[Conservative treatment of choroidal melanoma using iodine-125 brachytherapy, technique and preliminary analysis of 78 patients]. / Traitement conservateur des mélanomes choroïdiens par curiethérapie par l'iode 125, technique et analyse préliminaire d'une série de 78 patients.

PURPOSE: Iodine 125 curietherapy is one of the conservative treatments of uveal melanoma. The technique used to achieve these results was simplified through the physical characteristics of the radioelement and the optimized-dosimetry program employed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 78 patients with choroidal melanoma were treated with iodine 125. About 100 Gy were delivered to the superior pole of the tumour. The minimal length of follow-up was 17 months and the average, 67 months. RESULTS: There was 88% local control, leading to lowered visual acuity in 76% of the cases. Radiation retinopathy, directly related to proximity to the macula, is the principle etiology. Seven patients died of hepatic metastasis, five patients were enucleated. Four patients were further treated with protontherapy to make up for noncontrol locally. CONCLUSION: One dose of 100 Gy to the superior pole of the tumor seemed to lead to good local control, with the exception of complications related to proximity to the macula and the optic nerve. In this attempt to optimize irradiation, the time lapse between any benefit in local control derived from irradiation and posttherapeutic complications observed remains insufficient to evaluate any relationship.

[Graduated and constant compression of the lower extremities in the prevention of postoperative deep venous thrombosis and of pulmonary thromboembolism. Clinical trial]. / Compressione graduata e costante degli arti inferiori, nella profilassi delle flebotrombosi profonde e delle trombo-embolie polmonari post-operatorie. Sperimentazione clinica.

The authors report their experience with graded-pressure elastic hose (TED Stockings) for the prevention of deep venous thrombosis of the lower limbs and pulmonary embolism in high-risk, bedridden postoperative patients. The trial was designed according to a closed sequential program and gave positive, statistically significant results in terms of preventing pathology with this type of hose.

[The post-cholecystectomy cystic-stump syndrome]. / La sindrome del moncone cistico post-colecistectomia.

A study was made of five patients, all of female sex, suffering from cystic stump syndrome, occurring among a total of 726 operations on the biliary ducts performed from January 1959 to June 1975, and hence with the incidence of 0.7%. The diseases which brought the patients to the operating table consisted of two cases of long cystic stump, two cases of neuroma of the cystic stump, and one case of asymptomatic long cystic stump with the presence of a serous cyst of the head of the pancreas. The surgical operation always consisted in the removal of the long cystic stump or the neuroma and led to the patient's cure in each case. It is asserted that the cystic stump syndrome must be considered as a nosological entity in itself, affecting patients operated on the bile ducts with a by no means negligible frequency. After considering the various pathogenetic hypotheses covering this syndrome, the Authors finally conclude by reiterating the necessity of careful isolation of the cystic duct during a cholecystectomy operation and of its resection very close to the hepatocholedochus, and then to carry out reliable and effective prophylaxis of the often considerable disturbances which may threaten the results of the operation. Once the syndrome has established itself, however, removal of the cystic stump becomes essential to cure of these patients.

[Glucagon in the treatment of acute pancreatitis (clinical contribution)]. / Il glucagone nel trattamento delle pancreatiti acute (contributo clinico)

16 patients suffering from acute pancreatitis were treated by intramuscular or intravenous administration of glucagon, with control of the amylasemia and amylasuria values at the start of treatment, the 12th hour and the 36th hour. By the 12th hour from the start of therapy they already observed a reduction in amylasemia and amylasuria to normal values, with disappearance of the symptomatology (pains, vomiting, shock) and complete cure of the patients in 94% of cases. On the basis of their own and others' experience, the Authors therefore believe that glucagon can advantageously be used in this disease, which is characterised by much higher mortality if treated with the traditional therapeutic means.

[Value and limitations of telethermography in the diagnosis of peripheral arterial diseases (clinical contribution)]. / Valore d limiti della teletermografia nella diagnostica delle arteriopatie periferiche

Using a diagnostic technique allowing thermal variations of the body surface to be translated into pictures by remote recordings (telethermography), the Authors studied a group of patients suffering from peripheral arteriopathies. The patients were also subjected to other tests (oscillography, pletysmography, electrothermometry, arteriography). The diagnostic reliability of the telethermographic procedure in the cases studied was 80% (8 cases out of 10), with 20% of false negatives. Even in the two falsely negative cases, however, the investigation proved useful, since it allowed the improvement obtained with medical and surgical therapy to be evaluated. The Authors therefore conclude by asserting that telethermography is an effective diagnostic means because of the reliability of the results and its simplicity in use, as well as being non-traumatic and hence easily repeatable.