Ileal carcinoid tumors and intestinal ischemia.

Three patients with carcinoid tumors of the ileum are presented; two had severe intestinal ischemia, one with infarction of the small intestine. In all three cases, histopathological examination revealed elastic vascular sclerosis (EVS) in the mesenteric blood vessels. Intestinal ischemia in the presence of a carcinoid tumor is probably due to a combination of tumoral secretion products, vascular changes, mesenterial retraction and nodal involvement.

Cholestatic hepatitis due to an amoxycillin/clavulanic acid preparation.

Two cases of reversible cholestatic hepatitis after treatment with an amoxycillin/clavulanic acid preparation (Augmentin) are described.

D-penicillamine-induced oesophageal ulcers.

A patient on treatment with D-penicillamine developed aphthoid ulcers of the oesophagus, which healed rapidly after withdrawal of this drug. The mechanism of these probably drug-induced oesophageal ulcerations is discussed.

Anisakiasis caused by herring in vinegar: a little known medical problem.

Six cases of intestinal anisakiasis, or herring worm disease, diagnosed over a two year period in a Belgian gastroenterology unit are described. They presented mainly as intestinal obstructions and larvae of this marine nematode were found in the intestinal wall of two of the four patients who were operated on. In two other patients awareness of the diagnosis permitted conservative treatment and spontaneous healing.