The mesenteric and antimesenteric site of the tumor as possible prognostic factor in colorectal cancer: 5-year survival analysis.

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is still one of the many factors of death both in males and in females. To date, the most important prognostic factors are mainly related to the pathological stage of the disease.

Aim Of The Study: The purpose of this study was to analyze the possible role of tumor circumferential localization on the colonic wall (mesenteric (M) or antimesenteric (AM)) as a possible prognostic factor.

Primary colorectal lymphomas: review of the literature.

Primary colorectal lymphoma is an infrequent disease of unknown origin and with a growing incidence. Primary colorectal lymphoma accounts for only about 0.2% of large intestinal malignancies.

Free circulating DNA as possible tumour marker in colorectal cancer.

Aim Of The Study: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of free circulating DNA (CFDNA) as a potential tumour marker in patients suffering from colorectal cancer (CRC).

Materials And Methods: The quantification of plasma DNA was determined through the use of real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the RNAse P gene. We studied patients undergoing surgery for primary CRC, at different stages of disease and a cohort of comparable healthy donors.

Laparoscopic colorectal resections with transvaginal specimen extraction for severe endometriosis.

Introduction: Bowel resection is now considered the "gold standard" treatment for severe endometriosis infiltrating the bowel. Laparoscopic colorectal resection can be considered a safe option in order to reduce surgical trauma and complications as well as to improve cosmetics. Transvaginal approach, used for several years to remove large specimens, can be an interesting approach also in case of colorectal resections.

The impact of perioperative blood transfusion on clinical outcomes in colorectal surgery.

Colorectal cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in the US. The prognosis of advanced colorectal cancer remains poor in spite of the advances obtained in recent years with new therapeutic agents, new approaches in surgical procedures and new diagnostic methods. Currently, colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in Europe both in terms of incidence and mortality.

The application of sentinel lymph node mapping in colon cancer.

Lymph node status is the most important prognostic factor for colorectal carcinoma. Complete lymph node dissection has historically been an integral part of the surgical treatment of these diseases. Sentinel lymph node mapping is a newer technology that allows selective removal of the first node draining a tumor.

Genetic alteration in hereditary colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to cancer aetiology. About 15-20% of all colorectal cancers are familial.

Differences between familial and sporadic forms of colorectal cancer with DNA microsatellite instability.

Microsatellite instability (MSI) is observed in approximately 13% of colorectal cancers. Genes containing a mononucleotide microsatellite in the coding sequence are particularly prone to inactivation in MSI tumourigenesis, and much work has been conducted to identify genes with high repetitive tract mutation rates in these tumours. MSI caused by deficient DNA mismatch-repair functions is a hallmark of cancers associated with the hereditary non-polyposis colorectal cancer syndrome but is also found in about 15% of all sporadic tumours.

Antibiotic prophylaxis and preoperative colorectal cleansing: are they useful?

The utility of antibiotic prophylaxis for colorectal surgery has been assessed and largely confirmed worldwide. There is homogeneous consensus that the antibiotic chosen for prophylaxis must cover both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria, that the toxicity should be minimal and it should be cost effective. Recent studies have questioned the role of preoperative bowel cleansing, which is considered by many surgeons as a widely established practice prior to elective colorectal procedures.

Preliminary results of laparoscopic colorectal resections: does surgeon's age influences outcomes?

Introduction: Several randomized controlled trials demonstrated that laparoscopic colon resection is a safe and effective technique for colon and rectum diseases. In fact mini-invasive procedure required an adequate learning curve to safely perform it. Many studies confirm there is a comparatively long learning curve in laparoscopic surgery, with demonstrable decrease in conversion and complication rates with increasing experience.

Colonic stenting for malignant disease: review of literature.

Colonic stents potentially offer effective palliation for patients with bowel obstruction attributable to incurable malignancy, and a "bridge to surgery" for those in whom emergency surgery would necessitate a stoma. Literature search of the Medline, Scopus and Cochrane Library was performed to identify comparative studies reporting outcomes on colonic stenting and surgery for large bowel obstruction; and to identify the use of stents as a "bridge to the elective surgery". Colorectal stenting can be considered a safe and effective procedure with a low mortality and morbidity for both preoperative and palliative decompression of colonic obstruction.

Simultaneous medullary and papillary thyroid cancer: two case reports.

Background: Papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) have always been considered different from each other; in their incidence, their cell origin and their histopathological features.

Case Presentation: This paper describes two rare cases of the simultaneous occurrence of MTC and PTC in the thyroid gland. Case 1 is unique for different reasons: (a) the patient was affected by both multicentric MTC and PTC; (b) a "composite thyroid carcinoma" with mixed feautures of MTC and PTC carcinomas was found in the istmus of the gland; and (c) these tumors were associated with diffuse lymphocytic-type thyroiditis (LT).

Post-radiofrequency ablation syndrome after percutaneous radiofrequency of abdominal tumours: one centre experience and review of published works.

