[Non-parasitic splenic cysts]. / Le cisti non parassitarie della milza.

Nonparasitic cysts of the spleen are uncommon and often result from blunt abdominal trauma. Nonsurgical management of blunt splenic injuries increases the number of observations of the post-traumatic cysts. Complications (infection, rupture and hemorrhage) are lifethreatening, difficult to diagnose and require urgent surgical management. Until recently, splenectomy has been the primary choice of treatment of these cysts. Small (< 4 cm) asymptomatic post-traumatic pseudocysts stand a reasonable chance of involution with time (3-36 months) and so may be initially observed. Splenic preservation by partial splenectomy, enucleation or by marsupialization is actually recommended in children when technically feasible. Splenectomy is required for voluminous, central, multifocal cysts, in the presence of complications and in the adults with low immunologic risk. The Authors report 5 cases of large cysts successfully treated by splenectomy with one 12-year-old girl treated in emergency for infection by Salmonella.

Modality of failure following resection of stage I and stage II non-small cell lung cancer.

The pattern and sites of recurrence were studied in 270 patients with resected Stage I (NO) or Stage II (Nl) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Survival, incidence, and type of intrathoracic locoregional recurrence versus distant extra-thoracic recurrence after surgical excision were analyzed. Prognostic parameters, such as postsurgical stage, histologic type, degree of cellular differentiation, and surgical approach, were examined to discern their influence on tumor recurrence. The total incidence of recurrence in patients with stage I and II tumors was high, with a radical surgical approach often resulting ineffective, because of incomplete locoregional neoplastic extirpation due to micrometastases. Lymph node metastases worsened prognosis, with Nl tumors demonstrating a significantly higher recurrence rate at 5 years (63%) than NO neoplasms (48%) (p < 0.01). Stage I tumors showed an elevated incidence of local recurrence (45%), with tumor T-factor making a significant contribution in such cases. N1-factor combined with an elevated T-factor (Stage II Subclass pT2Nl neoplasms) promoted a higher incidence of distant rather than local recurrence. A shorter disease-free interval was observed in patients with N tumors as opposed to NO neoplasms. Histologic type did not play a statistically significant role (p = ns) in the total incidence of recurrence. A similar total incidence of recurrence was observed in Stage I and II tumors treated by lobectomy (51%) or pneumonectomy (56%), with locoregional recurrence appearing more frequently after lobectomy.

[Neurogenic tumors of the brachial plexus]. / I tumori neurogeni del plesso brachiale.

The Authors report two cases of solitary neurogenic tumors of the brachial plexus not associated with Von Recklinghausen's disease. Peripheral nerve tumors are relatively rare and only 25% occur above the clavicles. The mass, usually asymptomatic, may cause sensory radicular symptoms or rarely motor deficits in the involved arm. Wide radical excision of a benign neurogenic tumor is the treatment of choice; for malignant tumors, associated with a particularly poor prognosis, a more aggressive surgical approach may be necessary. Adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy do not seem to have any effect on survival rates.

Low rectal cancer--what is the choice?

In patients operated on for low rectal cancer, the functional results, disease recurrence, and survival have been evaluated with respect to the type of surgery performed. Particular attention was paid to analysis of the pathologic aspects, considered in our opinion, as risk factors for recurrence. The investigation was carried out on 131 patients, of whom 70 received anterior resection, 55 abdominoperineal resection, and 6 local treatment. Abdominoperineal resection was carried out in more advanced disease. Postoperative mortality was 2.1 percent after anterior resection and 0 after abdominoperineal resection or local treatment. Follow-up, carried out in 96 patients (44 anterior resections, 46 abdominoperineal resections, and 6 local treatments), ranged from 12 to 84 (mean, 33.3) months. Recurrence rate was 53.3 percent after abdominoperineal resection and 28.9 percent after anterior resection. Recurrence appears not be related to the treatment performed, but rather depend on certain aspects of the neoplasm such as diameter exceeding 5 cm, extraparietal infiltration, lymphangitis, and tumor indifferentiation. We observed anastomotic recurrence in 28.6 percent of patients with a margin of less than 2 cm. An intensive follow-up scheme enabled us to recognize this type of recurrence early and to reoperate with radical intent. One year after anterior resection functional results were encouraging. No severe incontinence was reported. Local treatment was performed in carefully selected patients (T1, N0) and no cases of mortality or recurrence were observed.

[Use of fibrin glue in the treatment of entero-cutaneous fistulas]. / L'uso della colla di fibrina nel trattamento delle fistole entero-cutanee.

The Authors present methods and results of the treatment of chronic fistulas complicating abdominal surgery in 5 patients. The use of human fibrin glue is described and its therapeutical usefulness is pointed out.