Prognostic predictors of gastrointestinal stromal tumors: a multi-institutional analysis of 102 patients with definition of a prognostic index.

Aims: The aim of this study is to identify prognostic factors influencing survival in patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) and to identify a mathematical model that can predict lifetime expectation.

Methods: One hundred and two patients with GISTs, were followed retrospectively for a median period of 32 months (from 1 to 82 months). Complete follow-up data were available in 72 cases.

Adenocarcinoma in the anal canal after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis using a double stapling technique: report of a case.

A case of adenocarcinoma, developed in the anal canal after ileal pouch-anal anastomosis for ulcerative colitis using a double stapling technique, is reported. In this case a T3N0 cecal cancer was found unexpectedly in the colectomy specimen. Two years later, this patient presented with an outlet obstruction of the pouch because of development of an adenocarcinoma of the anal canal.

Surgical management of idiopathic subglottic tracheal stenosis.

A case of idiopathic subglottic tracheal stenosis in a 50-year-old female is presented. A procedure of single-stage resection of the lesion and end-to-end anastomosis was performed with excellent results 1 year after the operation. The clinical, paraclinical, diagnostic, therapeutic and histopathological aspects of this rare pathologic condition are discussed and the literature on this topic is reviewed.

Tuberculous esophagitis. Report of a case and review of modern approaches to diagnosis and treatment.

We describe a patient with tuberculous esophagitis who was referred to us with low-grade fever, but no esophageal symptoms. The diagnosis was established in biopsies obtained from a deep midesophageal ulcer seen on endoscopy. Investigation of the patient failed to identify any extra-esophageal tuberculous foci, but a computed tomography scan revealed mediastinal lymphadenopathy without lung involvement.