[Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the mandible. A clinico-pathological and immunohistochemical case study]. / Il sarcoma di Ewing primitivo della mandibola. Studio clinico patologico ed immunoistochimico di un caso.

A rare case of Ewing's sarcoma, originating in the mandible, is reported. The symptomatologic and radiological aspects is often aspecific. For this reason the diagnostic-therapeutic routine is presented and the difficulty of clinical diagnosis is accentuated. In these cases it may be appropriate to make use of immunohistochemical analysis such as the research of markers like the NSE (Neuro-Specific Enolase). This will be useful to reach an accurate preoperative diagnosis and in order to adopt a correct therapeutic protocol.

Elastofibrolipoma of the mediastinum. A previously undescribed benign tumor containing abnormal elastic fibers.

We report the case of a 57-year-old woman who was found to have a mass in the anterior mediastinum. Surgical excision of the mass revealed a well-delimited lesion 10 cm in largest diameter. Histologically, the mass was composed of mature fat alternating with sclerotic connective tissue, which also contained extensive eosinophilic deposits, similar to the abnormal elastic fibers seen in elastofibroma dorsi. The elastic nature of these deposits was confirmed by elastic staining and electron microscopy. We consider this lesion, which we named elastofibrolipoma, a true benign neoplasm that is characterized by tumoral elastogenesis.

Primary myelofibrosis: a detailed statistical analysis of the clinicopathological variables influencing survival.

In the present study we analyzed the prognostic significance of several clinical, hematological, and histological parameters recorded at diagnosis in a consecutive series of 72 patients with primary myelofibrosis (PMF). Univariate analysis showed that the most significant indicators of poor survival were the following: age greater than 60, splenomegaly, anemia (hemoglobin > 10 g/dl), leukopenia (WBC < 4 x 10(9)/l or leukocytosis > 14 x 10(9)/l), and any of these histological features: adipose tissue and megakaryocyte reduction, prominent osteoblastic rims along the trabecular bone, presence of peritrabecular megakaryocytes (Mk), absence of normal or giant Mk. The multivariate analysis showed that only the level of hemoglobin and the presence of both normal Mk and fever independently influenced the prognosis. These parameters were used to set up a prognostic scoring system, allowing a feasible prognosis to be made for each patient at the time of diagnosis and identifying those patients in urgent need of new therapeutic approaches.

[Carotid paragangliomas]. / I paragangliomi carotidei.

Three cases of carotid body paragangliomas are reported. The authors underline the critical diagnostic role of carotid arteriogram whenever such disease is suspected. Surgical treatment can lead to good results even in malignant forms. In the latter, treatment should be completed with radiotherapy.

Eosinophilic fasciitis: a mast cell disorder?

The rarity of eosinophilic fasciitis has so far prevented systematic investigations. Its etiology is still unknown and its nosographical position to be defined. We report here a further case whose distinctive features were: a gradual onset simultaneous with allergic bronchial asthma; the absence of eosinophils and presence of a high number of degranulating mast cells and Sezary-like cells in the inflamed fascia. The follow-up and a second biopsy suggested that early steroid treatment is advisable in these patients.

[Mechanical sutures in digestive surgery. II. An experimental study of the cicatricial repair process]. / Le suture meccaniche in chirurgia digestiva. II - Studio sperimentale del processo riparativo cicatriziale.

The AA. intend to study the healing process of digestive sutures in dog that have been made with mechanical instruments that have metal agraphes. The used instruments are the American models of United Surgical Corporation in New York that have: --LDS pliers; --GIA pliers; --TA mod 90, 55, 30, pliers. They had made 15 operations of digestive surgery: gastric resections sec. Billroth II, anastomoses of ileum, colic anastomoses. In total they have made 45 sutures. After an established period the same animals were operated on again for controlling the results of made operations and the macro and microscopic evolution of sutures. The study of healing has shown a quick and exact repairing process for first intent, different from sutures that are made manually with threads that, notoriously, develop slowly for second intent.