Cáncer gástrico perforado: estudio clínico-morfológico y pronóstico / Perforated gastric cancer

Background: Perforation is an unusual presentation of gastric cancer. There is disagreement about its prognosis and treatment. Aim: To describe the clinical, morphological, therapeutic and prognostic features of perforated gastric cancer. Material and Methods: Reviewing the registry of a pathology laboratory in a general hospital, 13 patients with perforated gastric cancer, aged 48 to 75 years and operated in a period of 20 years, was identified. The medical records of these patients were reviewed and eventual deaths were identified using death certificates. Results: A gastrectomy was performed in 9 cases and lymph node dissection in six. Seventy eight percent were T4 tumors and all patients in whom a lymph node dissection was done, had lymph node involvement. In 10 cases, the preoperative diagnoses were a perforated peptic ulcer. Mean global survival was six months. The figures for patients subjected or not subjected to gastrectomy were 21.5 and 3.7 months, respectively (p < 0.01). One of five patients subjected to emergency surgery, died. Conclusions: Perforation occurs usually in advanced stages of gastric cancer and older patients. In this report those patients subjected to gastrectomy have a better survival.

Introducción: El cáncer gástrico perforado (CGP) es una infrecuente forma de presentación de la enfermedad. Su pronóstico y manejo quirúrgico son motivo de controversias. El objetivo de este estudio es describir variables clínico-morfológicas de pacientes con CGP junto con valorar el tratamiento e impacto en la supervivencia (SV) de estos pacientes. Material y Método: Estudio de cohorte histórica. Se estudiaron variables clínico-morfológicas, de tratamiento y SV de pacientes con CGP sometidos a cirugía radical o paliativa en el Hospital Hernán Henríquez Aravena de Temuco entre enero de 1986 y diciembre de 2007 (n = 13). Utilizando los paquetes estadísticos Epi-info 6.0 y Stata 9.0, se aplicó estadística descriptiva, analítica y análisis de SV. Resultados: Se constató 13 casos de CGP (1,8 por ciento) con un promedio de edad de 64,2 años (35-75 años). Se efectuó gastrectomía en 9 pacientes (69 por ciento) en 6 de ellos con disección ganglionar. El 78 por ciento correspondió a tumores T4 y todos los casos con disección ganglionar presentaron compromiso de los linfonodos. En 10/13 el diagnóstico pre-operatorio fue úlcera péptica perforada (UPP) permitiendo los hallazgos intra-operatorios sospechar el carácter neoplásico maligno en 10/13 casos. El promedio de SVglobal fue 16 meses, siendo de 21,5 y 3,7 meses (p < 0,001) para el subgrupo sometido a gastrectomía y reparación respectivamente. La mortalidad quirúrgica en sujetos sometidos a gastrectomía de urgencia fue 20 por ciento (1/5). Conclusiones: La perforación gástrica se presenta habitualmente en pacientes mayores y con estadios avanzados de la enfermedad, nuestros pacientes gastrectomizados con intención curativa mostraron mejores resultados de supervivencia.

Neoplasia blástica de células dendríticas plasmocitoides: Caso clínico / Blastic plasmocytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: Report of one case

Background: We report a 74 years old male consulting for multiple painless non pruriginous pink plaques and nodules of truncal distribution that appeared 15 days earlier. A skin biopsy disclosed a blastic plasmocytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. A staging CAT scan showed lymphadenopathies located around the trachea and its bifurcation. A bone marrow biopsy did not show tumor infiltration. The patient has been treated with four cycles of cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-vincristine-prednisone, obtaining a partial remission of the lesions.

[Blastic plasmocytoid dendritic cell neoplasm: Report of one case]. / Neoplasia blástica de células dendríticas plasmocitoides: Caso clínico.