The aim of this study was to evaluate prospectively post-radiofrequency ablation (RFA) syndrome and to determine its effect on the quality of life in the 15 days after percutaneous RFA treatment. We carried out an internal review board-approved prospective study of the delayed symptoms that occurred after 71 consecutive RFA sessions in 53 patients (12 women and 41 men; age range 45-83 years; mean age 71.6 years) with 45 primary liver tumours, 34 liver metastases, 3 renal cell carcinoma (RCC), 2 residual lesions from RCC after nephrectomy and 1 pancreatic metastases from RCC.

[Current indications for thyroidectomy].

Thyroid surgery, one of the most common interventions in endocrine surgery, is practiced by many specialists who perform this procedure exclusively. It accounts for the bulk of work even in reference centers that treat rare endocrine tumors (e.g.

Treatment of high output entero-cutaneous fistulae associated with large abdominal wall defects: single center experience.

Background And Aim: Enteric fistulas are defined by their sites of origin, communication and flow. We evaluate the treatment of complex patients with entero-cutaneous fistulae with large abdominal wall defects.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective case note review of 19 patients (15 males, median age 46 years) treated at the Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy.

Laparoscopic resection of a primary hydatid cyst of the adrenal gland: a case report.

Background: Echinococcosis rates vary in different parts of the world. Italy is regarded as a middle to high risk country with over 1,000 cases requiring surgery each year. Liver (45-75%) and lung (10-50%) are the most frequent locations of this parasitosis.

Preoperative assessment of rectal cancer stage: state of the art.

Rectal cancer is one of the most common tumors worldwide; it accounts for approximately 25-30% of cancers arising in the large bowel. Owing to greater distribution of screening programs and better attention from both patients and General Practitioners to this disease, in recent years we have observed an increasing number of cases diagnosed in the early stages, with a consequent better prognosis. The improved 5-year survival is also partially due to better, and more accurate, diagnostic techniques and to more curative treatments.

Medullary thyroid carcinoma: surgical treatment advances.

Since medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) was first recognized as a distinct tumor in 1959, it became clear that MTC is more difficult to cure than papillary thyroid cancer and has higher rates of recurrence and mortality. MTC represents 5-8% of thyroid cancers. It derives from parafollicular cells of the ultimobranchial body derived from the neural crest.

Dissection and hemostasis with hydroxilated polyvinyl acetal tampons in open thyroid surgery.

Background: The essential objectives for thyroidectomy are: avoidance of injury to the recurrent laryngeal nerves, conservation of the parathyroid glands, an accurate haemostasis and an excellent cosmesis. In the last 10 years major improvements and new technologies have been proposed and applied in thyroid surgery; among these mini-invasive thyroidectomy, regional anaesthesia and intraoperative neuromonitoring, and new devices for achieving dissection and haemostasis. Minor bleeding from small vessels could be a major complication in thyroid surgery.

One-day thyroid surgery: retrospective analysis of safety and patient satisfaction on a consecutive series of 1,571 cases over a three-year period.

Short-stay thyroid surgery (<24 h hospital stay) is becoming increasingly popular but some potentially lethal complications are considered strong arguments against shortening hospitalization after thyroidectomy. The authors reviewed the data of 1,571 patients undergoing one-day thyroid surgery over a 3-year period to determine safety and patient satisfaction. There were 1,244 females and 327 males.

An innovative percutaneous technique for the removal and replacement of dysfunctioning plastic biliary endoprostheses (PBE) in the management of malignant billiary occlusions.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and clinical impact of the percutaneous removal and replacement of dysfunctioning plastic biliary endoprostheses (PBE).

Materials And Methods: Over a period of 24 months, we observed eight patients (age 54-82 years; mean 65) with dysfunctioning PBE. After transhepatic cholangiography and bile duct catheterisation, the endoprostheses were grasped with a gooseneck snare and pushed into the duodenum using a long introducer sheath.

Transdiaphragmatic approach to the thorax using mini-invasive devices.

Operative management of synchronous abdominal and thoracic pathology has traditionally used 2 separate incisions. The introduction of laparoscopic devices has allowed the development of new techniques. The feasibility of a laparotomy and transdiaphragmatic access to the pleural cavity using mini-invasive instruments is presented.

Postoperative infections after oesophageal resections: the role of blood transfusions.

Background: Perioperative blood transfusion carries numerous potential risks concerning the transmission of infective diseases and immunodepression that can facilitate the occurrence of postoperative infectious complications. Explanation of connections between perioperative blood transfusion and postoperative septic complication worldwide is not well documented. Many studies have described a correlation between perioperative blood transfusions and postoperative infections.

Multifocality and multicentricity are not contraindications for sentinel lymph node biopsy in breast cancer surgery.

Background: After the availability of the results of validation studies, the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has replaced routine axillary dissection (AD) as the new standard of care in early unifocal breast cancers. Multifocal (MF) and multicentric (MC) tumors have been considered a contraindication for this technique due to the possible incidence of a higher false-negative rate. This prospective study evaluates the lymphatic drainage from different tumoral foci of the breast and assesses the accuracy of SLNB in MF-MC breast cancer.