Carcinomatosis peritoneal secundaria a carcinoma mucoepidermoide de glándula salival / Peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary gland

Resumen: Introducción: Los tumores de glándulas salivales son neoplasias poco frecuentes y representan menos del 5% de todos los tumores de cabeza y cuello. El carcinoma mucoepidermoide representa un 10-15% de todas las neoplasias de las glándulas salivales y aproximadamente un 30% de los tumores malignos salivales. El comportamiento biológico y las manifestaciones clínicas de este tipo de tumores son variables y se correlacionan con el estadio y grado histológico, siendo la presencia de metástasis a distancia un hallazgo inhabitual (en especial, en tumores de grado bajo o intermedio). Caso clínico: Paciente de 65 anos de edad con antecedentes de tabaquismo, a quien se diag nostica carcinoma mucoepidermoide de grado intermedio de glándula submandibular izquierda tratado con cirugía más radioterapia adyuvante, y que presenta progresión metastásica hepática y carcinomatosis peritoneal a los 26 meses de seguimiento.

Abstract: Introduction: Tumors of salivary glands are uncommon and comprise of about 5% of all head and neck tumors. Although constituting less than 15% of all salivary gland tumors, mucoepidermoid carcinoma account for approximately 30% of all malignant salivary gland neoplasms. Commonly these tumours are metastatic to local lymph nodes and distant metastases are rare (especially, in low and intermediate grade tumors). Case report: We report a case of 65 years old man who developed peritoneal carcinomatosis secondary to metastatic dissemination of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the major salivary glands, which is an uncommon occurrence with intermediate grade tumors.

Función pancreática exocrina en diabetes mellitus: Determinación de elastasa fecal / Pancreatic exocrine function in diabetes mellitus: Determination of fecal elastase

Background: One of the complications of diabetes mellitus is the development of pancreatic exocrine insufficiency. Aim: To study pancreatic exocrine function in diabetics patients. Material and methods: Seventy two diabetic patients were included in the protocol, but two were withdrawn because an abdominal CAT scan showed a chronic calcified pancreatitis, previously undiagnosed. Fecal elastase was measured by ELISA and the presence of fat in feces was assessed using the steatocrit. Results: Mean age was 60±12 years and 67 (96%) patients had a type 2 diabetes. Fecal elastase was normal (elastase >200 µg/g) in 47 (67%) patients, mildly decreased (100-200 µg/g) in 10 (14%) and severely decreased in 13 (19%). There was a significant association between elastase levels and time of evolution of diabetes (p=0.049) and between lower elastase levels and the presence of a positive steatocrit (p=0.042). No significant association was found between elastase levels and other chronic complications of diabetes such as retinopathy, nephropathy, neuropathy, microangiopathy or with insulin requirement. Conclusions: One third of this group of diabetic patients had decreased levels of fecal elastase, that was associated with the time of evolution of diabetes. Patients with lower levels of elastase have significantly more steatorrhea. Among diabetics it is possible to find a group of patients with non diagnosed chronic pancreatitis.

Enfermedad Celíaca del adulto: experiencia clínica / Adult celiac disease: clinical experience

Background: The prevalence of celiac disease (CD) is unknown in Chile. We have recently noted a rise in the number of cases diagnosed among adults. Aim: To describe the clinical characteristics of a group of adult celiac patients. Patients and methods: Clinical data of patients older than 15 years with positive antitransglutaminase or antiendomysial autoantibodies and a duodenal biopsy characteristic of CD were retrospectively reviewed. Age at diagnosis, symptoms and signs and laboratory, endoscopic and histological findings, were analyzed. Results: Thirty seven patients (28 women), were studied. Median age at diagnosis was 41 years (range 15-69). Main symptoms and signs were diarrhea (78%), weight loss (38%) and abdominal pain (38%). Anemia was found in 49%, elevation of ESR in 57%, elevation of alkaline phosphatases in 54%, elevation of aspartate aminotransferase in 38% and a rise in alanine aminotransferase in 27%. Antiendomysial antibodies were positive in 17/22 (77%) and antitransglutaminase in 19/22 (86%) patients. Endoscopic findings were suggestive of CD in 47% of cases and duodenal biopsy showed intestinal villi atrophy in 34 (92%) patients. The three patients with normal histology had positive serology and a good response to gluten free diet. Conclusions: CD should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with unespecific digestive symptons, even when they present late in adult life. Serologic markers are a good diagnostic tool. A normal duodenal pathology does not exclude the diagnosis, if other diagnostic features are present.

Queloides: modalidades terapéuticas / Keloids: different therapeutic interventions

Los queloides son formas de cicatrización anormal de etiología desconocida. Aunque se han publicado muchos artículos sobre el manejo de estas cicatrices, no existen protocolos de manejo definitivos. Presentamos una revisión de las distintas modalidades terapéuticas.

Sección de acné y enfermedades afines: Isotretinoína y Teratogenicidad / Section of acne and similar diseases: isotretinoin and teratogenicity

La isotretinoína constituye el tratamiento de base en el acné nodular severo. El uso de este fármaco está asociado a un gran número de efectos adversos, siendo la teratogenicidad uno de los más importantes. Con el objetivo de disminuir el riesgo de embarazo en mujeres bajo tratamiento, diversos países han implementado programas de prevención, los cuales han estado en constante evaluación, sin poder lograr aún una tasa de embarazo igual a cero.

Síndrome de Tolosa - Hunt en el embarazo / Tolosa-Hunt Syndrome in pregnancy

El síndrome de Tolosa-Hunt es una entidad neurológica que consiste en una oftalmoplejia dolorosa causada por una inflamación granulomatosa del seno cavernoso anterior. Se reporta un caso clínico de una paciente embarazada con esta rara enfermedad.