patients with metastatic bladder tumor were treated with M-VAC chemotherapy according to Yagoda before the cystectomy. M-VAC obtained a complete response in one case, and PR in 3 cases. All the metastases showed evidence of objective tumor regression. Reduction of bone pain was observed in one case. One patient died 15 months later with bone massive involvement. Another patient developed invasive tumor at 13 months. Two patients were disease-free at 3 and 5 months, respectively. Toxicity was more frequent in patient treated with M-VAC than with MP chemotherapy. M-VAC, we believe, represents a reliable neoadjuvant treatment of advanced metastatic bladder cancer.

Urinary NAG excretion after anesthesia-free extracorporeal lithotripsy of renal stones: a marker of early tubular damage.

Second generation lithotripters require a higher number of shocks per session as well as an increased rate of secondary treatments for complete stone disintegration compared to the original spark gap lithotripter. The clinical relevance of biological side effects caused by such treatment are less known. We evaluated urinary excretion of N-acetyl-glucosaminidase (NAG) before and after lithotripsy in 50 patients treated with a low pressure spark gap lithotripter (Dornier HM3) and in 36 patients treated with a piezoelectric lithotripter (Wolf Piezolith 2200) in an attempt to evaluate their side effects on renal tissue. The urinary excretion of NAG increased after both spark gap lithotripsy using the modified HM3 and piezoelectric lithotripsy. These changes may be associated with slight tubular damage that would occur after anesthesia-free lithotripsy in patients subjected both to a high number of shocks and to secondary treatments.

[The Wolf piezolith 2300: lights and shadows]. / Piezolith 2300 Wolf: luci ed ombre.

Extracorporeal piezoceramic Wolf lithotripter was developed in West Germany by Ziegler and Associates in collaboration with Wolf GmbH. Piezolith 2300 has no cumbersome water tube and it was constructed as a mobile unit. It requires no patient irradiation, a special room adaptation, a electrodes replacement or any auxiliary staff. From February 1988 up to May 1989 a total of 230 stones in 218 patients, 18 to 79 years old, was treated with Piezolith 2300, in our Center. Ultrasound localization failed in 7 more cases of ureteral stones. Treatment resulted quite painless. Auxiliary measures before EPL, were performed in 12 cases, only (5%). 15 pts were managed with combined procedures: ESWL + EPL, PCNL + EPL, surgery + EPL. The mean of SW was 3000 (800-6500) for each piezoelectric session. In 27 pts (12%), 4 or more EPL sessions were performed. A successful disintegration was achieved in 210 cases (90.2%). Out of 20 unsuccessful cases, 15 were managed by Dornier HM3 mod lithotripter and 4 by ULL. Post EPL ancillary procedures were required in 4 pts (1.8%). No major complications were observed in our series. At the 30-days follow-up, 57.3% of the patients were stone free. At preliminary 3-month follow-up in 120 pts the rate of the entire success raised to 75%. We think, according to others authors, that EPL is the treatment of first choice in 70% of reno-ureteral stones.

[Urinary excretion of N-acetyl-glucosaminidase after extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy: a marker of renal tubule injury]. / Escrezione urinaria di NAG dopo ESWL: un marker di danno tubulare renale.

The major complications of extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) are perirenal hematomas for an incidence of less than 1 per cent. However in animal experiments histopathological effects of focused electrohydraulic shock waves on renal parenchyma have been reported, the most significant of which are hemorrhagic foci healing rapidly by cicatrization. Furthermore imaging studies have demonstrated morphological changes limited to the area of the kidney exposed to shock waves. Liver, skeletal muscle and pancreatic enzyme changes have been documented after ESWL. In our experience the urinary ratio of NAG (N-acetyl-glucosaminidase) to creatinine, a good marker of renal tubular damage, increased after treatment with both the original and the modified spark gap Dornier HM3 lithotripters and with the piezoelectric Wolf Piezolith 2200. Particularly the threshold of pathological urinary NAG excretion were 2,000 and 2,600 shocks respectively using the original and the modified Dornier HM3 and 7,000 shocks using the Wolf Piezolith 2200. The functional significance of the changes is not known, however in clinical practice it would seem prudent to avoid excessive exposure to shock waves.

[Possibility of using the piezoelectric lithotriptor in the treatment of severe cavernous fibrosis]. / Possibilità di impiego del litotritore piezoelettrico nel trattamento delle fibrosi cavernose gravi.

The treatment of serious cavernous corpora fibrosis due to priapism, a prosthesis explantation, iatrogenic causes, or Peyronie's disease, is by now still uncertain. Therefore we tried, when medical and physical therapy failed, to find out the possibility of extracorporeal lithotripter to treat such a complicated cases. From February 88 until now 16 patients underwent extracorporal shock waves treatment, out of 16, 9 had a serious Peronie's disease (a), in 3 fibrosis was a consequence of priapism (b), in 3 of prosthesis explantation (c), 1 patient of cavernosography (d). The treatment was performed by Wolf piezoelectric lithotripter (Piezolith 2300), the patients were treated once a week for 6 weeks. (800 SW; power ranged between 40 and 100 Mpa, frequency between 1 and 2.5 Hertz). In all the patients an orally steroid drugs was administered and a ionophoresis therapy associated. After one year of follow up a penile ultrasound scan, artificial erection tests, rigidometry. None side effects was noted but local ecchimosis. The were done results obtained might support our effort and suggest further studies.

Separation of granulocytes from peripheral blood in a single step using discontinuous density gradients of Ficoll-Urografin. A comparative study with separation by dextran.

A single-step method for separating granulocytes from peripheral blood using two different gradients of Ficoll-Urografin (F-U) density 1.075 and 1.097 g/ml) is described. The morphological, cytochemical and ultrastructural properties of neutrophils isolated by this method were compared to those isolated by dextran-enhanced sedimentation and neutrophils from the peripheral blood. These studies indicated fewer alterations in neutrophils separated by F-U centrifugation than in neutrophils concentrated by dextran. Finally, the granulocyte layer recovered by F-U fractionation was 98% pure (dextran 71%) and yielded 64% (dextran 79%) of total granulocytes.