[Multilocular cystic nephroma in children. Description of a case]. / Nefroma cistico multiloculare in età pediatrica. Descrizione di un caso.

In paediatric age there may occur the various types of cystic renal tumor also of different clinical meaning; we can count among them shapes openly or potentially deadly, among which Wilms tumor cystic owing to haemorrhages and tumoral necrosis, congenital mesoblastic cystic nephroma, clear cell carcinoma, cystic, partially differentiated nephroblastoma (CPDN) and benign forms such as multilocular cystic nephroma (MLCN), cystic localized dysplasia of the kidney. In some cases, the differential diagnosis is difficult and it becomes only by histology: particularly the differential diagnosis between MLCN and CPDN, indistinguishable on the basis of the imaging and the macroscopic aspect, it is possible only by histology. It is described a case of multicystic lesion in a baby, male, aged twenty-two months, with an indolent mass of left side, screened by US and TC. The US examination has put into evidence the presence of renal with clean outlines of eight cms, formed by multiple small cysts, divided by thin regular septa . These aspects have been confirmed by TC. The histological examination has diagnosed a multilocular cystic nephroma, without atypias. Therefore, the multilocular cystic lesions of the kidney have to be considered potentially malignant and submitted to surgical treatment.

[Effects of isometheptene on gallbladder contraction]. / Effetti dell' isometeptene sulla contrazione della colecisti.

In order to verify the influence of the adrenergic system on the gallbladder contraction the Authors studied the effect of isometeptene, a sympathomimetic drug active on beta receptors, on gallbladder emptying. The gallbladder was studied on 6 subjects using a real-time (linear array) equipment with a 3,5 MHz transducer. In fasting subjects the gallbladder emptying was obtained by a fatty meal. In the next day the fatty meal stimulation was associated with the administration of isometeptene. The mean values +/- S.D. of the follow parameters were evaluated: -gallbladder basal volume -gallbladder residual volume both after fatty meal and after the association with isometeptene -gallbladder maximum emptying percentage in two experiences. The results show that the isometeptene doesn't inhibit significantly the gallbladder emptying induced by a fatty meal.

[Evaluation of gallbladder volume and motility with echotomography]. / Valutazione del volume e della motilita' colecistica con l'ecotomografia.

The gallbladder volume has been evaluated in 22 normal volunteer subjects (12 men and 10 women) by the real time ultrasound B scanning, using the formula V = 1/6 abc (a = length; b = width, c = antero-posterior diameter). The fasting GB volume, the residual GB volume after Bronner's meal (every 15 min. for 90 min.) and the maximum emptying (%) were evaluated in each subject. It was not observed any statistically significative difference between the two groups (fasting volume: 18.5 +/- 6.0 ml in men and 15.2 +/- 5.1 ml in women; residual volume: 4.3 +/- 1.5 ml in men and 3.5 +/- 1.3 ml in women). The maximum GB emptying in women occurs later. In order to verify its reproducibility, the experience has been repeated in two different days in seven men without any statistically significative difference.

[Echotomographic determination of gallbladder diameters]. / Determinazione ecotomografica dei diametri della colecisti.

The investigation methods of gallbladder physiology in normal man are usually limited because often they are invasives and hazardous (radiations). The gallbladder size was accurately evaluated by US with study "in vitro". The variations in gallbladder-size measurements in the same observer and among many observers by US, demonstrate that Real-Time ul-ultrasonography is a simple, accurate, non-invasive and potentially valuable mean in the study of gallbladder motility.