Value of CEA level determination in gallbladder bile in the diagnosis of liver metastases secondary to colorectal adenocarcinoma

CONTEXT: The relevance of colorectal adenocarcinoma lies in its high incidence, with the liver being the organ most frequently affected by distant metastases. Liver metastases occur in 40 to 50 percent of patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma, accounting for approximately 80 percent of deaths in the first three postoperative years. Nevertheless, despite this, they are occasionally susceptible to curative treatment. OBJECTIVE: The present investigation focused on the relationship between the level of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) in gallbladder bile and the presence of liver metastases secondary to colorectal adenocarcinoma. DESIGN: Diagnostic test study. SETTING: Surgical Gastroenterology Discipline at the Säo Paulo Hospital, Säo Paulo, Brazil. SAMPLE: Forty-five patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma were studied, 30 without liver metastases (group I), and 15 with liver metastases (group II). Diagnosis of liver metastases was made through computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography during arterial portography. Samples of peripheral blood, portal system blood, and gallbladder bile were collected from patients during the surgical procedure. A control group composed of 18 organ donors underwent the same material collection procedures...

Cholelithiasis in southern Sindh, Pakistan: incidence and composition of gallstones

To determine the surgical incidence and composition of gallstones at the Liaquat Medical College Hospital, Jamshoro [Hyderabad]. Design; A 3-year retrospective study of cholelithiasis and analysis of 77 gallstones by infrared spectroscopy. Setting: Surgical Units, Liaquat Medical College Hospital and Department of Biochemistry, University of Si. Subjects: Three hundred fifty seven consecutive cholelithiasis patients treated in the Surgical Units of Liaquat Medical College Hospital, Jamshoro. Main outcome measures: Surgical incidence of cholelithiasis with regard to epidemiological risk factors, composition of gallstones by age and sex of patients. The surgical incidence for cholelithiasis was found to be 3.07% [1.9% among males and 10.7% among females]. The highest female to male ratio [7:1] was seen in 20-29 year age group and the maximum prevalence of the disease in both sexes occurred between 30-39 years age. August to November were the peak months for the presentation of cholelithiasis patients. IR analysis of 77 gallstones disclosed that 60 [77.92%] including 41 [53.25%] pure cholesterol stones, contained cholesterol as a major constituent. The remainder 17 [22.08%] gallstones were mainly composed of bilirubin and calcium salts. Both cholesterol and pigment stones were preponderantly seen in patients between 40-59 years age. Pure cholesterol stones predominantly occurred in females than in males, while reverse was true for pure pigment stones. The present results reflect a better understanding of epidemiology and composition of gallstones of this area and further to decide whether to treat gallstone patients therapeutically or surgically