[The descending necrotizing mediastinitis].

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a primary complication of cervical or odontoiatric infections that can spread to the mediastinum through the anatomic cervical spaces. The delay of the diagnosis or under assessment of the disease, with no adequate draining techniques, results in high mortality up to 20%. We report our experience about 9 clinical cases of DNM observed and surgically treated in our unit from 2000 to 2006; five of these patients were admitted in the last two years.

Tuberous sclerosis with pulmonary involvement. A rare cause of bilateral pneumothorax. A case report.

The authors report a case of bilateral pneumothorax observed in a 25-year-old woman affected by tuberous sclerosis with pulmonary involvement. The singular epidemiological, histopathological, physiopathological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of the rare pulmonary localisation of this heredofamilial disease are discussed. Finally, they suggest performing a pleurodesis with a videothoracoscopic method.

[Hemoptysis in a patient with acquired anomaly of the arterial vascularization of the lung].

An anomalous systemic pulmonary supply may be acquired and present only one symptom: hemoptysis. The incidence of this pathology is unknown. A case of acquired systemic pulmonary arterialization was observed after surgical intervention of myocardium vascularization with the left mammary artery.

[Hemorrhage caused by rupture into the duodenum of aneurysm of a branch of the pancreaticoduodenal artery (posterior superior or retroduodenal pancreaticoduodenal artery)].

A case of serious haemorragic shock caused by the rupture into the duodenum of a septic aneurysm of the pancreatic-duodenal artery is reported. The diagnostic difficulties and the need to carry on "blind" laparotomies, in these cases, are underlined.