Sudden improvement of respiratory failure in a woman with carcinoma of the colon.

We present a case of bronchial and endotracheal metastases completely blocking the left main bronchus and partially occluding the middle lobe bronchus contributing to severe respiratory failure. The patient's lack of consent to laser resection of the mass led to the use of chemotherapy; after the first cycle of treatment a neoplastic mass about 3 cm long was spontaneously expelled with a cough. The expulsion of the metastasis caused rapid improvement of the dyspnea and gas exchange; however, the continuation of the chemotherapy did not bring any further benefit to the patient, who died 115 days after diagnosis.

Percutaneous US-guided radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinomas: results in 15 patients.

BACKGROUND: The majority of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cannot undergo surgery because of multifocality, location or advanced cirrhosis. Our experience with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for treatment of patients suffering from unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma is described here. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifteen patients (ten men and five women) with eighteen primary hepatocellular tumors underwent percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. The mean diameter of the HCCs was 32 mm (ranging from 15 mm to 62 mm). The patients were treated under ultrasound guidance using either a 18-gauge internally cooled electrode or a 14-gauge electrode with four expandable hooks. RESULTS: Complete necrosis was achieved in 15 lesions after one session of RF ablation. The persistence of a small portion of viable tissue was seen in two lesions. One lesion was not evaluable. After a mean follow-up period of 9.2 months (range 3-24 months), eleven patients (76%) showed no sign of local or distant recurrence, one patient developed a new lesion and one of two patients with persistence of viable tissue obtained a complete necrosis after the injection of percutaneous ethanol. Moreover, a major complication (intraperitoneal bleeding requiring surgical treatment) and three minor complications (1 pleuric effusion and 2 perihepatic fluid collections that resolved spontaneously) were observed. CONCLUSION: RF ablation is a simple, well-tolerated and effective procedure for the treatment of unresectable hepatocellular carcinomas.

[Chronic chondromalacia of the patella: comparison of morphological (magnetic resonance) and functional findings (isokinetic parameters) after rehabilitation]. / Sofferenze condrali rotulee croniche: confronto fra dati morfologici (Risonanza Magnetica) e funzionali (parametri isocinetici) dopo rieducazione.

The knee is a common site for injuries of the cartilage, capsule and ligament, which calls for the use of noninvasive techniques to assess injury severity properly and to plan adequate rehabilitation. Our study was aimed at comparing MR with isokinetic findings. To this purpose, 40 patients were examined; they were all affected with chondromalacia patellae, grades I-III, previously diagnosed at arthroscopy. Namely, 8 patients had grade I and 32 grades II and III chondromalacia. After MR and isokinetic exams, all patients were submitted to a standardized rehabilitation program. Our results indicate a marked decrease in quadriceps strength, especially in the most severe cases; in less severe cases, recovery was complete at 6 months, while the deficit remained in grades II and III injuries. MR yield was not relevant in 4 of 8 cases, while isokinetic findings were negative in one case. Both methods were positive in the most severe cases. At 6 months, both functional and MR findings were normal in grade I injuries, while some alterations remained in the others.