BACKGROUND: We report a 74 years old male consulting for multiple painless non pruriginous pink plaques and nodules of truncal distribution that appeared 15 days earlier. A skin biopsy disclosed a blastic plasmocytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. A staging CAT scan showed lymphadenopathies located around the trachea and its bifurcation. A bone marrow biopsy did not show tumor infiltration. The patient has been treated with four cycles of cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-vincristine-prednisone, obtaining a partial remission of the lesions.

Quiste broncogénico de localización poco habitual: reporte de 2 casos y revisión de la literatura / Bronchogenic cyst of unusual location: report of two cases and review of the literature

El quiste broncogénico es un remanente del desarrollo de traquea y bronquios. Alteraciones en la migración de células durante el desarrollo, permite que estos grupos originen quistes revestidos por epitelio respiratorio. La ubicación más habitual es la intratoráxica, dentro de ella, la intrapulmonar es la más frecuente, seguida de la mediastínica. El diagnóstico definitivo se establece mediante la biopsia diferida. Es una patología poco frecuente y las presentaciones extra torácicas son muy infrecuentes, por lo que compartimos dos casos, uno de ubicación sublingual y otro de ubicación subcutánea en zona escapular.

The bronchogenic cyst is a remanent of the development of the tracheobronchial tree. Alterations in cell migration during development cause the formation of cyst lining by respiratory epithelium. They are usually located in the thorax in lung and mediastinum. The definite diagnosis is realized with the pathology report. This is an uncommon pathological condition and the extra- thoracic forms are very unusual. We present two cases, one of which is of sublingual location and the other of subcutaneous location at the scapular site.

Tumor de células de Sertoli calcificante, de células grandes: caso clínico / Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor: Report of one case

Sertoli Cell Tumors are less than 1 percent of all testicular tumors. We report a 14-year-old male presenting with a left testicular mass. Orchiectomy was carried out and the pathological study informed a large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor (LCCSCT). Its association with the Carney complex and Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome was subsequently discarded. Surgical excision was completed with a radical orchiectomy. After eight months of follow up, there is no evidence of tumor relapse.

Tungiasis: una rara ectoparasitosis. Caso clínico / Tungiasis: Report of one case

We report a 54-year-old male that, after working in a rural zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, presented with an itching cutaneous lesion in the wrist with a black small central zone. The patient extracted from the lesion a on of 0.5 mm diameter. The pathological study of the insect recognized its body segments. The epidemiological background and the characteristics of the lesion led to the diagnosis of tungiasis.

Compromiso ganglionar extracapsular en pacientes con cáncer gástrico: determinación del valor pronóstico / Prognostic value of extracapsular lymph node involvement among patients with gastric cancer

Background: Extracapsular lymph node involvement has a negative prognosis in malignant tumors. Aim: To assess the prognostic importance of extracapsular lymph node involvement in patients with gastric cancer with lymph node metastases. Material and Methods: Clinical and morphological features and survival of patients with gastric cancer and lymph node involvement operated between 1986 and 2003, were analyzed. Patients with and without extracapsular involvement were compared. Results: During the study period, 459 gastrectomies were performed, 312 patients (68 percent) had lymph node involvement and 144 (31 percent) had extracapsular involvement. Patients with and without extracapsular involvement were followed for a median of 10 (range 1 to 120) and 41 (range 1 to 193) months, respectively. Five years actuarial survival for patients with and without extracapsular involvement was 23 and 40 percent respectively. Extracapsular lymph node involvement and level of wall infiltration were identified as prognostic factors using a multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Extracapsular lymph node involvement is an independent risk factor for mortality among patients with gastric cancer.

