[Abrikossof's tumor of the esophagus. An original case. Review of the literature]. / Tumeur d'Abrikossof de l'oesophage. Une observation originale. Revue de la littérature.

Granular-cell tumors (GCT), also called Abrikossof's tumors, are generally benign, ubiquitous tumors. An original case of granular-cell tumor of the esophagus is reported. The symptoms included dysphagia and pyrosis. Fiberendoscopy showed a peptic esophageal stenosis with ulcerations confirmed by biopsy. CT showed a round thickening of the esophageal wall, localized in height. This lesion had previously been the object of several dilatation attempts. Esophagectomy with esogastric anastomosis in the thorax was performed. The histological study allowed diagnosing a granular-cell tumor, though one of a very peculiar type: misleading symptoms, tumor infiltrating the whole height of the esophagus and a circular area. Ninety cases of granular-cell tumors are reported in the literature; they are associated with a cancer of the air passages or of the digestive tract in 11% of cases. The cancer often appears secondarily, which requires lengthy surveillance. We do not know if this association is directly related or accidental. We have found no identical case of such a lesion, involving both the whole circumference and the whole height of the esophagus, in the literature.

[Prefabricated free grafts and neovascularized free grafts. 150 cases in rats]. / Les transplants libres préfabriqués et les transplants libres néovascularisés. 150 cas chez le rat.

The use of vascularized, composite and prepared free transplants is a recent technique. Two types of transplants were grafted in rats (150 operated cases). For the prefabricated free transplants, each component remains vascularized by rami of the main pedicle: vessels, nerves, bone, periosteum, cartilage, muscle, skin (50 cases). The graft is transplanted immediately. Neovascularized free transplants are quite different, the various components being laid around the vascular pedicle (100 cases). Neovascularization revascularizes the components. The free graft is transplanted 5 weeks after being prepared. The period of observation ranges from 3 to 12 months. Observation includes macroscopy, arteriography, histology and intravascular dye injections. The results with prefabricated free transplants show normal vascularization of soft tissues. There is bone in all cases, it is normal in 80% of cases. In neovascularized transplants, the bone is normal in 33% of cases only, and totally resorbed in 46%. Prefabricated free transplants produce better results than neovascularized free transplants and must be preferred. The merit of these composite free transplants is that they produce free transplants selectively, using various tissues and chosen vascular pedicles. These transplants are a useful and futuristic alternative for highly sophisticated reconstructive surgery.

[Diffuse gastric angiomatosis. A clinical case. Review of the literature]. / Angiomatose gastrique diffuse. Cas clinique. Revue de la littérature.

Stomach angiomatosis is a rare disease. We report an exceptional case of diffuse gastric angiomatosis complicated with severe bleeding; the patient underwent two operations for dramatic haemorrhage with shock. Selective arteriography provided the diagnosis. Total gastrectomy was performed in a third operation providing remission with a 3 year follow-up. The diagnosis of gastric angiomatosis is difficult and is essentially based on the fundamental selective angiography. Histology examination confirms the diagnosis and demonstrates vascular malformations. Cases reported in the literature are usually isolated cases: 47 angiomatoses of the stomach have been reported. Treatment is always surgical with gastrectomy providing complete remission. This case report demonstrates the need for a revision of the classifications of vascular tumours of the stomach.