Hepatic schistosomiasis with massive splenomegaly: a case report and literature review.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic disease caused by Schistosoma species. Intestinal and hepatic schistosomiases are the most common forms of chronic disease. We describe a case of a 26-year old patient from Eritrea who was referred to our hospital with abdominal pain and diarrhea.

A case of systemic strongyloidiasis in an ex-coal miner with idiopathic colitis.

An ex-coal miner was diagnosed with an idiopathic sigmoiditis compatible with colitis ulcerosa. He was treated with corticosteroids because of his deteriorating clinical condition, but his condition continued to worsen. He revealed to have a systemic Strongyloides stercoralis hyperinfection and Strongyloides colitis.

The role of laser therapy in the palliative treatment of esophageal cancer.

Laser has become in the recent years an important therapeutic tool for treating esophageal cancer in a palliative setting aiming to reopen the tumor stenosis. The literature shows that the initial enthusiasm for laser, compared with other methods--especially endoprosthesis--has somewhat been tempered because the success rate in restoring a normal food intake was lower than expected (65-68%). Although the complication rate is low, repeated therapy sessions are needed to maintain the lumen open.