Distinguishing between periampullary carcinoids and carcinomas--is this possible preoperatively?

It is difficult to distinguish between carcinoid tumors of the pancreatic head and periampullary region and carcinomas preoperatively. Between 1996 and 2002, 125 consecutive pancreaticoduodenectomies done by us for periampullary tumors (14 carcinoids, 111 carcinomas) were analyzed. Patients with carcinoid tumors had significantly younger mean age (48 vs. 54 years), longer history (32 vs. 8 weeks), lower serum total bilirubin levels (1.4 vs. 6.3 mg/dL) and on CT scan, had larger, well-localized tumors (5 cm vs. 2 cm). Their postoperative course was better with no mortality or major morbidity, whereas after resection for carcinoma 7 (6.3%) patients died and 30 (27%) had major postoperative complications. Thus, a tumor of this region in a young patient with indolent history, low bilirubin level and with CT scan depicting a large expansile lesion suggests a carcinoid. Such tumors may be safely resected with low postoperative morbidity and mortality and good long-term prognosis.

Management protocol for acute gastrointestinal bleeding.

Gastro-intestinal haemorrhage is not uncommon and is manifested as haematemesis, melaena or haematochezia. The first step is to resuscitate the patient if necessary and then proceed to make a diagnosis as well as divide patients into high and low-risk groups after taking a good history and performing a physical examination especially to detect the presence of an enlarged spleen. Then one should proceed with an endoscopy and other investigations chosen carefully for their usefulness. Control of bleeding is then tailored to the diagnosis and is usually with drugs, endoscopy, angio-embolisation and surgery in that order. The mortality rate for upper GI bleeding varies from 10 to 30% depending on the proportion of patients with variceal haemorrhage included. For lower GI bleeding mortality is in the region of 20% and for obscure GI bleeding outpatient mortality is 12%. The main points to remember are that the management of these patients in India should be different from those described in Western textbooks and suited to their specific needs and the facilities available locally. However, in spite of the widespread lack of complex diagnostic techniques and a shortage of blood for transfusion we believe that by adopting an aggressive step-by-step approach tailored to our own environment we will be able to save most of our patients who are usually young and have few comorbid conditions.

Squamous cell carcinoma of stomach.

Squamous cell carcinomas in the gastrointestinal tract are known to occur in oro-pharynx, esophagus and anal canal. Gastric squamous cell carcinoma is a rare epithelial tumour. Surgical treatment is the same as that for an adenocarcinoma, though prognosis is probably worse.

Febrile episodes in childhood malignancies.

The objectives of the present report were to study the site of infections and pathogenic organisms during febrile episodes in different childhood malignant conditions, to correlate febrile episode with Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC) and to know the sensitivity pattern of bacteria to different antibiotics so as to know the most appropriate antibiotic regimen in these children. The study material comprised of forty two febrile episodes occurring in children aged lt 12 years with various malignancies. All the episodes were worked up in detail including complete history, physical examination and relevant hematological, microbiological and radiological investigations. Out of the 42 episodes, 15 (36%) occurred in children with acute leukemias, 20 (48%) in children with lymphomas and 7(17%) in children with solid tumors. 26 (62%) episodes were seen in children during chemotherapy, while 12% each in freshly diagnosed and remission and 14% in relapse cases. 12 (28%) episodes occurred in children with ANC < 500/mm3. 36% were microbiologically confirmed. Klebsiella species was the commonest organism isolated followed by E. coli. Maximum sensitivity (75%) was seen with ciprofloxacin against both Klebsiella species and E.coli.