Embryonal carcinoma of an intraabdominal testicular tumor on an undescended testicle: a case report.

Cryptorchidism, as a singular pathology or associated with other dysgenesis syndromes, is one of the main factors of risk for the development of the testicular tumors. Although there are a great number of cases of undescended testicles that are diagnosed and treated during the first 6-12 months of life, there are rare cases of adults who are undiagnosed and untreated from this anomaly, which can present a high risk of malignancy. In this study we present the case of a 36-year-old patient, diagnosed at puberty with left cryptorchidism, untreated, who also hadevidenced a large intraabdominal tumoral mass associated with it.

Multimodality treatment strategies have changed prognosis of peritoneal metastases.

For a long time, treatment of peritoneal metastases (PM) was mostly palliative and thus, this status was link with "terminal status/despair". The current multimodal treatment strategy, consisting of cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), has been strenuously achieved over time, but seems to be the best treatment option for PM patients. As we reviewed the literature data, we could emphasize some milestones and also, controversies in the history of proposed multimodal treatment and thus, outline the philosophy of this approach, which seems to be an unusual one indeed.

Staging laparoscopy in digestive cancers.

BACKGROUND. Laparoscopy and laparoscopic ultrasonography may assist in the more accurate staging of digestive cancers. We assessed the diagnostic value of staging laparoscopy in patients with cancers of lower esophagus, stomach, liver, biliary tract, pancreas and colon.

[Physiopathologic and clinical aspects of Krukenberg tumors].

Although described for the first time for more than one hundred years ago, Krukenberg tumors still retain some controversial aspects. The lack of consensus and consistency in using a single definition, the difficulty to admit the existence of a primitive form of the tumor, the lack of knowledge concerning the precise mechanisms of metastases and the absence of a distinctive and characteristic clinical symptoms which often contrasts the usually large dimensions of the tumor are some of the aspects which need further elucidation.

[Krukenberg tumors of gastric origin versus Krukenberg tumors of colorectal origin].

The aim of this study was to analyze the incidence and origin of Krukenberg tumors in our region to determine their clinical behavior and to compare some anatomo-clinical features of Krukenberg tumors of gastric origin versus those of colorectal origin. This is a retrospective, descriptive and comparative study of Krukenberg tumors diagnosed and treated in the IV-th Surgical Clinic of Cluj-Napoca. The epidemiologic features concerning global incidence, age, and menopausal status overlap the data from literature.

Prophylaxis and treatment of deep vein thrombosis in general surgery.

Background: Patients undergoing general surgery present an inherent risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). Evidence-based strategies for prevention and treatment of DVT should be continuously upgraded on the basis of good-quality recent trials.

Data Sources: Articles were identified using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases (January 1980 to July 2003).

Robot-assisted abdominal surgery.

Background: Robotic assistance or telemanipulation is the latest technological advance in minimally invasive surgery. Its future implementation will depend on the advantages that it can provide over standard laparoscopy or open surgery.

Methods: All Medline-cited papers (from case reports to reviews) about telemanipulators used in visceral surgery were assessed.

Fewer adhesions induced by laparoscopic surgery?

Background: Laparoscopic surgery has potential theoretical advantages over open surgery in reducing the rate of adhesion formation, but very few comparative studies are available to prove this.

Methods: A literature search was performed within Medline and Cochrane databases using the key words: adhesion*, adhesiolysis, laparoscop*, laparotomy, open surgery. Further articles were identified from the reference lists of retrieved literature.

Circulatory and respiratory complications of carbon dioxide insufflation.

Background: Although providing excellent outcome results, laparoscopy also induces particular pathophysiological changes in response to pneumoperitoneum. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of a CO(2) pneumoperitoneum can help minimize complications while profiting from the benefits of laparoscopic surgery without concerns about its safety.

Methods: A review of articles on the pathophysiological changes and complications of carbon dioxide pneumoperitoneum as well as prevention and treatment of these complications was performed using the Medline database.

The influence of isorel on the advanced colorectal cancer.

There is still no therapy method in the colorectal cancers that is good enough for such a complex disease. Combined surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy improved survival, but the side effects and the poor performance status of the patients seriously affect the use of these methods. We used a therapeutical approach of surgery and chemotherapy combined with biotherapy by Viscum album extract Isorel, aiming to improve the patients' resistance to the disease and to render the treatment's side effects more tolerable.