[Gastric leiomyosarcoma. Three clinical cases in emergency].

The authors describe three cases of gastric leiomyosarcoma that required surgical treatment in emergency. Myogenic gastric tumors are extremely rare (1-3% of primitive gastric neoplasias) and little is known about their biological evolution, even if they seem to have scarce power of spreading and of local invasion. Echoendoscopy appears to be the best screening method for the evaluation of staging and DT (doubling time).

[Laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Personal experience].

The authors present their experience (136 cases) in the treatment of cholelithiasis with coelioscopic cholecystecomy. After a comparison of this modern technique with the traditional laparotomic approach, they underline the several advantages of coelioscopy (short hospitalization and early return to patient's work, reduced post-operative abdominal pain, avoidance of laparocele, better aesthetic results). Then the authors describe the present treatment of combined cholecysto-choledochic lithiasis with the help fo ERCP (their hope is for further improvement in surgical instruments to allow a single laparoscopic solutions.

[Acute abdomen caused by eosinophilic gastritis].

The authors describe a case of acute abdomen operated in emergency for obstruction in a patient with eosinophilic gastritis. This is very unusual pathology characterized by eosinophilic infiltration of the gastric antral wall combined with peripheric eosinophilia. This particular case was operated for a small bowel obstruction but in those rare cases, when we can reach a diagnosis with endoscopic biopsy, a prudential attitude becomes inevitable as this pathology is very responsive to medical treatment with corticosteroids.

[Splenectomy versus splenic salvage. Our experience].

The authors describe their experience in the surgical treatment of splenic lesions, mostly traumatic. In recent years a resolutely conservative attitude has been turned to splenic salvage, thanks to late findings on its immunological and haematological functions. Against 59 splenectomies for III-V degree lesions, the authors report a case of splenic trauma (II degree) without surgical treatment, monitored with clinical, haematological and instrumental (echography) test.

[Temporary defunctionalizing colostomy, a non-indispensable corollary in the Dixon anterior resection of the rectum for treatment of recto-sigmoid carcinoma].

The frequency and sites of carcinoma of the sigmoid colon and rectum are discussed. The complications associated with Dixon's anterior resection of the rectum are described, with particular reference to factors affecting cicatrisation of the colic anastomoses, followed by dehiscences and their degree of seriousness. A personal serier for the years 1969 to 1975 is presented and the advantages and disadvantages of derivative colostomy are explained.