Carcinoma epidermoide oral y orofaríngeo: estudio clínico-patológico / Oral and oropharingeal squamous cells carcinoma: clinico-pathological study

Introduction: Oral cancer is a common disease in many parts of the world, in Chile only accounts for 1.6 percent of all cancers. The majority is squamous cell carcinoma with important clinical, epidemiological and pathological differences between lip, oral and orofaringeal locations. Objective: To analyze clinical and pathological characteristics of oral and oropharingeal squamous cell carcinoma in Temuco, Chile. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study of all diagnosed cases in 15 years (1994 and 2008). The patients were analyzed according to gender, age; and the tumors were classified based on anatomic location, size, macroscopical findings and degree of differentiation. Results: We found 93 carcinomas, with male to female ratio of 5:1, average age 67 years. Patients under 50 years accounted for only 8 percent of cases. The most common sites were lower lip, tongue and gingiva, with an average size of 28 mm, which increased towards orofarinx and more than half were moderately differentiated. Conclusions: In our region, this carcinoma most often affects the seventh decade of life and male population and has similar characteristics to those in other countries which is predominantly. The size at diagnosis is significant. The detection of some differences in the group with mapuche surnames warrants a study with a larger number of cases.

Introducción: El cáncer oral es una enfermedad frecuente en muchas partes del mundo, en Chile corresponde al 1,6 por ciento del total de cánceres. La gran mayoría corresponde a carcinoma epidermoide, con importantes diferencias clínicas, epidemiológicas y patológicas entre las localizaciones labial, intraoral y orofaríngea. Objetivo: Analizar las características clínicas y patológicas del carcinoma epidermoide oral y orofaríngeo en Temuco, Chile. Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo de todos los casos diagnosticados en 15 años (1994 y 2008), en el Hospital Regional de Temuco. Los pacientes fueron analizados de acuerdo a género, edad, y los tumores fueron clasificados basados en su localización anatómica, tamaño, características macroscópicas y grado de diferenciación. Resultados: Se encontraron 93 carcinomas, con relación hombre:mujer de 5:1, edad promedio 67 años. Pacientes menores a 50 años correspondían sólo al 8 por ciento de los casos. Las localizaciones más frecuentes fueron labio inferior, lengua y encía, con un tamaño promedio de 28 mm, el que aumentó hacia la orofarinx, más de la mitad eran moderadamente diferenciados. Conclusiones: En nuestra región, este carcinoma afecta con mayor frecuencia a la séptima década de la vida y a población masculina y posee características similares a las descritas en otros países donde predomina la raza blanca. El tamaño al diagnóstico es considerable. La detección de algunas diferencias en el grupo con apellidos mapuches amerita un estudio con un mayor número de casos.

Factores asociados al pronóstico de pacientes operados por cáncer gástrico avanzado / Pathological factors associated with survival in advanced gastric cancer

Background: The degree of tumor infiltration and lymph node involvement are the most relevant pathological features to determine prognosis of advanced gastric cancer. Aim: To determine the association between clinical and pathological features of advanced gastric cancer and patient survival. Material and Methods: The pathological records of patients with advanced gastric cancer subjected to gastrectomy and lymph node excision between 1986 and 2007 were analyzed. Follow up was performed according to data in the clinical records and death certificates obtained at the Chilean National Death Registry. The main outcome analyzed was survival after surgery. Results: The records of 299 patients aged 62 +/- 11 years (68 percent males), were analyzed. Mean follow up ranged from 1 to 206 months. Five and 10 years actuarial survival was 39 and 34 percent, respectively. The pathological predictors of survival were microscopic tumor stage, tumor size and location, Bormann classification, infiltration level, degree of differentiation, pathological type of tumor according to Lauren, Ming y Nakamura, lymph node involvement and the absence of residual tumor after surgical excision. Conclusions: The pathological study of the surgical piece in advanced gastric cancer has important prognostic implications.

