Hepatic brucelloma.

We present a case of hepatic abscess caused by Brucella melitensis (or hepatic brucelloma) diagnosed in a 59-year-old man 33 years after an episode of acute brucellosis that had completely resolved. Recovery from symptoms and a decrease in lesion size seen on radiological assessment were achieved through prolonged combined antibiotic therapy, without the need for surgery. Hepatic brucelloma is a rare complication of brucellosis, which is the most common zoonosis globally, mainly occurring in specific endemic areas and causing a range of clinical manifestations.

A shift from distal to proximal neoplasia in the colon: a decade of polyps and CRC in Italy.

Background: In the last years a trend towards proximalization of colorectal carcinomas (CRC) has been reported. This study aims to evaluate the distribution of CRC and adenomatous polyps (ADP) to establish the presence of proximalization and to assess the potential predictors.

Methods: We retrieved histology reports of colonic specimens excised during colonoscopy, considering the exams performed between 1997 and 2006 at Cuneo Hospital, Italy.

Primary hepatic carcinoid: a case report and literature review.

Carcinoids are tumors derived from neuroendocrine cells and often produce functional peptide hormones. Approximately 54.5% arise in the gastrointestinal tract and frequently metastasize to the liver.

Weekly chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel in inoperable non-small cell lung cancer: an extended phase II study.

Background: A phase II study of a cisplatin/paclitaxel combination given on a weekly schedule in the front-line treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is reported.

Patients And Methods: Treatment consisted of an intravenous infusion of cisplatin, 25 mg/m2, and paclitaxel, 80 mg/m2, every week. Chemotherapy was continued until completion of a 22-week treatment plan, disease progression, persistent toxicity, or patient refusal.

Cisplatin and vinorelbine remains a valid option for the front-line chemotherapy treatment of NSCLC.

Background: This study was designed to confirm the activity of the cisplatin/vinorelbine (C/V) combination in non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC).

Patients And Methods: Treatment consisted of vinorelbine, i.v.

Front-line weekly chemotherapy with gemcitabine for unfit patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Chemotherapy (CT) for elderly patients is becoming a standard, since the first demonstration by Gridelli and co-workers that chemotherapy (in their case Vinorelbine (VNB), single agent) is capable to produce significant survival benefits. Much less is known concerning the use of CT for unfit patients. The purpose of this phase II trial was to perform a comprehensive evaluation of activity, toxicity, and tolerability of single-agent Gemcitabine (GEM) (Gemzar) as a first-line chemotherapy for unfit patients with inoperable or recurrent non-small cell lung cancer.

Second-line weekly paclitaxel in patients with inoperable non-small cell lung cancer who fail combination chemotherapy with cisplatin.

Unlabelled: This phase II study was designed to assess single-agent paclitaxel (Taxol), as second-line chemotherapy.

Eligibility Criteria: pathological diagnosis of inoperable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) relapsing or refractory to standard front-line platinum (P)-based chemotherapy, performance status < or = 3, normal lab tests, informed consent. Ineligibility criteria: history of second or third cancer (unless surgically cured), mental instability or impairment, pre-existing moderate/severe peripheral neuropathy, previous chemotherapy non-including cisplatin, and previous second-line chemotherapy.

Familial and personal history of cancer in bronchogenic carcinoma--frequency and clinical implications.

A familial and personal history of cancer might be associated with a more aggressive cancerous disease. This study was carried out on 1277 consecutive lung cancer (LC) patients, seen from January 1989 to October 2002 in a single institution. A set of 31 clinical laboratory, radiological and pathological variables was recorded prospectively for all patients.

Prognostic factors.

The best predictive models of today can predict no more than 50% of the natural variability of the disease, despite the sophisticated mathematic analyses and the dozens of variables assessed. Clearly, a universe of still unknown prognostic factors remains to be discovered. Analogous to infinity being immeasurable, the fate of the individual patient will never be calculated mathematically.

Neuron-specific enolase is an effective tumour marker in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Background: Neuron-specific enolase (NSE) is a well known marker of small cell lung cancer. The present study was designed to assess the clinical value of NSE in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), as compared to that of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA).

Methods: The study comprised 448 new consecutive NSCLC patients seen from 1996 to 2001.

Clinical equivalence of two cytokeratin markers in mon-small cell lung cancer: a study of tissue polypeptide antigen and cytokeratin 19 fragments.

Study Objectives: We have longstanding experience with tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA), a tumor marker of the cytokeratin (CK) family. In the mid-1990s, a new CK marker, CK 19 fragments (CYFRA 21-1), became popular and widely accepted. This is the first study specifically designed to compare the two markers.

Plasma levels of D-dimer in lung carcinoma: clinical and prognostic significance.

Background: The activation of the clotting-fibrinolytic system in cancer patients is common and represents an unfavorable clinical sign. D-dimer (DD) is a sensitive marker of fibrinolysis.

Methods: The current study comprised 826 new lung carcinoma patients seen consecutively in a single institution over a 10-year period (1992-2001).

Identifying patients at risk of early postoperative recurrence of lung cancer: a new use of the old CEA test.

Background: In the current study, we report the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) capability to predict early tumor relapses after a pulmonary resection for nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: We studied 118 consecutive NSCLC patients who were clinically judged operable and were eventually operated upon. Anthropometric, clinical, and CEA data along with the results of both preoperative and postoperative stage classifications were recorded.

99mTC-tetrofosmin scintigraphy in lung carcinoma staging and follow-up evaluations.

Background: 99mTC-tetrofosmin recently has emerged as a new radiopharmaceutical for cancer visualization. In this study, the authors have investigated, for the first time in a comprehensive way, its ability to assess lung carcinoma dissemination and progression.

Methods: A 99mTC-tetrofosmin scan was incorporated into the pretreatment and posttreatment diagnostic workup of all lung carcinoma patients seen in a second referral institution for a province of 500,000 inhabitants during the years 1998 and 1999.