[The clinical significance of fetal hydronephrosis of moderate extent]. / Significato clinico delle idronefrosi fetali di modesta entità.

Twelve fetuses with renal pelvis dilatation < 15 mm have been followed up until a year after birth. Dilatation cleared up in 59% of the cases within the last weeks of pregnancy and in 33% in the first months of life, while was asymptomatically detected in one case only a year after birth. A grade I and II vesico-ureteral reflux was diagnosed in two babies. Scheduled ultrasonographic examinations together with routine biochemical tests only are suggested by the kidney anatomical-functional normal parameters. Possible recurrent infections may be prevented through urine culture. Voiding cystourethrography is performed only when a recurrent infection is present because a reflux may be detected. Lacking a definite prognostic parameter, pre- and postnatal ultrasonographic follow-up is necessary although the little renal pelvis dilatation is to be considered negligible.

[Gastric leiomyoblastoma: analysis of a case and review of the literature]. / Leiomioblastoma gastrico: analisi di un caso e revisione della letteratura.

A case of gastric leiomyoblastoma of huge size together with immunohistochemical findings both on frozen and embedded sections is reported. The relevant literature on this rare but not exceptional neoplasm is reviewed.

[Massive hemoperitoneum caused by spontaneous rupture of the gallbladder during anticoagulant treatment]. / Emoperitoneo massivo da rottura spontanea della colecisti in corso di trattamento anticoagulante.

The Authors report main complications of anticoagulant treatment. Particularly, they describe a rare case of hemoperitoneum by spontaneous rupture of the gallbladder. They discuss etiopathogenesis and consequent clinico-therapeutic implications.

[The role of endoscopic polypectomy in the prevention of cancer of the colon]. / Il ruolo della polipectomia endoscopica nella prevenzione del cancro del colon.

After briefly analyzing the concept and genesis of dysplasia starting with the normal large bowel cell and then illustrating the polyp-carcinoma sequence, the authors report on their experience with 283 endoscopic polypectomies in a total of 1.875 patients undergoing endoscopy of the rectum, sigmoid and large bowel since 1980. Forty-nine polyps presented severe dysplasia, and 38 had already degenerated to carcinoma; nine of the carcinomas had invaded the stalk and the patients were subjected to resection of the colon and mesocolon, lymph-node metastases being observed in 1 case.

[Echographic diagnosis of fetal malformations]. / La diagnosi ecografica di alcune malformazioni fetali.

The Authors report their experience about ultrasound diagnosis of congenital anomalies, related to 15 cases from approximately 4000 gravides. They emphasize the impossibility to carry out total antenatal population screening by sonar and the usefulness to carefully select the gravidas at high risk for harboring a fetus with a birth defect. They also suggest that, in looking for physical defects, it is best to make ultrasound examination at 17a-18a weeks' gestation; at this moment, the ultrasound evaluation is particularly favorable for diagnosis and treatment.