Hamartochondroma arising from a tracheal bronchus.

Tracheal bronchus is a congenital abnormality rarely described in the literature. It is mostly completely asymptomatic. This condition may rarely be associated with inflammatory diseases.

Loss of p27 expression and microsatellite instability in sporadic colorectal cancer.

Background: The role of the loss of p27 protein expression in the oncogenesis of colorectal cancer is still in debate. In this study, we prospectively examined the immunohistochemical expression of p27 in 108 consecutive colorectal cancers, and we analysed the relationship with the results, the clinicopathological data, microsatellite instability (MSI) and other genetic alterations of tumours.

Methods: Unselected patients (108) who underwent curative colorectal resection for sporadic colorectal cancer in a three-year period were evaluated for MSI using 6 microsatellite markers, and for the presence of p27, p53, Fhit, Mlh1 and Msh2 proteins by means of immunostaining.

Distinct molecular patterns based on proximal and distal sporadic colorectal cancer: arguments for different mechanisms in the tumorigenesis.

Background And Aims: Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the fourth most frequently diagnosed cancer worldwide. CRCs that arise proximally or distally to the splenic flexure show differences in epidemiologic incidence, morphology, and molecular alterations, suggesting the existence of two categories of CRC based on the site of origin. The aim of the present work is to investigate the histological and molecular differences between CRCs located proximally and distally to the splenic flexure, and their potential involvement in tumor prognosis and therapeutic strategies.

Hypovolemic shock caused by a true aneurysm of the pancreatico-duodenal artery: case report and review of the literature.

True pancreatico-duodenal artery aneurysm (PDAA) is a rare condition that since 1973 has been described in only 54 cases. It is frequently associated with celiac axis stenosis and often present with rupture. Even if most PDAAs that are not ruptured are asymptomatic and are diagnosed during investigation for other diseases, they may have some symptoms, such as chronic abdominal discomfort and an abdominal pulsating mass, that can be helpful for diagnosis.

Calf metastasis of colorectal cancer: report of a case.

Colorectal cancer metastases rarely develop outside liver, lungs and lymph nodes, and only exceptionally in skeletal muscle. The very low incidence of such metastasis sites may be due either to underestimation of the problem or to their intrinsic rarity. We report a case of metastasis from colorectal cancer that developed in the left calf and manifested itself as a painful non-fluctuating mass.

Giant fibroma of the lesser omentum: report of a rare case.

Unlabelled: We report a case of a 43 years old male that presented to emergency room for epigastric and mesogastric pain associated with a palpable abdominal mass. Explorative laparotomy showed a well capsulated tumour of the lesser omentum, sized 20 x 16 x 10 cm. Histologically the mass was charaterized by thick fibrous capsula, with areas of moderate cellularity alternated to areas of sclerosis, spots of hemorragies and infartual necrosis, spindle-shaped cells within collagen bundles that did not present mitotic activity or atipies and showed a low proliferation index with Ki 67 and histochemical positivity for CD 34 and negativity for C-Kit, anti-smooth cell and S100 antigen.

Brunner's gland hamartoma: 'over-treatment' of a voluminous mass simulating a malignancy of the pancreatic-duodenal area.

Context: Brunner's gland hyperplasia is rarely associated with clinical symptoms. Most of the lesions are less than 1 cm in diameter and accounts for about 6.8% of all endoscopically removed duodenal polyps.

[Diagnostic and therapeutic management of choledocholithiasis associated with gallstone disease: nine years' experience].

Different approaches are described in the literature for the detection and treatment of common bile duct stones in patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (pre-, intra- or postoperative treatment; combined endoscopic and laparoscopic or total laparoscopic management). No particular "gold standard" treatment can be identified, since too many variables and too many techniques need to be compared. Since it is impossible to establish any single protocol, the reviewing of different large experiences is useful to identify the pros and cons of each procedure.

Abnormal Fhit protein expression and high frequency of microsatellite instability in sporadic colorectal cancer.

The role of Fhit protein in the oncogenesis of colorectal cancer is still in debate. Recent studies have revealed that reduced Fhit protein expression is associated with a deficiency of the mismatch repair protein. One hundred and twenty unselected patients who underwent curative resection for sporadic colorectal cancer in a three-year period were evaluated for microsatellite instability (MSI) using six microsatellite markers, and for the presence of Fhit and mismatch repair (MMR) proteins (Mlh1 and Msh2) by means of immunostaining.

The rationale for cecorectal anastomosis for slow transit constipation.

The most usual reconstruction after subtotal colectomy is ileo-rectal anastomosis, which requires the removal of the caecum. We propose the treatment of chronic slow-transit constipation with subtotal colectomy and antiperistaltic caecoproctostomy. The sparing of the caecum, the ileo-caecal valve and the distal ileal loop, leaving a physiologic reservoir, allowing the presence of colic bacterial flora which metabolizes the undigested starch and produces short chain fatty acids, should guarantee a normal stool consistency, normal absorption of water, sodium and vitamin B12 and the prevention of renal and gallbladder lithiasis.

[Prognostic significance of chromosome and microsatellite instability in colorectal cancer].

The prediction of recurrence and the prognosis of colorectal cancer have always been related to the stage of the disease. Clinical pathological classifications are unable to predict the individual risk of recurrence and the prognosis which would also appear to be linked to additional factors, which have yet to be properly assessed, such as the genetic endowment of the tumour. In this study we assessed how microsatellite and chromosomal instability may help us to stratify two classes of risk of recurrence in patients at the same stage.