Introducción: El estudio de la pieza operatoria de pacientes resecados por cáncer gástrico (CG) ha permitido identificar variables anatomo-patológicas con valor pronóstico en la supervivencia (SV) y recurrencia de estos pacientes, siendo el compromiso ganglionar linfático y nivel de infiltración tumoral, los factores más relevantes identificados. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar asociación entre variables clínicas y morfológicas con la SV de pacientes resecados por CG avanzado (CGA). Material y Método: Estudio de cohorte retrospectiva. Se estudiaron variables clínicas y morfológicas de 299 pacientes operados por CGA entre enero de 1986-diciembre de 2001. Los datos fueron obtenidos desde la Unidad de Anatomía Patológica del Hospital Hernán Henríquez Aravena de Temuco. Se aplicó estadística descriptiva y analítica; confección de curvas de supervivencia, y finalmente se aplicaron modelos de regresión logística para realizar ajuste, calcular odds ratios y sus respectivos intervalos de confianza de 95 por ciento. Resultados: La cohorte tuvo una mediana de edad de 63 años y el 68 por ciento de ella correspondió al género masculino. Con una mediana de seguimiento de 21 meses (1 a 206), se observó una SV actuarial global a 5 y 10 años de 39 por ciento y 34 por ciento respectivamente. En el análisis bivariado, se verificó asociación con la SV en: etapa tumoral macroscópica, localization y tamaño tumoral, tipo según Bormann, nivel de infiltración, grado de diferenciación histológico, tipo histológico según Lauren, Ming y Nakamura, estado ganglionar linfático (N), estadio TNM y resultado de la resección realizada. Conclusiones: Las variables mencionadas deben ser cuidadosamente evaluadas al momento de decidir terapias en pacientes con CGA.

Factores morfológicos asociados al pronóstico de pacientes operados por cáncer gástrico incipiente / Pathological features associated with survival in early gastric cancer

Background: Early gastric cancer corresponds to those tumors that only involve mucosa and submuco-sa. It is associated with a high survival rate. Aim: To determine pathological factors associated with survival in early gastric cancer. Material and Methods: Analysis of pathological records of 106 patients, with a median age of 63 years (60 percent> males), subjected to a gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. Follow up was performed according to data in the clinical records and death certificates obtained at the Chilean National Death Registry. Results: Five years global survival of patients was 91 percento. Lymph node involvement was more common among tumors bigger than 35 mm, with a low degree of differentiation and among those tumors classified as diffuse according to Lauren. Survival was significantly lower for bigger tumors, those with of a low degree of differentiation, diffuse tumors according to Lauren and those with lymph node involvement. Conclusions: Early gastric cancer has a high five years survival. Bigger tumors, those with a low degree of differentiation and those with lymph node involvement are associated with lower survival rates.

Introducción: El cáncer gástrico incipiente (CGI) es aquel que compromete la mucosa o submucosa gástrica independientemente del compromiso ganglionar linfático, estimándose su prevalencia en Chile inferior al 20 por cientoo. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar prevalencia de CGI y asociación de variables biode-mográficas y morfológicas con la supervivencia (SV) de pacientes resecados por CGI. Material y Método: Estudio de cohorte retrospectiva. Se estudiaron variables biodemográficas y morfológicas de 106 pacientes resecados por CGI entre 1986-2007. Se aplicó estadística descriptiva y analítica; confección de curvas de SV, y finalmente se aplicaron modelos de regresión logística para realizar ajuste, calcular odds ratio y sus respectivos intervalos de confianza de 95 por ciento. Resultados: 15 por ciento correspondió a CGI. La mediana de edad fue 63 años y el 60 por ciento correspondió a género masculino con una SV global a 5 años de 91 por ciento. Se observaron diferencias estadísticas significativas entre tumores mucosos y submucosos en cuanto a la localización tumoral y compromiso linfonodal junto con presentarse el compromiso nodal más frecuentemente en tumores > 35mm poco diferenciados y difusos de Lauren. El análisis multivariado identificó como factores asociados a la SV: tamaño tumoral, grado de diferenciación histológica en su variedad poco diferenciado, tipo difuso de Lauren y compromiso ganglionar linfático. Conclusiones: Se verificó una prevalencia de CGI de 15 por ciento, los que resecados presentan SV de 91 por ciento a 5 años. El compromiso linfonodal es un factor asociado a la SV; y además, se relaciona con tamaño tumoral, tipo histológico según Lauren, grado de diferenciación histológico y nivel de infiltración.

