Comparison of HER-2 overexpression in primary breast cancer and metastatic sites and its effect on biological targeting therapy of metastatic disease.

HER-2 overexpression, a predictive marker of tumour aggressiveness and responsiveness to therapy, occurs in 20-30% of breast cancer. Although breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, HER-2 measurement is carried out in primary tumour. This study aims to evaluate HER-2 overexpression in primary and metastases and its effect on treatment decisions.

[Stromal tumors of gastrointestinal tract: clinical and pathological features].

During the period 1991 till 1999, ten patients with primary stromal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract (stomach, duodenum, jejunum, ileum and rectum) were treated. Nine patients underwent radical resection and one patient had non-complete resection of the tumor. The median age of the group was 63 years for 7 male and 3 female patients.

[Idiopathic external hydrocephalus].

5 male children who had idiopathic external hydrocephalus are described; all were all in the first year of life. Macrocephaly and hypotonia were present in all, as well as mild to moderate delay in language and gross motor development; cognition was normal. CT-scan showed in all enlarged subarachnoid spaces but normal or mildly dilated lateral ventricles.

Fertility, miscarriage and pregnancy after vertical banded gastroplasty operation for morbid obesity.

Vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG) is today the most widely performed bariatric operation. The procedures used previously for the same purpose resulted in metabolic derangements and other pathologies during pregnancy. In a retrospective study we compared the reproductive performance of nine women prior to VBG and after it.

Axillary vein thrombosis during pregnancy: a case report.

A 32-year-old multiparous woman had progressive swelling of the right arm at 32 weeks' gestation, accompanied by cyanosis and a preserved radial pulse. Phlebography demonstrated a 5-cm thrombus in the axillary vein. No known etiologic factors were found.

Erosion of Marlex Mesh Collar after Vertical Banded Gastroplasty.

Marlex mesh, as opposed to silastic ring, when used as a collar in the bariatric procedure of vertical banded gastroplasty, has been reported rarely to erode into the gastric lumen. We report two cases of such an erosion, of which one ended as a complete internalization of the collar into the stomach. In one of the patients we observed a wider than expected portion of tissue that had been encircled by the collar, which might have caused a local inflammatory reaction leading to the later erosion.

Sudden dysphonia due to parathyroid apoplexy: a rare case of recurrent laryngeal nerve palsy.

A case is presented of sudden onset dysphonia in a 59-year-old man caused by acute vocal cord paralysis due to bleeding within a hyperplastic lower right parathyroid gland. There were no laboratory findings of hyperparathyroidism nor coagulation disorder. Acute onset of vocal cord paralysis is rarely associated with benign processes; the current case is the first associated with parathyroid hyperplasia.

Postoperative pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy with different types of anesthesia.

In a randomized, double-blind study, postoperative pain was assessed in 36 patients undergoing inguinal herniorrhaphy with three types of anesthesia: general (thiopental-nitrous oxide-halothane); general with the addition of local (infiltration of the abdominal wall with 0.25% bupivacaine along the line of the proposed incision); and spinal (0.5% bupivacaine).

Posterior duodenal ulcer: acute free perforation into the lesser sac.

Perforation of a peptic ulcer located on the posterior wall of the duodenum is very rare. We present here three cases with acute and free perforation of a posterior duodenal ulcer with a fatal outcome. To the best of our knowledge such an acute free perforation has not been previously published.

Emergencies in delayed diaphragmatic herniation due to blunt trauma.

A transthoracic approach was used in the treatment of 2 patients with emergencies due to traumatic diaphragmatic hernia. Relevant symptoms began respectively 3 months and 8 months after closed injury. Strangulation and necrosis of abdominal organs herniated into the chest are associated with a high mortality.