[An update in the treatment of intra-abdominal abscesses]. / Attualità nel trattamento degli ascessi intraddominali.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Intra-abdominal abscesses represent a relatively severe complication in gastroenterological surgery owing to their association with high levels of morbidity and mortality. METHODS: The authors report their experience between January 1990 and January 1996 in 11 patients with intra-abdominal abscesses secondary to emergency surgery for gastroenterology in 10 cases and gynecology in 1 case. After the lesion had been identified using ultrasonography and CT, it was emptied, washed with antibiotic and drained using Seldinger's ultrasonographic and CT-guided technique. Small abscesses (less than 5 mm) were completed removed. RESULTS: The following results were obtained: the immediate disappearance of pain and fever, accompanied by improved general conditions, restoration of canalisation and closure of the abscess cavity (on average between 10 and 15 days). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, ultrasonographic-CT guided drainage of postoperative intra-abdominal abscesses, which were previously managed using surgical methods, appears to be the best treatment, relying on the use of imaging techniques and thereby allowing both morbidity and mortality to be reduced.

[Splenic metastases]. / Le metastasi spleniche.

Splenic metastases are found with a frequency varying from 2.4 to 7.1%. The primary tumours most often followed by metastases are breast, lung, pancreas and melanoma. They may also be the direct extension of retroperitoneal tumours and carcinoma of the pancreas. The authors report a case which came to their attention; by examining the literature, they discover the rarity of this pathology which confirms the possibility of this localisation for both intra-abdominal and extra-abdominal tumours.

[Congenital diaphragmatic hernias]. / Ernie diaframmatiche congenite.

Based on their personal experience the authors affirm that if treated early congenital diaphragmatic hernia may be resolved provided no congenital anomalies are present. Pulmonary hypoplasia is secondary to the presence of viscera in the thorax, but excellent results can be obtained if early surgery is performed and provided negative-pressure thoracic drainage and correct anesthesia are ensured. Mortality is due to associated visceral malformations.

[Retroperitoneal tumors in children: clinical diagnostic problems (author's transl)]. / Sui tumori retroperitoneali nell'infanzia.

Starting from two recent observations of retroperitoneal tumors in the pediatric age group (a nephroblastoma and a ganglioneuroma), the authors illustrate the main characteristics of these malignancies and emphasize the difficulties often encountered in differential diagnosis.

[Aimed liver biopsy in the course of laparoscopy (author's transl)]. / La biopsia epatica mirata in corso di laparoscopia.

Following a discussion of the various methods that have been devised for liver biopsy, and an explanation of the advantages accruing from aimed liver biopsy in the course of laparoscopy, the authors express their preference for this method on account of its unquestionable diagnostic value, ease of execution, and freedom from complications. Accordingly, and in good agreements with other experts such as Kalk, Beck, and Dagnini, they advocate more widespread use of the procedure in liver pathology.

[A case of retroareolar leiomyoma of the breast]. / Su un caso di leiomioma retroareolare della mammella.

The authors, showing a case of breast retroareolar leiomyoma, study the literature thereabout, and emphasize the rareness of such disease, the impossibility of a correct preoperative diagnosis and the features of absolute benignity of this lesion.

[Pulmonary blastoma. (Personal case)]. / Il blastoma polmonare. (Contributo personale).

The authors give a detailed description of one case of pulmonary blastoma recently come to their observation. Then, after a review of pertinent literature, they discuss the more interesting aspects of this pulmonary pathology, namely its rarity, uncertain histogenesis, difficult diagnosis, and above all baffling prognosis. They conclude with an appeal for further contributions on this interesting subject, in the hope of understanding it better through the study of an adequate number of cases.

[Heterotopic pancreas in a gastric site]. / Il pancreas eterotopico a sede gastrica.

The authors describe two cases of heterotopic pancreas tissue involving the stomach. After some general comments on the frequency and anatomopathological aspects of this disease, they discuss the clinical features and modern technics for the diagnosis of heterotopic pancreas tissue, with special emphasis on gastroscopic detection and execution of aimed biopsy specimen collection. Last, they discuss the indications for surgical treatment of the disease.

[A case of giant hamartochondroma of the lung]. / Su di un caso di amartocondroma gigante del polmone.

The authors present a case of pulmonary hamartochondroma of exceptional size, of which they give a clinical descrition and explain the surgical treatment. Next, aloso in the light of recent literature on the subject, they review the possible causes of this disorder in terms of several histopathogenetic hypotheses, and they discuss problems of differential diagnosis as well as the histopathological aspects of this rare, benign tumor of the lung. They conclude that even though malignant transformation of hamartochondroma is exceptional, these tumors should always be removed surgically as soon as they are diagnosed or reasonably suspected.

[Clinical and therapeutic considerations on bochdalek's congenital posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia (author's transl)]. / Considerazioni clinico-terapeutiche sulle ernie congenite postero-laterali diaframmatiche di Bochdalek.

The Authors describe 5 cases of Bochdalek's posterolateral diaphragmatic hernia in terms of their clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects. They also explain their criteria in the choice of surgical approaches and describe reconstruction methods used in the repair of large hernias. Finally, they propose a special schedule of postoperative management to be used in connection with neonatal surgery, where surgical mortality is still high.

[Technic for repair of laparoceles by an extraperitoneal approach]. / Tecnica di riparazione dei laparoceli per via extraperitoneale.

The authors report their experience with a technique for reconstruction of the abdominal wall, without opening the peritoneal sac, in patients with ventral hernia. After detailing the basic principles and advantages of the technique, they conclude by stating that it constitutes an effective procedure for repair of ventral hernias of the median line without endoabdominal morbid associations.