[Herpetic esophagitis].

Herpetic esophagitis is an infrequent ulcerative infection of the esophagus caused by Herpes Virus type I. It is usually seen in immunocompromised patients though it may present in immunocompetent ones. Odynophagia and/or dysphagia associated with chest pain are the most frequent clinical symptoms.

[Dieulafoy's lesion as a cause of massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage].

Dieulafoy's lesion also known as exulceration simplex with submucosal arterial malformation is a rare cause of massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage with high mortality. Surgery that has been considered as the preferred diagnostic and therapeutic option has been supplemented by endoscopy; gastroscopy may be a valid alternative for diagnosis and therapy. Between 1981 and 1988 we report 4 cases with massive upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, haematemesis and hemodynamic decompensation consistent with Dieulafoy's lesion.

[Alcoholic liver disease in Venezuela. Clinical hepato-functional and histopathologic course].

24 patients with alcoholic intake were classified according to the amount of alcohol ingestion; clinical symptoms and signs, liver function tests (bilirubin, aminotransferases and prothrombin time) were analyzed. In all patients a percutaneous liver biopsy was performed and tissue stained by hematoxylin-eosin, wilder reticulin and Mallory trichromic. 9 Histologic criteria were analyzed.

[Endoscopic diagnosis of stenosis of Oddi's sphincter].

Thirty-two patients with biliary or pancreatic disease were evaluated by duodenoscopy so as to establish the macroscopic characteristics of the papilla of Vater. In two cases, endoscopic pancreatography was performed as a diagnostic evaluation of the papilla, 30 patients were operated. Our results seem to indicate that the diagnosis of Odditis may be established by endoscopy.

[Diagnosis of tumor or metastasis in the liver by means of laparoscopy and gammagraphy].

Fifty-four patients with proven malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract or suspicion of primary or metastatic hepatic carcinoma were studied to evaluate the effectiveness of different diagnostic methods. Gammagraphic and laparoscopic evaluations were emphasized. The results indicated that laparoscopy was the most effective method for diagnosing primary or metastatic neoplastic liver disease.