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The Authors report on a patient admitted several times for the occurrence of five multiple metachronous primary malignancies (laryngeal carcinoma, endometrial adenocarcinoma, rectal cancerous polyp, Vaterpapilla carcinoma and transverse colon cancer). All five carcinomas were independent primary cancers and the lenghty time intervals between the onsets of each individual tumours confirm their independent non-metastatic origin. Classification, pathogenesis, genetic and environmental interactions of these tumours are discussed; in the case reported a family history of colon cancer was present, while no genetic markers abnormalities or chronic exposure to carcinogens were found. The case report suggests that an aggressive, appropriate surgical approach together with a through follow-up monitoring offers a chance of long-term survival for patients with metachronous malignant primary tumours.

The authors carry out a retrospective review of 30 patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs) who underwent surgical treatment over the period from 1974 to 2001. Sixteen were male and 14 female, with an average age of 60.9 years. Histologically, 19 tumours showed evidence of differentiation towards smooth muscle elements (10 benign and 9 malignant), 9 towards neural elements (3 benign and 6 malignant) and 2 iacked differentiation towards either cell type. Twenty-one tumours were located in the stomach, 1 in the duodenum, 3 in the jejunum and 5 in the ileum. The main symptoms were abdominal pain and abdominal masses, and the most sensitive diagnostic techniques were abdominal CT scan and endoscopy in gastroduodenal locations. In 21 gastric GISTs, the surgical procedures were local resection (15 cases), partial gastric resection (3 cases), subtotal gastrectomy (2 cases) and total gastrectomy (1 case). In 8 small bowel GISTs, we performed a typical intestinal resection while duodenal undifferentiated GIST was managed by pancreatico-duodenectomy. There was no operative mortality or morbidity. Among the 13 patients with benign GISTs, 1 died of causes unrelated to the disease, while 12 patients are still alive and in good health after a mean follow-up of 148.5 months (range: 6-262). Among patients with malignant muscular GISTs (6 gastric and 3 ileal), 3 with gastric tumours were lost to follow-up, 3 with gastric and 1 with ileal neoplasms are alive and free from disease after a median follow-up of 58 months (range 3-108), while 2 patients with ileal neoplasms died of metastatic disease 39 and 29 months after the surgical procedure. Among 6 patients with malignant neural GISTs (2 gastric, 2 jejunal and 2 ileal) 1 with a gastric tumour and 1 with a jejunal tumour were lost to follow-up, while 3 are still alive and in good health after a median follow-up of 67.6 months (range 19 to 94); another with jejunal disease developed liver metastases 14 months after small bowel resection and died 12 months later. The two patients with undifferentiated GIST both died of liver metastasis 38 months after pancreatico-duodenectomy and 43 months after total gastrectomy. The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain and a palpable mass, but no specific signs were detected. In gastroduodenal lesions endoscopy plays a very important diagnostic role and CT scan is the most sensitive diagnostic technique in the evaluation of location, size, invasion of adjacent organs and metastases. Prognostic prediction on the basis of histological findings is difficult and in our experience undifferentiated tumours are always malignant.

Endoscopic tube implantations were carried out in 40 patients with malignant stenosis of the esophagus and gastric cardia using self-expanding metallic stents. The indications for endoscopic intubation were the advanced stage of the tumor in 27 cases and risk factors that made resection inadvisable in 13 cases. In three patients, it proved impossible to implant a stent endoscopically because we were not able to pass the guide wire through the stenosis, whereas correct stent placement was achieved in 37 cases. Functional results were good in 33 patients, but four patients did not show any improvement of symptoms. Complications occurred in nine patients (24.3%): two bleedings, three neoplastic obstructions, one food obstruction, and three distal dislodgements of the prosthesis were observed, but could be readily corrected. No deaths occurred. The median survival time was 151 days (range 25-545 days). This study suggests that endoscopic placement of metallic self-expanding stents is safe and is to be preferred to plastic stents for easier implantation and lower morbidity.

The Authors report on a patient admitted several times for the occurrence of five multiple metachronous primary malignancies (laryngeal carcinoma, endometrial adenocarcinoma, rectal cancerous polyp, ampulla of Vater carcinoma and transverse colon cancer). All five carcinomas were independent primary cancers, and the lengthy time intervals between the onsets of the individual tumours supports their independent non-metastatic origin. Classification, pathogenesis, genetic and environmental interactions of multiple tumours are discussed. In the case reported, a family history of colon cancer was present, while no genetic marker abnormalities or chronic exposure to carcinogens were found. The case report shows that an aggressive, appropriate surgical approach together with thorough follow-up monitoring offers a chance of long-term survival for patients with metachronous malignant primary tumours.

