[Medullary thyroid carcinoma].

The authors report a case of medullary carcinoma of the thyroid diagnosed at the 2nd Surgery Clinic of IRCCS Policlinico "San Matteo" in Pavia in a series of 600 cases of thyroid pathology. Having emphasised the rarity of this pathology, the authors report the characteristic pathological aspects. They also outline the clinical signs leading to suspected diagnosis, illustrate the diagnostic techniques used to achieve an early diagnosis and underline the importance of the tumour markers CT and CEA.

[Primary osteogenic sarcoma of the breast. Clinical contribution].

A case of primary osteogenic sarcoma of the breast is reported. All its clinical, radiological, gross and histological characteristics are analyzed, nevertheless the diagnosis is difficult. The authors dwell upon the utility of fine-needle aspiration and upon the importance of histologic and immunohistochemical studies.

[Gastric injury by caustics: a case report].

The authors get the idea from the observation of a case of ingestion of muriatic acid, recently happened by Clinical Surgery II of the IRCCS Polyclinic "San Matteo" of Pavia in order to examine carefully the matter. The rareness of the shown case is given by the whole involvement of only the stomach, without damages for the oropharynx and the esophagus. The total gastrectomy executed 6 months after the ingestion of the acid has given to the patient the whole recovery.

[Cervico-mediastinal goiters. Clinical aspects].

Among 660 cases of thyroid pathology diagnosed by the 2nd Institute of Clinical Surgery, Policlinico San Matteo, IRCCS, Pavia, during the period 1984 to 1993, 34 cases of cervical-mediastinal goiter were observed with an incidence of 5%. After a careful analysis of the main contributions to the study of cervical-mediastinal goiters, paying special attention to their classification, pathogenesis, methods of growth, and unique symptomatic manifestations, the authors focus on current radiological and instrumental studies, which are widely regarded as being useful for the diagnosis of the site and nature of this disease. They review the routes for aggressive surgery and appropriate techniques for the exeresis of the mediastinal mass.

[10 years of neoplastic pathology of the thyroid].

Here the authors have reported case studies made over a ten year period from 1982 to 1991 at the Surgical Semeiology Institutes of the Surgical Pathology, and Surgery Clinic II of the IRCCS San Matteo General Hospital, Pavia. It considered 28 cases of thyroid carcinomas (18 papillary, 6 follicular, 3 anaplastic and 1 medullary). Firstly an in depth examination using the most up to date diagnostic methods available today was made with particular attention paid to cytological examination by needle suction showing the rarity of the affliction.