Peritoneal cytology in the determination of free tumour cells within the abdomen in colon cancer.

The presence of free tumour cells at the mesothelial surface in patients with intraperitoneal colon cancer is an important prognostic factor and may alter the decision regarding adjuvant chemotherapy. In this prospective study of 72 patients we aimed to show the existence of malignant cells in the peritoneal cavity by scraping the serosa and by peritoneal lavage. Intraoperative peritoneal cytology was performed in 72 colon cancer patients who underwent curative surgery in our department between 1992 and 1995. Specimens were obtained by peritoneal lavage and by scraping the serosa overlying the major tumour mass and an area of normal serosa at least 10 cm from the primary site. Slides were stained with haemotoxylen-eosine stain. Statistical analysis was performed with chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests. In conclusion, peritoneal washing and serosal cytological study appeared to be a simple and reliable method to detect serosal involvement and the existence of malignant cells in the peritoneal cavity.

[Syndrome of solitary rectal ulcer--a rare cause of recurrent rectal hemorrhage]. / Das Syndrom des solitären Ulcus recti--eine seltene Ursache der rezidivierenden rectalen Blutung.

While the clinical symptoms and signs of SRUS are quite obvious, etiology and treatment of the disease remain to be obscure. Although the lesion is usually not solitary this name has been used for the disease. According to other authors, we also find this term inappropriate. During the last 5 years 6 cases of SRUS have been diagnosed, treated and prospectively assessed in the surgical clinic of Cerrahpasa Medical Faculty (Istanbul). Three patients were treated successfully by conservative means, transanal excision was performed and defects were sutured primarily in the other three. In one patient recurrence was seen 8 days after the transanal excision; transabdominal rectopexy was performed 6 months later. All patients have been followed up with no complaints.

Congenital oesophagobronchial fistula in the adult.

A case of congenital oesophagobronchial fistula presenting in adult life without the more usual accompanying pulmonary infection is presented. The clinical, radiographic, morbid anatomical and histological features of this lesion are discussed.

Castleman's disease masquerading as sigmoid colon tumor and Hodgkin lymphoma.

Castleman's disease is a benign lymphoid neoplasm first reported as hyperplasia of mediastinal lymph nodes. Some authors referred to the lesions as isolated tumors, described as a variant of Hodgkin's disease with a possibility of a malignant potential and others proposed that the lymphoid masses were of a hamartomatous nature. Three histologic variants and two clinical types of the disease have been described. The disease may occur in almost any area in which lymph nodes are normally found. The most common locations are thorax (63%), abdomen (11%) and axilla (4%). We report two separate histologic types of Castleman's disease which were rare in the literature, mimicking sigmoid colon tumor and Hodgkin lymphoma. The diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of this rare entity is discussed.