Total pancreatectomy for pancreatic cancer: indications and operative technique.

Total pancreatectomy (TP) was abandoned by many surgeons because of its lack of benefits and other major drawbacks. The potential benefits of TP, including its oncological as well as its technical advantages, did not prove to be valid. Problems associated with insulin-deprived diabetes mellitus and high perioperative morbidity and mortality rates were not easily manageable.

[Internal carotid artery aneurisms: two cases].

Introduction: Aneurysms of the extracranial portion of the internal carotid artery (ICA) are rare (accounting for only 0.1-2% of all surgical procedures affecting the ICA, 0.4-1% of all arterial aneurysms, and 4% of all aneurysms involving peripheral arteries), but they are nonetheless clinically significant because of the high related risk of cerebral thromboembolism.

Preoperative interleukin-2 immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer: preliminary results.

Background/aims: Cancer patients' immunodeficiency, made worse by surgery, represents a poor prognostic factor for postoperative complications and long-term survival. Interleukin-2 has been shown to contrast the immunodeficiency related to the tumor and surgical treatment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative immunotherapy with interleukin-2 in pancreatic cancer patients.

Alteration of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal gland axis in colorectal cancer patients. Preliminary report.

Aim: In advanced cancer patients a cell-mediated immunological impairment, both at baseline and during postoperative period, is often found and is associated with poor prognosis. Cortisol is strictly involved in the response to major surgical stress, is an immunosuppressor and causes a redistribution of immunological population cells in different tissues. The aim of the study was to verify serum levels and circadian rhythm of cortisol in patients with colorectal cancer at baseline before surgery and in the postoperative period, and relate it to the immune status.

Gastrointestinal carcinoids. Prognosis and survival.

Background: Gastrointestinal carcinoid tumors are rare and little is known about factors related to prognosis in patients with carcinoid disease. Aim of this study is to determine the impact of clinical presentation variables on the management and survival.

Methods: We have evaluated 31 consecutive patients with gastrointestinal carcinoid tu-mours who underwent surgical intervention at the I Department of Surgery of Milano-Bicocca University over 15 years (1985-1999).