[Extranodal lymphomas. A rare clinical entity or a protean disease? A case report]. / I linfomi extranodali. Entità clinica rara o affezione proteiforme? Descrizione di un caso.

Aim of the present study is to describe a case of extranodal lymphoma localized in paravertebral site, near to thoracic spine. The clinical onset of the affection was as a radicular sciatalgic pain, resistant to long-term current therapy by NSAIDs, and determined by neuroradicular involvement by the neoplastic bulk. The interest of the present case is determined by: 1) the presence of a pain which, for a long while, mimicked one of the most trivial painful syndromes; 2) the fact that extranodal lymphomas are not so rare ones. An extensive research of such entities is therefore mandatory; 3) the diagnosis was made by means of non-invasive examination, and needle biopsy was performed only to confirm a picture which was already patent.

[Acute reversible degenerative myopathy complicating Lyme disease: description of a case] / Miopatia acuta degenerativa reversibile in corso di malattia di Lyme: descrizione di un caso clinico.

Lyme's disease is a commonly found disorder whose etiological agent is a spirochete named Borrelia burgdorferi. Its clinical presentation is usually well known, and three stages are described. However it may present symptoms which may resemble many infectious or autoimmune diseases as well. The aim of the present study is to describe a case of first stage Lyme's disease whose main clinical picture is muscoloskeletal involvement, which may mimic dermatomyositis. Many subtle characteristics (age of onset, atypical cutaneous rash) together with the involvement of muscular masses other than scapular or pelvic ones, and the bio-humoral positivity for anti-Borrelia antibodies allowed correct diagnosis to be made. We emphasize that instrumental and invasive examinations, such as electromyography and muscular biopsy, were not diagnostic in such cases.

Biochemical analysis of dermal connective tissue in subjects affected by primary uncomplicated varicose veins.

Biochemical analysis of dermal connective tissue was carried out in 14 subjects affected by primary uncomplicated varicose veins and 14 controls. Skin samples were taken, according to fixed criteria, from operation pieces of total mastectomy for breast cancer. The results suggest that the dermal tissue in these subjects is just thinner than that of controls, confirming previous similar clinical findings. The elective reduction of the collagen content observed, unassociated with changes of other components of the dermal connective tissue, brings evidence for a systemic biochemical defect of the extracellular matrix i.e. a collagen defect affecting the entire body structure and not only the varicose or pre-varicose veins of the lower limbs.