The evolving phenotype of autoimmune hepatitis across the millennium: The 40-year experience of a referral centre in Italy.

Background And Aims: During recent years, there have been major insight into the pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH). We aim to evaluate modifications of the clinical-epidemiological phenotype of AIH patients from 1980 to our days.

Methods: Single-centre, tertiary care retrospective study on 507 consecutive Italian patients with AIH.

Abdominal ultrasound in the characterization of branch-duct intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms: A new tool for surveillance of low-risk patients?

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is regarded as gold-standard for intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) follow-up. Given the low risk of transformation and the increasing population under surveillance, there is growing interest in identifying optimal follow-up strategies.

Aim: To evaluate reliability of abdominal ultrasound (US) for characterization of low-risk IPMN, compared to MRI.

Porto-sinusoidal vascular disorder, report of a novel association with POEMS syndrome. Future challenge for the hepatologist.

Porto-Sinusoidal Vascular Disorder (PSVD) is a recently introduced clinical entity. Since it is rare and often underrecognized, there is growing interest in identifying patients at increased risk. We present a case of a 59-years-old male with refractory ascites, pleural effusion, and high-risk varices meeting the diagnostic criteria for PSVD with a concomitant diagnosis of POEMS syndrome.

Endorectal ultrasound in the diagnosis of rectal cancer: accuracy and criticies.

Introduction: Endorectal ultrasound (ERU) is used for locoregional staging of rectal cancer. Our work compares the data in the literature regarding diagnostic accuracy of the technique and results of routine use of the technique in two centers in Piedmont.

Material And Methods: 77 reports ultrasound with the final diagnosis of rectal cancer from the period 2008-2012 were examined.

Primary duodenal adenocarcinoma.

Aims And Background: Primary duodenal adenocarcinoma is a rare tumor with a poorly defined natural history and prognostic factors. It presents with nonspecific symptoms, and for this reason the diagnosis is often delayed. It is a serious problem for the surgeon because of the difficulty in obtaining an early diagnosis and standardizing basic tenets for an appropriate surgical approach.

T1 adenocarcinoma of the rectum: transanal excision or radical surgery?

Although local excision for rectal cancer has been practiced for more than 120 years, its proper use for the cure of localized rectal cancers is still incompletely understood. The studies on this topic are heterogeneous in terms of selection criteria, surgical approaches and study design. The stage of the disease at the time of diagnosis is the main prognostic factor in rectal cancer.

Vascular anatomy of the rectal stump after total mesorectal excision.

Purpose: For many years, poor vascularization of the short rectal stump has been considered the main cause of leakage. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the vascularization of the rectal stump after total mesorectal excision.

Methods: We studied the iliac vascularization on 28 volunteers with healthy rectum to have an anatomic basis.

Locally advanced breast cancer in the elderly: curettage mastectomy.

Aims And Background: Locally advanced breast tumor represents 5-20% of new cases diagnosed every year. The purpose of this study was to report our experience and to compare it with the literature.

Methods: From 1998 to 2003 at the Molinette Hospital in the Turin University Third Division of General Surgery, there were 34 cases of breast cancer in older women (between 70 and 94 years of age), 14 of which (41.

Percutaneous drainage and surgery for splenic abscess: a case report.

Splenic abscess is a rare clinical entity; however, thanks to the refinement of diagnostic techniques and to the increase of population at risk its presence is discovered more frequently. In our ward we evaluated a patient by ematochimical and bacteriological exams and abdomen CT. After antibiotical therapy and percutaneous drainage the patient was discharged on the fifteenth day.

Ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery in the surgery of rectal cancer: anatomical considerations.

Background: No agreement has been found in the literature concerning the safest point of ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (ima) in order to avoid nerve damage during the surgery of rectal cancer.

Study Design: The distance between the origin of the ima and the left paraortic trunk was measured, as was the distance between the left paraortic trunk and the origin of the left colic artery (lca). The measurements were carried out on 20 cadavers and during 22 operations for rectal cancer.

Decreased expression of stem cell factor in esophageal and gastric mucosa after esophagogastric anastomosis for cancer: potential relevance to motility.

Background: Esophageal replacement with gastric tube is a well-established reconstruction of the alimentary tract after esophagectomy in cancer patients. The resulting molecular events in the transposed gastric tube and residual esophagus have yet to be investigated. Stem cell factor (SCF) was recently shown to be critical for signaling in gastrointestinal motility.

[Results of extended lymphadenectomy in the surgical treatment of gastric carcinoma. Considerations on data from the literature].

In the surgical response to gastric carcinoma the use of extensive lymphadenectomy (D2) is still being debated. In Japan D2 is the operation of choice and the numerous selected case studies emphasize better long term survival at all stages with this operation. In the West D2 has not obtained the same approval, besides which it is burdened by higher postoperative morbidity and mortality.