[Acute necrotizing pancreatitis and complete atrioventricular block complicating the course of ascaris infection in an adult patient]. / Pancréatite aiguë nécrosante et bloc auriculo-ventriculaire complet compliquant une ascaridiose de l'adulte.

Ascaris lumbricoides, a large round nematode, which causes human ascariasis, is the most prevalent helminth in the world. Ascariasis is usually asymptomatic but can cause serious complications, with a mortality rate of 5%. We report a 55-year-old woman from Comoros who presented with ascariasis complicated by occult cholangitis, severe acute pancreatitis, and transient complete heart-block. Cardiac damage due to migrating ascaris larvae was the likely explanation of the transient heart-block in this patient, although such a complication had never been described previously.

[Encapsulated hematoma of the sigmoid mesocolon. Apropos of an unusual case in Niger]. / Hématome enkysté du mésocôlon sigmoïde. A propos d'une observation exceptionnelle au Niger.

After reporting the case of a patient with an asymptomatic encapsulated hematoma of the sigmoid mesocolon, the main causes of hematomas of the GI tract will be reviewed. Hematomas of the mesocolon are rare. The morphology of an hematoma is related to its location and its US appearance can vary considerably over time. To our knowledge only nine cases of hematoma of the sigmoid mesocolon have been reported. The unusual nature of this case lies in the encapsulated nature of the hematoma, its unusual morphology and the lack of apparent underlying etiology, all elements that lead us to the conclusion that this hematoma was idiopathic and spontaneous.

Diffuse papillomatosis of the gallbladder: case report of a hydropic gallbladder.

We present the case of a 47 year-old man with a gallbladder papillomatosis. His medical history showed typical biliary symptoms with chronic colicky pain and two episodes of jaundice. Unusually, the patient himself discovered a right hypochondrial mass which appeared to be a hydropic gallbladder. Pre-operative diagnosis was done by ultrasonography and percutaneous cholecystography. A cholecystectomy was performed. Gross description and microscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis of benign diffuse papillomatosis involving the entire mucosal surface of the gallbladder. The clinical and anatomical aspects of this lesion are discussed.

[Intragastric foreign bodies. Apropos of an unusual case]. / Corps éstrangers intra-gastrique. A propos d'une observation insolite.

The following report describes a personal experience of an extremely rare case of sharp metal foreign bodies discovered in the stomach of a 22 year old adult African in good health. The authors underline the strange character of the case observed, not only because of the patient's perfect tolerance towards the foreign bodies, mainly sharp metal objects, but also considering the very large amount of objects found and it's corresponding weight (1 kg 400 g). Extraction of the foreign bodies was done by gastrotomy. Basing on our experience and following a review of the literature, the authors discuss the different problems which may occur due to the presence of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract.

Anatomical and roentgenological basis for the study of the lumbar spine with the body in the suspended position.

Roentgenological investigation of the lumbar spine was done in the standing and suspended position in 100 healthy adult male volunteers. Spinal and external morphology were studied. The aim of this work was to identify eventual correlations between the modifications of shape and size of the suspended lumbar spine and external morphology. Such correlations were sought to establish a functional approach to anthropometry. The results of this study demonstrated that the suspended position led to lengthening of the spine in 70% of the subjects examined, shortening of the spine in 22% and mainly straightening of the spine in 8%. Extension of the lumbar spine resulting from the suspended position is dependent upon tonic muscle activity and the relations between the observed spinal modifications and external morphology are difficult to establish. Nevertheless, anthropometric profiles and spinal features allow identification of certain influential external morphological parameters. Furthermore, the results of this study confirm those of others devoted to elongation of the lumbar spine under horizontal traction or suspension and lead to practical conclusions.

[Osteo-onychodysostosis. One more report about a family case (author's transl)]. / Ostéo-onychodysostose. Une nouvelle observation familiale.

A 9 year-old boy takes medical advice because of underdevelopment and intellectual insufficiency. The diagnosis of osteo-onychodysostosis (nail-patella syndrome) clinically expected is confirmed by X-ray examination. The main radiological signs of this disease are reminded of. You can also find a few remarks about family contex, frequency of the lesions and heredity.

[A case of ascaridiosis of the common bile duct]. / Un cas d'ascaridiose de la voie biliaire principale

The authors present a case of ascariasis of the common bile duct in a 45 year old Portugese woman. Perfusion cholangiography showed a lacunar ribbon shaped image of the common bile duct and radiolucent gall-stones. The diagnosis of intracholedochal ascariasis was made and the patient operated: there was in fact an ascaris which was extracted by choledochotomy. Cholecystectomy. Straightforward aftermath.