Search

Comparison between standard radiographic and CT evaluation with surgical exploration was carried on 41 patients affected by bronchogenic carcinoma. The standard radiographic and CT evaluation was mae only for "T" and "N". In the named 41 patients the surgical evaluation of the anatomic extent (only for T and N) was made. T was underestimated by standard radiographic; on the contrary N appeared underestimated by the two radiological methods.

Cardiac herniation is a rare, highly lethal complication of intrapericardial pneumonectomy, demanding urgent treatment. The condition presents in the immediate or early postoperative period. Cardiovascular collapse is invariably present. Elevation of the jugular venous pressure and cyanosis in the drainage area of the superior vena cava are frequently noted. ECG may demonstrate the abnormal position and some ischemia of the heart. The effects of cardiac herniation are due to a combination of cardiac malposition, with subsequent torsion of the great vessels, obstruction to the outflow of blood from the heart and strangulation of the prolapsed ventricles by the borders of the pericardial defect. The diagnosis rests on an awareness of this condition, its clinical manifestations and radiological examination. Urgent reduction of the herniated heart gives the only possibility of survival. Prevention of possible recurrence must be considered.

Eight hundred and two consecutive symptomatic outpatients (with asthma and rhinitis) were studied to evaluate the incidence of prick test positivity to cat and dog danders and the association of exposure to these animals in the home, as revealed by a standard questionnaire. 14.3% were found to be skin positive to cat and/or dog danders. The incidence of cutaneous hypersensitivity to cat and/or dog danders was 25% in the 216 subjects who kept animals, significantly higher (p less than 0.0005) than the 10.4% of 586 subjects who did not keep animals. In the 57 subjects who owned both dogs and cats, a significantly higher incidence of skin hypersensitivity was found compared to the other subjects. Our data does not demonstrate a greater incidence in sensitivity to cat danders compared to dog danders, or increased sensitization to dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, nor a different incidence of clinical manifestations (asthma and rhinitis) between those with animals in the house and those without.

A group of 78 patients with gynecomastia was observed between 1974-1987. Idiopathic gynecomastia was referred in 33 cases, cirrhosis in 31 cases, prostatic hypertrophy in 2 cases, while in 12 cases gynecomastia was induced by drugs. All patients with idiopathic form and 11 patients with secondary form were surgically treated by mastectomy (20 bilaterally and 24 unilaterally). The authors emphasize that, in this pathology, is much more important restoring the masculine feature of thorax without esthetic damage than removing the hypertrophic gland.