[Malignant lymphoma. Epidemiologic review of 150 cases]. / Linfomi maligni. Revisione epidemiologica di 150 casi.

In the present paper the incidence of lymphomatous disease in Messina and its province, with growing urbanization and rural limiting areas, is discussed: by analysing 150 cases of malignant lymphoma observed at our Institute from 1990 to 1995. The method proposed, based on data obtained from the medical files of these patients, took into consideration various parameters such as age, sex, residence, profession, clinical and bioptic diagnosis, LDH and disease presentation. The final results showed an increase of the risk for NHL in the rural province where the main profession is agriculture or handicraft (ceramics, forged iron, glasswork, refinery), in subjects above 60 years of age; for the HL instead, over the years, a minor incidence of risk has been observed. The data obtained were partially similar to those reported in the international literature. The most present form in NHL was the lymphocytic and the centrocytic follicular form, while for HL it was the mixed cells form. The relationship between the two sexes was higher in males with HL and almost equal in NHL. The age range mostly affected by HL was between 25 and 65 years of age.

[Pressure changes in the middle ear during nitrous oxide anesthesia]. / Modificazioni della pressione dell'orecchio medio durante anestesia con protossido d'azoto.

We studied middle ear pressure variations in 17 patients with mild upper airways or middle ear diseases, during nitrous oxide anaesthesia. We observed a significant increase in middle ear pressure during the administration of nitrous oxide, and a significant decrease after nitrous oxide was discontinued. Nine patients showed periodical reductions of the middle ear pressure during the inhalation of nitrous oxide, due to passive openings of the eustachian tube. In the remaining 8 patients (47%) this mechanism has not been effective. A comparison between these two groups shows significantly higher levels of middle ear pressure in the group of patients with abnormal function of the eustachian tube, both during and after the administration of nitrous oxide. Our results demonstrate that patients with mild upper airways or middle ear diseases are likely to show an impaired tubal function. Therefore, nitrous oxide should be used with caution in the presence of such diseases. Moreover, nitrous oxide is generally controindicated in middle ear surgery, as the pressure gradients between middle and external ear can jeopardize the success of the operation.