Double pathological fracture of mandibula caused by actinomycotic osteomyelitis: a case report.

Actinomycosis is an uncommon chronic granulomatous infection that cause formation of abscesses and cutaneous fistula. In mandibular actinomycosis the alveolar bone and mandibular body are usually not involved and the pathogenetic mechanisms of the actinomycotic infiltration is unknown. The patients usually report pain at the alveolar arch with development of a purplish-red swelling firmly attached to the mandibula; the fibrous tissue produces the continued development of new cutaneous fistulas with oncoming pus-secretion.

[Use of vascular endostapler in surgery of the lower rectum].

A practical and effective method for rapid and bloodless preparation of the rectum using endovascular stapler devices during low anterior resection, or abdominal-perineal excision, is described. This method is presented as an effective means for easily dividing the anterior and lateral attachment of the rectum. The application of this technique is the absence of intraoperative bleeding related to injury of middle hemorrhoidal vessels, with minimal risk of autonomic pelvic nerve damage.

[Carcinoma of the gastric stump. Our experience in 28 treated cases].

A chart review was conducted on 28 patients with gastric stump cancer who were radically treated at the First Department of Surgery of University "La Sapienza" of Rome between 1978 and 1990. The data obtained were compared with those of 401 patients radically treated, in the same period, for primary cancer of the proximal third of the stomach. There were no significant differences between the two groups in terms of stage and nodal involvement.

[Effectiveness of quarterly assessment of CEA, TPA and GICA serum levels in gastric and colorectal carcinomas: Prospective study of 174 patients undergoing radical surgery].

One-hundred seventy four consecutive patients who underwent curative resection for gastric and colorectal cancer between 1983 and 1985, were studied prospectively to evaluate the roles of sequential CEA, TPA and GICA determinations and independent clinical examinations, in the early diagnosis of resectable recurrences. Sixty-six recurrences (33 from gastric and 33 from colorectal cancer) were detected between 6 and 42 months after primary surgery. In gastric cancer CEA, TPA and GICA showed a sensitivity of 64%, 73%, and 60%, and a specificity of 67%, 65% and 54% respectively.

[Elastofibroma of the back. Considerations on 2 cases].

Two cases of fibroelastoma of the back are reported. It is pointed out that probability diagnosis in mainly entrusted to the objective examination and to the typical site of tumefaction, backed by echotomography, xeroradiography and computerised tomography and demonstrated by histological examination of the operative piece. Differential diagnosis has to be established versus fibrosarcoma, liposarcoma, desmoid tumour and malignant tumour of the synovia.