Neoadjuvant imatinib in a locally advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) of the rectum: a rare case of two GISTs within a family without a familial GIST syndrome.

Gastrointestinal stromal tumours are rare tumours of the gastrointestinal tract. We describe the case of a 57-year-old man with a locally advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumour of the rectum. We started Gleevec.

Malignant transformation of biliary cystadenoma: a difficult diagnosis.

The case is described of a 63-year-old female with a multilocular liver cyst diagnosed as cystadenoma after imaging and fine needle aspiration. The lesion, however, proved to be an invasive cystadenocarcinoma at surgery. Cystadenoma cannot be differentiated, preoperatively, from cystadenocarcinoma and should always be considered for surgical resection.

[A gastrocutaneous fistula secondary to the percutaneous drainage of a pancreatic abscess. A case report].

Pancreatic abscesses are a frequent complication of acute pancreatitis and their percutaneous drainage is usually accepted. A 76 years-old male patient admitted for acute pancreatitis (Ranson 3 at admission) has been treated with conservative therapy and percutaneous US directed drainage of the abscess, located between the tail of the pancreas and the gastric fundus. This kind of drainage was able to empty the abscess satisfactorily but it caused the onset of a gastrocutaneous fistula.

Intraoperative colonic lavage in emergency surgical treatment of left-sided colonic obstruction.

Purpose: The study contained herein was undertaken to verify if immediate resection with anastomosis with on-site lavage in emergency treatment of left colon obstruction is a safe alternative to the multistage procedure, to look for solutions to practical problems outlined by previous authors, and to check the hospital stay.

Method: Between 1991 and 1995, all patients (61) admitted with left colon obstruction were treated with intraoperative colonic lavage and primary anastomosis. Personal development of Dudley's technique is reported.

[Metastasis and hepatic resection surgery. Our experience].

The authors' experience of the surgical management of liver metastasis is discussed. Failure in preoperative assessment influenced surgical procedures and led to questionable choices. However morbidity and mortality were rather good.