The Authors report two cases of transposed colon redundancy occurring after surgical treatment in 37 patients with caustic oesophageal strictures by retrosternal oesophagoplasty. Surgical management was required because of persistent dysphagia and weight loss in both patients. The technique performed was a resection of the redundant loop with a termino-terminal colo-colonic anastomosis via a right thoracic approach.

Sixty-one patients with substernal goiter--42 women and 9 men (female:male ratio 2.2:1), mean age 57.5 years--underwent surgical resection in the General and Thoracic Surgery Division of the Surgery Department of the University of Catania from January 1980 to March 1999. Six patients (9.8%) had previously undergone cervicotomy. Forty-nine patients (80.3%) had symptoms (2 with acute respiratory failure); 22.9% had metabolic symptoms. Fifty-one patients (83.6%) had cervicomediastinal goiter, 8 (13.1%) migrated mediastinal goiter and 2 (3.3%) ectopic goiter. Forty-one cases (69.5%) were prevascular and 18 (30.5%) retrovascular; of the latter 5 were pre-visceral and 13 retrovisceral. Fifty-one thyroidectomies (6 subtotal) were performed, as well as 5 mediastinal excisions to complete removal and 4 resections confined to the mediastinal component. The 51 patients with cervicomediastinal goiter underwent cervicotomy in 42 cases (82.4%), cervicosternotomy in 7 cases (13.7%) and cervicosternothoracotomy in 2 cases (3.9%). The 8 migrated mediastinal goiters were removed via sternotomy in 6 cases, cervico thoracotomy in 1 and thoracotomy in 1. This latter approach was also used for the 2 ectopic goiters. The goiter presented signs of neoplastic degeneration in 2 cases (3.2%). Postoperative complications were: recurrent nerve palsy in 5 cases (1 bilateral definitive, 1 monolateral definitive, 3 monolateral transient), respiratory failure in 2, mediastinal hematoma in 1 and hypocalcemia in 8 (transient in 6). There was one postoperative death due to cardiorespiratory failure after cervicosternotomy. Surgical excision of substernal goiters is the best choice of treatment in view of the very low postoperative mortality and morbidity.

During a twenty-six year period from 1973 to 1999 a total of 78 patients with severe esophago-gastric lesions after caustic ingestion were referred to and managed at our unit. Hydrochloric acid was the most frequently involved caustic agent and the lesions were located in the esophagus (52.6%), in the stomach (19.2%) and in both the esophagus and stomach (28.2%). Thirty-seven patients were managed by endoscopic dilation of esophageal stricture that gave permanent relief of dysphagia in 13 cases only. Twelve patients are still managed with endoscopic dilation and in another 12 we performed bypass surgery. Two perforations developed and spontaneously sealed after T.P.N. for 6-8 weeks. No death occurred. Fifty-three patients were operated on in emergency or during survey period or for stenotic lesions. Surgical procedures were: in esophageal strictures a substernal esophago or pharyngocologastroplasty without esophagectomy; in esophago-gastric strictures, after an esophago-gastrectomy, an esophago or pharyngocolojejunoplasty in one or two steps; in total gastric stenosis without esophageal involvement a total gastrectomy followed by a Roux-en-Y esophago-jejunal anastomosis and in antropyloric strictures a Billroth I or II partial gastrectomy. The morbidity rate was 32% with a 5.6% mortality rate.

The Authors report their experience on 76 patients managed for oesophageal achalasia from 1973-1997. 65 patients have been surgically treated with Heller miotomy (19 cases) or miotomy with antireflux procedures (46 cases); 11 patients underwent an endoscopic pneumatic dilation. 54 patients, 43 surgically and 11 endoscopically treated, have been followed for a mean length of time of 6 years and 6 months. Complete cure or significant improvement of symptoms have been noted in 86% and 72.7% of patients treated respectively with surgery or pneumatic dilatation. The results have been evaluated according to the recent data from the literature and diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of primitive achalasia are discussed.

The authors reviewed 23 surgical cases of symptomatic oesophageal diverticula. In Zenker's diverticula (7 cases) the surgical treatment consisted of extramucosal cricopharyngeal myotomy and diverticulectomy (6 patients) or diverticulum suspension (1 patient). The operations in epiphrenic (15 patients) and mid-thoracic (1 patient) diverticula were as follows: diverticulectomy, longitudinal extramucosal myotomy and antireflux surgery (11 cases); myotomy and antireflux surgery (4 cases); myotomy alone (1 patient). There was no operative mortality. Postoperative complications occurred in 3 patients (13%). 15 patients were followed for an average time of 60 months. None of them developed postoperative dysphagia. Pathogenesis, diagnostic methods and surgical options are discussed.

