Porridge-like tuberculous cardiac tamponade: treatment difficulties in the Horn of Africa.

A 16-year-old boy was hospitalized for fever, chest pain, and cardiovascular collapse. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a 30-mm circumferential echogenic "porridge-like" pericardial effusion with signs of cardiac tamponade. Tuberculosis (TB) was suspected because of its prevalence in Djibouti.

Epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Finistère. Prospective study from June 2002 to May 2003.

Objectives: The aims of this prospective study were to evaluate the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Finistère, an administrative district of western France, and to highlight epidemiological characteristics.

Methods: From June 1st 2002 to May 31st 2003, all cases of HCC in Finistère were registered prospectively. Standardized incidence rates were calculated.

[Ascites due to constrictive pericarditis].

Introduction: We report a case in which ascites revealed chronic constrictive pericarditis (CCP) of tuberculous origin.

Observation: A 65 year-old man had developed ascites the past over few weeks and oedema of the lower limbs. Treatment was surgical and consisted in pericardiectomy.

[Thoracic pain of oesophageal origin. Diagnostic management and treatment].

FROM AN ETIOLOGICAL POINT OF VIEW: Thoracic pain is a frequent symptom. Before confirming the oesophageal origin of the pain, a coronary disease must be excluded. Two principle causes are source of thoracic pain of oesophageal origin: gastro-oesophageal reflux disease and oesophageal motility abnormalities.