Total thyroidectomy in Basedow-Graves' disease treatment: our experience.

In the present study the authors, after a short historical description of the Basedow-Graves' disease, describe their case-study gathered over the last five years. They mention the most widely accepted hypothesis regarding disease's etiology, strongly linked to autoimmune disorders, and the role that some viral agents (Coksackie B and HTLV-II) may have in initiating autoantibody production and T cells activation in genetically predisposed individuals. Basic and clinical aspects of the diagnosis and disease treatment, highlighting the use of thyroidectomy, are addressed.

Unilateral synchronous breast tumors. Rare association of myofibroblastoma and osteosarcoma.

The authors describe the case of a patient with two particularly rare contiguous tumors, myofibroblastoma and osteosarcoma, in the same breast. Rare does not mean untreatable, and the chance of recovery is no less than with more common tumors. However, rare tumors do present a significant problem for pathologists due to diagnostic difficulties, and so an exact prognosis is not always possible.

Indications for and limits of conservative surgery in breast cancer.

Improvements in diagnostic techniques and, above all, breast cancer screening campaigns - essential for early diagnosis - have enabled the objectives of conservative surgery to be pursued: disease control, no or low incidence of recurrences and an excellent esthetic result. However, to reach these objectives, it is essential to ensure a careful evaluation of the medical history of every patient, a detailed clinical examination and the correct interpretation of imaging. Particular attention should be paid to all factors influencing the choice of treatment and/or possible local recurrence: age, site, tumor volume, genetic predisposition, pregnancy, previous radiotherapy, pathological features, and surgical margins.

Pancreatic pseudocyst: case report and short literature review.

We report a case of pancreatic pseudocyst secondary to acute necrotizing pancreatitis treated with open cystogastrostomy. Following a literature review, we stress the enormous benefits offered by modern diagnostic techniques, and especially imaging techniques, for the diagnosis and monitoring of this disease. Treatment should be delayed for at least six weeks, following which the drainage by open surgery offers the best results and lowest morbidity and mortality, followed by laparoscopy and endoscopy, indicated in particular cases and in patients where open surgery is contraindicated.

Liver trauma. Diagnosis and treatment.

The authors summarize the essential steps in liver surgery. Modern imaging techniques are of great help in establishing a circumstantiated diagnosis of post-traumatic lesions of the intra-abdominal parenchymatous organs, and especially the liver. Such diagnosis must always be based on the AAST (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma) classification, essential for a correct approach.