[Partial nodular transformation of the liver with portal hypertension. A new case. Review of the literature]. / Transformation nodulaire partielle du foie avec hypertension portale. Une nouvelle observation. Revue de la littérature.

Based on a case of partial nodular transformation of the liver (PNT) with portal hypertension and splenic microaneurysms in a 24 year old man, the authors review the literature on this subject which only consists of 7 female cases. The authors point out the rarity of this entity which, together with hyperplastic nodular regeneration, is one of the causes of the essential portal hypertension syndrome. They stress the early onset of this disease (mean age of 35 years), on the severity of its clinical course and on the surgical possibilities of porto-caval shunts. The pathogenesis of PNT remains unknown.

[Retrosternal goitres. Study of a series of 34 cases (author's transl)]. / Les goitres plongeants. Etude d'une séries de 34 cas.

On the basis of study of 34 records of patients operated upon for retrosternal goitre, the authors attempt to assess the diagnostic approach and methods of treatment. Relatively rare (6% in our total group of patients undergoing thyroidectomy for cervical goitres), and particularly frequent amongst the elderly woman, retrosternal goitres often present as the result of a complication. The diagnosis is usually easy on the basis of standard chest X-rays. Other than in special cases, more complicated investigations are usually of no use. Isotope scan of the thyroid rarely gives valuable information concerning the retrosternal nature of the goitre. The retrosternal portion usually shows no uptake. The risk of malignant change is as high as for cervical goitres. Carcinoma sometimes presents as a metastasis. The treatment of a retrosternal goitre is usually simple, as long as the correct plane of cleavage is found at the outset. Surgical excision by simple cervicotomy is standard, even when the tumour is large in size. Finally, the authors emphasise the value of surgery earlier and more often, even in the absence of complications.

[Acute pancreatitis and post-traumatic pseudocysts of the pancreas. Report of 12 cases (author's transl)]. / Pancréatites aiguës et pseudo-kystes post-traumatiques du pancréas. A propos de 12 observations.

The authors report 12 personal cases and a bibliographic study showing the authenticity of acute pancreatitis and pancreatic pseudo-cyst following trauma. The clinico-pathological aspects, the course and the treatment are not specific. The medico-legal aspect is the most important for the secondary or late manifestations raise the problem of the imputability to the accident. Surgeons and judicial experts should be aware of the post-traumatic risk.

[Retroperitoneal mesenchymomas. Remarks apropos of 19 cases]. / Les mésenchymomes rétro-péritonéaux. Réflexions à propos de 19 observations

The authors report 19 cases and review the literature. They analyse the pathological and clinical characteristics of retro-peritoneal mesenchymoma. The diagnosis of these tumours is facilitated by intravenous urography, barium enema, arteriography and bidimensional echography. Cavography is interesting to determine the venous risk. The unforeseeable course, which is always severe in these tumours, is characterised by the frequency of local relapse. The prognosis is very poor with only one 8 year survival in this series. Surgical removal is the only possible treatment, in spite of difficulty, especially during recurrences.