Pancreatoblastoma is a very rare tumor of the pancreas, affecting children in the first decade of life. Ultrasound and CT scan may be useful but pre-operative diagnosis is often quite difficult. High level of seric alpha-fetoprotein could be suggestive of pancreatoblastoma. The definitive diagnosis is however made by histologists when an organoid structure, well encapsulated, consisting of acinar cells with zymogen-like granules and squamoid corpuscle is demonstrated, sometimes associated with mesenchymal tissue (mixed-type pancreatoblastoma). Immunohistochemical studies may help in differentiating pancreatoblastoma from papillary cystic tumors, acinar cell carcinomas and endocrine pancreatic tumors of the pancreas. We report a case of mixed-type pancreatoblastoma in a 12-year-old female patient, located in the head of the pancreas. The treatment has been surgical, consisting of a duodeno-cephalo-pancreasectomy. Neither radiotherapy nor chemotherapy has been performed. The patient is alive, without recurrence, four months after the operation. Diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic aspects are discussed.

The authors report 32 patients admitted to the hospital with iatrogenic bile duct stricture. Cholecystectomy with or without bile duct exploration was the most frequent (84.3%) surgical procedure responsible for the lesion, followed by BII gastric resection. Six patients had undergone one previous attempt at repair in another institution. Most patients had undergone a hepatojejunostomy, which has the procedure of choice in the last cases. Mortality and morbidity rates were 0 and 15%, respectively. The complications reported were a biliary fistula and 2 post-repair bile strictures that required one or more re-operations. During the follow-up 2 other patients developed episodes of cholangitis, treated medically. Clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of iatrogenic bile duct strictures are reviewed.

Sixty-four patients with achalasia of the esophagus were surgically treated during the period 1973-1990. They were analyzed a late follow-up (mean = 78 months) by means of subjective and objective parameters. The Authors emphasize the efficiency of the diagnostic approach so that surgical treatment offers better results. The surgical technique of choice consists of an anterior esophagomyotomy (extending from 6 cm above the esophagogastric junction down to 1-2 cm below it) with the addition of an anterior Dor antireflux procedure through a laparotomy. The other therapeutic approach to achalasia is pneumatic dilatation of lower esophageal sphincter. A retrospective comparison of two different treatments is made through the analysis of the literature (medlars 1986-1990). Relief of dysphagia is reported in 92.78% of patients treated by myotomy and in 78.71% of those treated by forceful dilatation. The morbidity rate is greater after pneumatic dilatation (6% vs 5%) and the mortality rate is 1.1% after myotomy and 0.2% after dilatation. There are not rigorous criteria of choice between the two treatment methods but the Authors indicate that Heller's myotomy with an antireflux procedure achieve better and lasting results.

The Authors report their experience on ileal-anal anastomosis with a J-pouch. A videotape illustrates the surgical technique. At last functional results are shown.

The effects during surgery of a new halogenated volatile anaesthetic, isoflurane, on the hypothalamo-hypophyseal-thyroid-suprarenal axis were studied. In fact, it was important to prove whether this new halogenated anaesthetic would provide better protection, for the patient, from surgery and anaesthetic stress compared with other anaesthetic agents in use. The study was carried out in 16 young class ASA I patients who were to undergo appendicectomy. Before and during operation, blood was taken to measure ACTH, cortisol, TSH, T3, T4 and PRL plasma levels. A remarkable increase of PRL, cortisol and T4 plasmatic rate was found, especially at the end of the operation. It was concluded that isoflurane, just like enflurane, did not prevent the increase of PRL, cortisol and T4 that usually takes place during surgery.

In the last years many Authors on the grounds of clinical and experimental studies have assumed the possibility of a connection between the prolactin and the breast pathology especially the carcionoma. In the present work the Authors give the results of the doses of the prolactin plasmatic basal levels, performed on 122 subjects belonging to 4 different groups: 1) patients with carcinoma of the breast; 2) patients with benign tumors of the breast; 3) patients with fibrocystic breast disease; 4) subjects of control. In patients who have undergone an operation further doses of blood prolactin have been carried out on 5th, 10th, 30th day after operation. On the grounds of such results the Authors propose new hypothesis of work wich will help to clear this problem.