Cáncer gástrico sin compromiso ganglionar linfático (pN0): características demográfico-patológicas y factores pronósticos / Prognostic factors for gastric cancer without lymph node involvement

Background: The absence of lymph node involvement (N0) in gastric cancer is associated with a better survival. However some N0 gastric tumors still have a bad prognosis. Aim: To study demographic and morphological variables associated with prognosis in N0 gastric carcinoma. Material and Methods: Review of pathologica records of a regional general hospital, identifying patients with a N0 gastric cancer surgically excised between 1986 and 2003. Results: In the study period, 459 gastrectomies were performed for gastric cancer and in 32 percent, the tumor was devoid of lymph node involvement. These later patients were followed for a median of 64 months with a 71 percent fve years actuarial survival. Bivariate analysis identifed age, tumor size, gastric wallinfiltration, pathological type according to Lauren and Ming, lymphovascular involvement, number of lymph nodes excised and TNM stage as prognostic values Multivariate analysis disclosed the level of gastric wallinfiltration, the presence of a poorly differentiated tumor, lymphatic vascular involvement, number of excise lymph nodes and tumor size as independent prognostic factors. Conclusions: N0 gastric tumors are found in 32 percent of gastrectomies for gastric cancer and have a 71 percent fve years actuarial survival. Gastric wallinfiltration, pathological degree of differentiation tumor size and lymphovascular involvement are independent prognostic factors.

Puntaje de Gleason en cáncer de próstata: Correlación de la biopsia por punción y prostatectomía radical / Concordance between Gleason scores of trans rectal biopsies and the surgical piece of radical prostatectomy

Background: Gleason pathological score in prostate cancer is an importantprognostic indicator. However, the concordance between the score of trans rectal needle biopsies and the final score of the surgical piece may be variable. Aim: To analyze the concordance between Gleason scores of trans rectal prostate biopsies and those of the surgical piece obtained after prostatectomy. Material and Methods: Retrospective analysis of 168 pathological records of radical prostatectomies, performed between 1993 and 2009. All these patients had also a trans rectal biopsy performed previously. Patients with less than 12 tissue cylinders obtained during the trans rectal biopsy or incomplete data were not included in this analysis. Results: Sixty eight percent of trans rectal biopsies had Gleason scores that were concordant with those of the surgical piece. The score was higher or lower in 27 and 10 percent of biopsies, respectively. Conclusions: Gleason scores of trans rectal biopsies and those of the surgical piece were concordant in 68 percent of cases in this series of pathological records.

[Large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor: report of one case]. / Tumor de células de Sertoli calcificante, de células grandes: caso clínico.

Sertoli cell tumors are less than 1% of all testicular tumors. We report a 14-year-old male presenting with a left testicular mass. Orchiectomy was carried out and the pathological study informed a large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumor (LCCSCT). Its association with the Carney complex and Peutz-Jeghers syndrome was subsequently discarded. Surgical excision was completed with a radical orchiectomy. After eight months of follow up, there is no evidence of tumor relapse.

[Prognostic value of extracapsular lymph node involvement among patients with gastric cancer]. / Compromiso ganglionar extracapsular en pacientes con cáncer gástrico: determinación del valor pronóstico.

BACKGROUND: Extracapsular lymph node involvement has a negative prognosis in malignant tumors. AIM: To assess the prognostic importance of extracapsular lymph node involvement in patients with gastric cancer with lymph node metastases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical and morphological features and survival of patients with gastric cancer and lymph node involvement operated between 1986 and 2003, were analyzed. Patients with and without extracapsular involvement were compared. RESULTS: During the study period, 459 gastrectomies were performed, 312 patients (68%) had lymph node involvement and 144 (31%) had extracapsular involvement. Patients with and without extracapsular involvement were followed for a median of 10 (range 1 to 120) and 41 (range 1 to 193) months, respectively. Five years actuarial survival for patients with and without extracapsular involvement was 23 and 40% respectively. Extracapsular lymph node involvement and level of wall infiltration were identified as prognostic factors using a multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Extracapsular lymph node involvement is an independent risk factor for mortality among patients with gastric cancer.

