Granular cell tumor of the esophagus.

Two cases of granular cell tumor of the esophagus are reported and the main features of the previously reported cases are summarized. Dysphagia and substernal discomfort or pain are the most common symptoms seen and are likely to occur with lesions greater than 1 cm. in diameter.

Angiosarcoma of the scalp.

The clinical appearance, histopathology, and fulminating course of an angiosarcoma of the scalp in a 57-year-old man is described. It enlarged rapidly, developed satellite nodules, metastasized to the lungs, and was fatal within five months.

Preserved saphenous vein allografts for vascular access.

Preserved venous allografts were used as an alternate access procedure in 70 patients receiving dialysis during a three year period. The clinical experience with allograft fistulas revealed an extremely high initial patency rate; absence of infection postoperatively and during three years of dialysis; suitability for dialysis a week after implantation, thus greatly obviating the need for Silastic shunts; a low long term thrombosis rate and the weakly antigenic allograft veins produced no accelerated rejection of subsequently transplanted kidneys. Surviving patients average 172 dialysis treatments per allograft.

Primary extramedullary esophageal plasmacytoma: First case report.

Solitary extramedullary plasmacytomas are rare tumors, reported to occur most commonly in the upper respiratory passages, but which also are rarely seen in the middle and lower gastrointestinal system. This report documents the first primary plasmacytoma of the esophagus. A 67-year-old Caucasian man complained of dysphagia and weight loss.