[Retroperitoneal hematoma during heparin therapy. Comments on 3 cases]. / Ematoma retroperitoneale in corso di terapia eparinica. Considerazioni su tre casi.

The authors review the literature during the past ten years relating to the onset of retroperitoneal hemorrhage during heparin treatment. The phenomenon may be attributed to a thrombotic genesis involving the adrenal glands and may or may not be correlated to the presence of heparin-induced immune phenomena. The severity of the phenomenon is readily understood: given that the pathology is heparin-dependent, suspension of heparin treatment is the first main step to be taken; this is evidently a cause of risk in relation to the pathology that imposes the use of heparin. The rarity of this complication means that, according to the authors, it has been undervalued. They report three cases which were brought to their attention over the past three years. On the basis of their experience, the authors underline the importance of knowing the causes that are supposed to be responsible for the complication and the study of blood coagulative status. In order not to overlook the possible adrenal genesis of the phenomenon they also recommend a careful exploration of the adrenal glands when faced with a retroperitoneal hematoma in which the source of hemorrhage cannot be identified.

[A case of primary echinococcosis of the breast]. / Un caso di echinococcosi primitiva della mammella.

A case of hydatid cyst of the breast is reported. Stress is laid on its extreme rarity, the aspecificity of its symptomatology and the importance of considering this type of pathology in the differential diagnosis of cystic conditions of the breast.