[Reproductive history, contraceptives and cigarette smoke as risk factors for cancer of the thyroid in women. Case-control study].

Background: Evaluation of the influence of hormonal and reproductive factors and the role of cigarette smoking in the onset of thyroid carcinoma.

Methods: Comparison between a group of 78 female patients all living in the district of Lazio, operated for thyroid follicular or papillary carcinoma at the Third Clinical Surgery Dept., Policlinico Umberto I, Rome (Italy) from 1990 to 1997, and a group of 150 women free from neoplastic and/or hormonal pathology, recruited by the compilation of a questionnaire.

[Submandibulectomy in the treatment of pathology of the submandibular gland: our experience 1970-1995].

Submandibular gland excision is proposed in the treatment of neoplastic and non neoplastic diseases; this surgical procedure can be performed by transoral or transcervical approach. The aim of the study is to demonstrate that cervical approach must be preferred because it is safer and allows a wider exposition of the surgical field. From 1970 to June 1995, 54 patients (47 with chronic sialadenitis, 7 with benign tumors and 7 with malignant tumors) were submitted to excision of the submaxillary gland.

[Small cell carcinoma of the esophagus: a case report].

The authors present the case of a primitive small cell esophageal carcinoma. It is a rare and biologically aggressive neoplasm which occurs mainly in the elder male. The case observed concerns a 69 year old female treated with surgical therapy consisting in esophagectomy and intrathoracic esophagealgastrictype plasty.

[Thyroid carcinoma. Retrospective analysis of case records of the III. Surgery Department at the Umberto I Clinics in Rome in the years 1990-93].

Background: The aim of this investigation was to ascertain: 1) temporal trends in the incidence of thyroid carcinoma between 1990-1993; 2) regional differences in the incidence and histotype among the five provinces of Latium; 3) identification of risk factors, particularly of a preexisting thyroid tumour (goitre).

Methods: Records of patients submitted to thyroid surgery at the Istitute of III Clinica Chirurgica dell'Università "La Sapienza" di Roma have been reviewed and a questionnaire filled-in.

Results: In the period 1990-1993, 144 cases of thyroid carcinomas were operated; 77.

[Lateral cervical metastases from unknown primary].

The authors report their experience about cervical metastasis of unknown primitive neoplasms. Epidemiology, histological type and topography are exposed. Primaries which are responsible, in a high incidence, of the preceding cervical localizations are described.