[The value of age as a prognostic factor in the severity of acute pancreatitis]. / Valor de la edad como factor pronóstico de gravedad en la pancreatitis aguda.

Age has been considered as a risk factor for the development of complications in acute pancreatitis. To confirm the above a retrospective study was designed including 526 cases of acute pancreatitis which were classified, according to age, into two groups: group I: > 65 years, and group II: < or = 65 years. The evolution of pancreatitis was classified as mild or severe according to the criteria of the Atlanta Meeting. Furthermore, other variables which may influence in the development of complications, such as the etiology or the presence of other associated diseases at the time of the appearance of pancreatitis were taken into account. On comparison of the severity of pancreatitis in both groups significant differences were only found in the appearance of acute renal failure. A relationship was, however, observed between the existence of certain diseases (arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic renal failure) present at the time of the appearance of acute pancreatitis and the development of complications of the latter. In addition, on comparing the epidemiologic and etiologic data of the two groups, it was found that acute pancreatitis in the elderly is more often of biliary etiology, is more frequent in females and is usually accompanied by other diseases at the time of appearance. Age in itself is not a risk factor for the development of complications in acute pancreatitis. The association of diseases at the time of the initiation of pancreatitis implies a worse prognosis.

[Esophageal Crohn's disease]. / Enfermedad de Crohn esofágica.

Crohn's disease is characterized by chronic inflammation of the digestive tract which may be localized at any level. Nonetheless, esophageal disease is infrequent. Two cases of esophageal involvement in this disease in 2 young women with a history of previous involvement at an intestinal level are presented. Esophageal involvement by Crohn's disease should be suspected in any patient previously diagnosed with this disease who presents symptoms suggestive of esophagitis, using endoscopy with multiples biopsies of the affected areas and other of normal endoscopic appearance for diagnosis.

[Neuroendocrine tumor associated with acute pancreatitis]. / Tumor neuroendocrino asociado a pancreatitis aguda.

Neuroendocrine pancreatic tumors are uncommon neoplasms. They may remain symptomless for years, and are usually of late diagnosis. A women presenting with severe acute pancreatitis diagnosed as a neuroendocrine tumor after study by the pathologist of the tissue excised at laparotomy is presented.

[Mesenteric panniculitis. Apropos a case and a review of the literature]. / Paniculitis mesentérica. A propósito de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

The case of a 35 year old female who had paraneoplasic syndrome during a period of one year, together with abdominal pain, is presented. Owing to the aforementioned, she was operated under the suspicion of lymphoma. The intraoperatory diagnosis was of retroperitoneal fibrosis. Physical examination showed important ascites and cachexia. Mild anemia and high sedimentation rate were found in blood test. A barium intestinal X-ray showed loop distention and a CT scan showed ascites and mesenteric thickening which were confirmed by a laparotomy. The histological study showed substantial cholagen and inflammatory infiltrate, together with giant cells of foreign body type. The different clinical presentations were reviewed as well as diagnoses, treatments, and the evolution of the disease.

[Giant cavernous hemangioma of the liver]. / Hemangioma cavernoso gigante hepático.

A new case is reported of hepatic giant cavernous hemangioma in a 51-year-old male. We consider the clinical, anatomopathologic and course data of this type of tumors. We discuss the diagnostic resources presently available and the therapeutic possibilities in this type of tumors.