Biomarkers and prognosis after R0 resection of colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Evaluation of biomarkers and clinical factors associated with cancer-specific survival after curative resection for colorectal cancer liver metastases (LM).

Methodology: All patients who had an R0 resection for LM between 2000-2006 were reviewed. Clinical and histological data were assessed; p53 expression was studied by IHC.

Transiliac hernia.

Lumbar hernias (and namely transiliac hernias) are not frequent. We report the case of a 76-year-old man presenting with an incarcerated transiliac hernia, in a context of exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 30 years after iliac bone harvesting for femur surgery. After imaging, the patient underwent a laparotomy, and a herniated left colic segment was identified through a hole in the left iliac crest.

Comparison of hyperthermia and adrenaline to enhance the intratumoral accumulation of cisplatin in a murine model of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Background: The best method to deliver intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IPC) for peritoneal carcinomatosis from ovarian cancer is not well defined. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of hyperthermia and adrenaline to enhance the intratumoral accumulation of cisplatin in a rat model of peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Methods: Four groups of 5 BDIX rats with ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis underwent IPC with 30 mg/l of cisplatin according to the following conditions: normothermia at 37° for 1 or 2 hours, hyperthermia at 42°C for 1 hour or normothermia at 37°C for 2 hours with 2 mg/l adrenaline.

C-reactive protein is an early predictor of septic complications after elective colorectal surgery.

Background: Nowadays, most patients who undergo colorectal surgery are discharged early. An early predictor of septic complications could avoid readmissions and decrease morbidity. CRP could be a good predictor allowing a safe discharge.

Aeroportia and acute abdominal pain: ischemic bowel necrosis.

Pneumatosis intestinalis and aeroportia are typical findings of mesenteric ischemia. The second carries a worse prognosis than the former. We report the case of a patient presenting with acute abdominal pain and acidosis after admission to the coronary unit for myocardial infarction.

Clinical images. Gastric perforation caused by metastatic lung carcinoma.

A case of gastric perforation caused by metastases of small-cell lung carcinoma in an 85-year-old man is reported. This complication revealed the neoplasm. Biopsy should always be done in patients with gastric perforations, even if there is no palpable tumor.