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Unlabelled: Despite worldwide recommendations, the screening for colorectal cancer (CRC) is not routinely performed in our country. Consequently, we conducted a pilot study to evaluate an immunological fecal occult blood test (FOBT)., Methods: We studied 332 average-risk patients (age over 50 years, asymptomatic, with no personal or family history of CRC) who consulted primary care-generalists from Buenos Aires. They were randomly assigned to screening with one (group I) or three (group II) samples of FOBT (OC-Hemodia). Colonoscopy and/or barium enema and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy were indicated to patients with one or more positive samples., Results: 141 of 162 patients in group I (87.0%) and 142 of 170 patients in group II (83.5%) returned samples (NS). Three of 162 patients were tested positive in group I (1.8%) and 15 of 170 in group II (8.8%) (P = 0.005), with a global positivity of 5.4%. The colon was examined in 14 patients (77.8%) and 4 did not attend after repeated calls. Colonic study showed: CRC 1, adenomatous polyps 3, adenomatous polyps and hemorrhoids 1, diverticula 5, hemorrhoids 1, normal 2, intolerance 1. Upper endoscopy was performed in 9 patients: erosive gastritis 4, duodenal ulcer 1, normal 4. Both studies were normal in only 1 patient., Conclusions: 1) Immunological FOBT had a good compliance and an adequate positivity rate to be used in the screening for CRC. 2) Despite the use of an immunological test three samples are required to improve results. 3) Upper and lower gastrointestinal lesions, including CRC and polyps, were detected in almost all patients who were examined. 4) Our data justify the use of FOBT in wider population studies to assess its efficacy in the prevention of CRC.

Trichobezoars are rare medical entities that must be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with abdominal mass. We describe a case of an unsuspected intestinal trichobezoar in a nine years old girl. The patient presented an acute lower abdominal pain. We found an echogenic abdominal mass in the pelvic sonography. A double contrast barium enema was scheduled and a rapid relief of symptoms during the preparation of it was accomplished with the expulsion of a mass of hair.

We report a case of an esophagic squamous papilloma (SP) in a 90 year old patient. This pathology is benign and its diagnosis is generally a finding during an upper digestive endoscopy. Only 150 cases have been reported in the world's medical literature. Treatment consists in an endoscopic resection with diathermic snare or a conservative approach with periodical endoscopic control and observation depending of the type of patient.

We report a case of a patient that presented with a perforated hard palate as a late complication due to an unsuspected syphilis. This disease first presented as a rectal ulcer which was misdiagnosed as an amebic proctitis. The patient received antiamebic treatment with a satisfactory outcome. He did not return for late control of the latter treatment and returned seeking medical advice six years later with the former complication. He tested positive for syphilis and appropriate treatment was performed. In addition, the ORL department recommended a palate prosthesis.

A 46-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain, nausea vomiting and abdominal distention. Small bowel x-rays and CT scan of the abdomen revealed small bowel obstruction due to malignant melanoma. The diagnosis of cutaneous melanoma was performed 8 years prior to admission on one lesion in the back. Patient received surgical treatment. Completed resection of an involved jejunal [correction of ileal] segment was performed. Three tumor masses were found at laparotomy. Metastasis from malignant melanoma at the gastrointestinal tract occurs frequently though rarely are these intestinal lesions symptomatic. The efficacy of surgical treatment for symptomatic metastatic melanoma is justified to relief symptoms and prolonged survival.

Desmoid tumors are rare, less than 0.1% of all tumors (6.2%). The word desmoid has been recognized since 1838, and applied to non-encapsulated tumors, of connective origin and locally infiltrative. Generally, their course is painless and the recurrence rate is high if resection has not been complete. Most of these tumors can be found in different anatomic areas, most commonly the anterior abdominal wall although other sites, intra- or extra-abdominal, have been reported. We describe the case of a 50 year old female patient, with abdominal pain caused by an intraabdominal desmoid tumor.