Incidence and pathological characteristics of prostate cancer in Italy: a contribution to the screening debate.

Background: The scientific, social and financial aspects of prostate cancer (PC) organized or opportunistic screening to identify early PC are hotly debated. The incidence of prostate cancer is lower in Italy than in America and North Europe and data on PC incidence and pathological characteristics are scarce.

Methods: To determine PC incidence and whether screening would be beneficial, we studied 1008 consecutive symptomatic patients from the Southern Italy who underwent transrectal ultrasonography; 170 of them (age range: 48-93 years; median: 70 years) were at risk and underwent transrectal biopsy.

[Meigs' syndrome with high blood levels of CA 125. Clinical case and review of the literatureø].

A case of Meigs' syndrome is reported. The patient presented with: hydrothorax, ascites, benign ovarian tumor (thecoma) and increased serum levels of CA 125. Ovarian thecoma is a rare tumor, accounting for less than 1% of all ovarian tumors.

[Buschke and Loewenstein tumors (giant condyloma acuminata). Immunologic features].

The Buschke-Loewenstein tumor, also called giant condyloma acuminatum, is generally observed in male subjects, usually on the penis and rarely occurs in women. A case of Buschke-Loewenstein tumor located on the vulva is reported. It is a cauliflower-like tumor which behaves clinically in a malignant fashion, although it shows no histomorphological criteria of malignancy.

[Therapeutic posterior colpo-celiotomy. Authors' experience].

Background: To evaluate the advantages of posterior colpoceliotomy.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of the results of posterior colpoceliotomy performed between 1995 and 1998 for tubal sterilization, ectopic pregnancy or benign ovarian cyst.

Results: Surgery was possible in all 32 cases.

First-trimester sonographic diagnosis of Cantrell's pentalogy with exencephaly.

We report a case of Cantrell's pentalogy with exencephaly detected by sonography at 11 weeks 4 days' menstrual age and confirmed at autopsy. Cantrell's pentalogy consists of defects of the lower sternum, anterior diaphragm, midline supraumbilical abdominal wall, and diaphragmatic pericardium with ectopia cordis. Exencephaly involves acrania with a disorganized mass of brain tissue.