[Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma of the duodenum].

Introduction: Primary extramedullary plasmacytoma (EMP) is a solitary tumor that arises outside the bone marrow in patients without clinical evidence of coexisting multiple myeloma. EMP represents only 4% of all patients with plasma cell malignancies. The tumor generally occurs in the submucosal tissue of the upper airway or oral cavity.

[Frozen section diagnosis using telepathology].

Definition: Since 1992 we transfer digitalized frozen section images by means of videomicroscope and a personal computer through the public telephone network (ISDN) to the Institut of Pathology at the University Hospital in Basel. The aim of this study is to determine whether the quality of frozen section diagnosis obtained by telepathology is comparable to the conventional one.

Method: The frozen section diagnoses by telepathology from Oct.

Telepathology: frozen section diagnosis at a distance.

Telepathology may be used to provide a frozen section service to hospitals without a department or institute of pathology. We have developed a telepathology system using the commercially available Integrated Services Digital Network (ISDN). The main software and hardware elements of our system are: Apple Macintosh workstations, a program for simultaneous transfer of image, voice and data, and a data bank for storage of patients' data and microscopic images.

Telepathology with an integrated services digital network--a new tool for image transfer in surgical pathology: a preliminary report.

We describe a low-cost telepathology system working via a commercial integrated services digital network (ISDN) and consisting of modular software and hardware elements. The main elements are Apple Macintosh workstations; a software program for the simultaneous transfer of pictures, voice, and data; and procedures for image processing and general administration of all the information generated. Additionally, the system allows remote control of any peripheral instruments by a "picture-instrument manager.

[Selective intraoperative cholangiography].

300 consecutive cholecystectomies performed from 1984 through 1986 were studied retrospectively to answer the following questions: which are suitable preoperative indicators for selective operative cholangiography, and which is the failure rate to detect biliary concrements by selective cholangiography? Patients with a history of jaundice, suspected concrements from preoperative intravenous cholangiography or ultrasound examination, a common bile duct wider than 8 mm, and elevated serum levels of bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, ALAT (GPT) or ASAT (GOT) all had significantly higher rates of biliary concrements. Of these indicators, preoperative radiologic studies, serum levels of ALAT (GPT) and serum levels of alkaline phosphatase showed the best sensitivity, specificity as well as positive and negative predictive value. If two criteria, preoperative radiology and serum levels of ALAT (GPT), had been used, intraoperative cholangiography would have been performed in 34% of the cases.