[Carcinoma of the small intestine localized in the ileum. Report of a case]. / Il carcinoma del tenue a localizzazione ileale. Descrizione di un caso.

On the basis of a case of adenocarcinoma of the small intestine which brought to their attention, the authors analyse the etiopathogenetic and clinical aspect of these tumours in the light of the international literature. In particular, they focus on the difficulty of making an early diagnosis due to the fact that the initial symptoms are vague and aspecific and instrumental tests often do not allow a differential diagnosis to be made between adenocarcinoma and chronic inflammatory disease of the small intestine, benign tumours and other neoplasias. Lastly, the authors underline the prime role of surgery in the treatment of this form of cancer despite the fact that the concept of oncological radicality is drastically reduced in relation to the lymphoglandular layout of the jejunum and ileum since it should include the sacrifice of the superior mesenteric artery with imaginable consequences.

[A rare cause of intestinal pseudo-obstruction: Ogilvie's syndrome]. / Una rara causa di pseudo-ostruzione intestinale: la sindrome di Ogilvie.

The authors report four cases of Ogilvie's syndrome, a rare cause of intestinal pseudo-obstruction. After having reviewed the pathogenetic hypotheses reported in the international literature, the authors describe the symptoms, diagnostic iter and conservative and surgical management. With regard to the latter, the authors report their own experience which differs from that reported in the literature since they advocate the use of intraoperative colonoscopy for both decompressive and diagnostic purposes, the use of the cecal fistula instead of mid-canal cecostomy, and the application of a multi-fenestrated endocolic probe inserted through the anus and as far as the left colic angle for further decompressive purposes.