[Colorectal carcinoma. A review of our cases]. / Carcinoma del colon-retto. Nostra revisione casistica.

A retrospective study was carried out on patients who underwent surgery for colorectal carcinoma between January 1980 and December 1987 in order identify additional prognostic factors. A total of 203 patients were studied. The probability of survival in relation to time and other variables (sex, age, stage of disease) was assessed using Cox's proportional method with the aid of an EPILOG III statistics pack. The overall 60-month survival rate was 55% and no difference was found between colon and rectum. The following factors were taken into account as prognostic markers: the site of the carcinoma (colon or rectum), sex, age, the tract of the colon involved (right, transverse, left and sigma colon) and the stage of disease. None of these parameters, with the exception of the stage of disease, were statistically significant. On the contrary, the division into stages of disease showed a statistically significant difference in the 60-month survival curve which fell from approximately 80% for stages A, B1, B2 and B3 to 50% for stage C and to 0% for stage D.

[Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder]. / Il carcinoma primitivo della colecisti.

Primary carcinoma of the gallbladder is still a controversial issue. The paper reports a series of 25 patients affected by carcinoma of the gallbladder, observed from May 1975 to October 1989. Patients presented symptoms which in most cases were similar to those of cholelithiasis. Instrumental tests enabled a preoperative diagnosis to be made in only 8 cases (32%). In the remaining 17 cases (68%), diagnosis was only possible during the operation following the histological examination of the affected part. Mean survival was 7.3 months. These findings are in line with those reported in the literature, from which it is clear that carcinoma of the gallbladder, even when identified using instrumental tests, cannot be treated by radical surgery except in a very small percentage of cases.

[CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen): its value as an early indicator of recurrence of neoplastic disease in carcinoma of the colon and rectum]. / C.E.A. (antigene carcino-embrionario): valore come indice precoce di ripresa della malattia neoplastica nel carcinoma colo-rettale.

A personal series is examined in order to assess the reliability of CEA in the diagnosis of returning colorectal cancer and to compare the data accumulated with reports in the literature with a view to establishing reliable criteria for the use and assessment of this test.

[Intestinal occlusion caused by ileo-colic invagination in a patient with intestinal metastasis of melanoma]. / Occlusione intestinale da invaginazione ileo-colica in un paziente con metastasi intestinale da melanoma.

An unusual case of intestinal obstruction due to ileal metastatic melanoma is reported. An ileocolic intussusception led to intestinal obstruction. The patient underwent palliative surgery to re-establish intestinal continuity.

[Diagnostic value of CEA in neoplasms fo the colon and rectum. Review of cases]. / Valore diagnostico del C.E.A. nelle neoplasie del colon-retto. Revisione casistica.

A personal series of colo-rectal tumours from 1979 to 1987 has been examined so as to check the validity of CEA as a marker in the diagnosis of these tumours. The data confirmed what has already been reported, namely its poor diagnostic sensitivity even though its utility for prognosis and in the follow-up of these patients remains confirmed, as is shown by the literature.