[Tungiasis. Report of one case]. / Tungiasis: una rara ectoparasitosis. Caso clínico.

We report a 54-year-old male that, after working in a rural zone of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, presented with an itching cutaneous lesion in the wrist with a black small central zone. The patient extracted from the lesion a on of 0.5 mm diameter. The pathological study of the insect recognized its body segments. The epidemiological background and the characteristics of the lesion led to the diagnosis of tungiasis.

[Morphological findings in fatal cases of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome. Report of 7 autopsies]. / Hallazgos morfológicos en casos fatales de síndrome cardiopulmonar por hantavirus. Estudio de 7 autopsias.

INTRODUCTION: Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is an acute infectious disease characterized by sudden cardiorespiratory failure and high mortality, caused by a RNA virus of the genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae, 15% of Chilean cases have been detected in the Araucania Region. OBJECTIVE: To determine in fatal cases of HCPS, clinical and morphological characteristics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Descriptive-retrospective analysis of seven fatal cases with postmortem study of HCPS, attended between 1997 and 2009 at the Hospital of Temuco, Chile. RESULTS: Cases were young patients from rural areas, and presented as an illness of progressive respiratory failure, with leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and bilateral interstitial pulmonary infiltrates. Main morphological findings were marked intersticial and intraalveolar pulmonary edema, with minimal epithelial injury and mononuclear cell intersticial infiltrate and mild edematous intersticial inflamatory process. CONCLUSIONS: Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory background allow to suspect HCPS. In fatal cases, the autopsy makes possible to discard other similar pathologies and provide tissue for confirmation of the disease.

Linfoadenitis criptococócica mesentérica: Una rara causa de abdomen agudo. Caso clínico / Mesenteric cryptococcal lymphadenitis: Report of one case

Cryptococcosis is an invasive mycotic infection caused by Cryptococcus neoformans, an encapsulated, yeast-like fungus. It is considered an opportunist infection, since it mainly affects immunocompromised subjects. However there are isolated reports of the infection in immunocompetent subjects. Cryptococcal infection of intra-abdominal organs or tissues is extremely rare. We report a 21-year-old HIV positive male that, during the treatment of a meningeal cryptococcosis, presented a clinical picture of an acute abdomen suggesting acute appendicitis. The patient was operated, finding enlarged mesenteric lymph nodes forming conglomerates and a macroscopically normal appendix. The conglomerated lymph nodes and the appendix were excised. The pathological study of the surgical piece revealed an intra abdominal cryptococcal lymphadenitis and a normal appendix.

Hallazgos morfológicos en casos fatales de síndrome cardiopulmonar por hantavirus: Estudio de 7 autopsias / Morphological findings in fatal cases of hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome: Report of 7 autopsies

Introducción: El síndrome cardiopulmonar por hantavirus (SCPH) es una enfermedad infecciosa aguda, caracterizada por insuficiencia cardio-respiratoria súbita y alta mortalidad, causada por un virus ARN del género Hantavirus, familia Bunyaviridae. Un 15 por ciento de los casos chilenos ha sido pesquisado en la Araucanía. Objetivo: Conocer en casos fatales de SCPH, sus características clínicas y morfológicas. Material y Método: Estudio descriptivo-retrospectivo de siete casos fatales con examen postmortem, de SCPH, atendidos entre 1997 y 2009 en el Hospital Regional de Temuco. Resultados: Los casos fueron principalmente pacientes jóvenes, rurales, con un cuadro de compromiso respiratorio progresivo, con leucocitosis, trombopenia e infiltrado pulmonar intersticial bilateral. Los principales hallazgos histopatológicos fueron un acentuado edema pulmonar intra-alveolar e intersticial, con escaso daño epitelial e infiltrado mono-nuclear y leve edema miocárdico con infiltrado mononu-clear. Conclusiones: Los antecedentes epidemiológicos, clínicos y laboratorio permiten sospechar SCPH. En los casos fatales la autopsia permite diferenciar el SCPH de otras patologías similares y aporta tejidos para confirmar el diagnóstico.

