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The report of diverticulosis of right colon in a patient formerly operated on for perforation of caecum single ulcer appeared to the authors as a confirmation of a common etiology between both lesions. The single ulcer would probably represent a form of manifestation for the acute phlogosis of a diverticulum.

A diagnostic assessment was made of 74 cases of non-penetrating abdominal wounds observed over the previous 5 years. Laparoscopy performed in 49 polytraumatised patients made a decisive contribution to accurate, early diagnosis, with an indication for emergency surgery in 35 cases (32 visceral lesions and 3 retroperitoneal haematoma), whereas it was clear from the negative finding that surgery was not required in the remaining 14. It is felt that all additional radiological and instrumental diagnostic should be employed, and that careful clinical examination and repeated inspection, preferably by the same surgeon, are important in cases of multiple injury, since the situation may become dramatically worse in the space of a few hours.

The authors study the diagnostical problems, especially those involved in the preoperative diagnosis of malignancy, of four cases of duodenal villous adenoma. A more frequent use of endoscopy can allow the observation of this lesion in early stage, such as to ensure recovery through an intervention as scarcely demolishing as possible. However, surgeons plotting the strategy of operation should bear in mind the potential malignancy of duodenal villous adenoma.