Introduction: Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) is an acute infectious disease characterized by sudden cardiorespiratory failure and high mortality, caused by a RNA virus of the genus Hantavirus, family Bunyaviridae, 15 percent of Chilean cases have been detected in the Araucania Region. Objective: To determine in fatal cases of HCPS, clinical and morphological characteristics. Materials and Methods: Descriptive-retrospective analysis of seven fatal cases with postmortem study of HCPS, attended between 1997 and 2009 at the Hospital of Temuco, Chile. Results: Cases were young patients from rural areas, and presented as an illness of progressive respiratory failure, with leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia and bilateral interstitial pulmonary infiltrates. Main morphological findings were marked intersticial and intraalveolar pulmonary edema, with minimal epithelial injury and mononuclear cell intersticial infiltrate and mild edematous intersticial inflamatory process. Conclusions: Epidemiological, clinical and laboratory background allow to suspect HCPS. In fatal cases, the autopsy makes possible to discard other similar pathologies and provide tissue for confirmation of the disease.

Carcinoma de células en anillo de sello gástrico: descripción clínico-morfológica y valor pronóstico / Prognosis of signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach

Background: Signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach corresponds to 3 to 39 percent of all gastric malignant tumors, and its prognostic significance is not well known. Aim: To compare the prognosis of signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach with other types of gastric cancer. Material and Methods: Review of 451 patients operated for gastric carcinoma. Signet ring cell carcinomas were compared with the rest of tumors. Results: One hundred twenty tumors (27 percent) were signet ring cell carcinoma, they were more commonly located in the lower third of the stomach, were less differentiated, bigger and had more lymph nodes involved. Patients with this variety of tumor were younger, more often women and their survival was lower, even when separating incipient and advanced tumors. Conclusions: Signet ring cell carcinoma of the stomach had a worst prognosis that other type of gastric tumors.

Introducción: La incidencia de carcinoma gástrico (CG) de células en anillo de sello (CAS) varía de 3 por ciento a 39 por ciento. Trabajos de supervivencia en pacientes con tumores gástricos reportan resultados contradictorios en cuanto a la importancia pronostica del tipo histológico CAS respecto a los otros tipos histológicos. El objetivo del estudio es describir y evaluar la importancia pronostica del tipo histológico CAS comparado con los carcinomas no anillo de sello (CNAS). Material y Método: Estudio de cohorte retrospectiva. Se estudiaron variables clínicas y morfológicas de 451 pacientes operados por CG en el Hospital Hernán Henríquez Aravena de Temuco entre Enero/1986-Diciembre/2001 agrupándose para el análisis según el diagnóstico histopatológico en CAS y CNAS. Se realizó un análisis exploratorio de los datos y posteriormente se aplicó estadística descriptiva con cálculo de medidas de tendencia central y extrema; y estadísticas analíticas, aplicando Chi cuadrado de Pearson y test exacto de Fisher para variables categóricas, T-Student para variables continuas, Kaplan-Meier y Log-rank test para análisis de supervivencia. Resultados: Un 27 por ciento (120) correspondió a CAS observándose diferencias estadísticamente significativas entre los grupos CAS y CNAS para las siguientes variables: género, edad, localización y tamaño tumoral, grado de diferenciación histológico y compromiso ganglionar linfático. El análisis de supervivencia demostró un peor pronóstico para el grupo de CAS (p = 0,02). En el análisis por separado de tumores incipientes y avanzados respecto del tipo histológico, no observamos diferencias significativas para lesiones incipientes (p = 0,07) mientras que para lesiones avanzadas el CAS se asocia a un pronóstico desfavorable (p < 0,0001). Conclusiones: Observamos en nuestra serie un peor pronóstico asociado al tipo histológico CAS respecto a los otros tipos histológicos (CNAS), información crucial que, aportada al clínico, deberá ser...