[Extension of lymphatic resection in the colon cancer]. / Estensione della linfectomia nel cancro del colon.

It is commonly believed that treatment of colon cancer by surgical resection is a standardised approach. A review of the literature, however, shows differences in the extent of colon resection among the various different centres. Reported results are provided almost entirely by retrospective studies. In the absence of prospective randomised studies the ideal extent of colon and lymphatic resection in the curative treatment of colon cancer has not yet to be defined. The aim of this review was to examine the anatomical, physiological and clinical assumptions on which colon resections are habitually based.

[Lymphoplasmacytic sclerosing pancreatitis: a case report]. / Pancreatite linfoplasmacellulare sclerosante. A proposito di un caso clinico.

The Authors report a case of a 57 years old woman with a pancreatic cystic mass detected by abdominal ultrasonography performed for abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a cystic mass in the pancreatic head. Left segmental intrahepatic biliary tract dilatation without dilatation of the common bile duct and dilatation of the main pancreatic duct distal to the pancreatic mass were also present at cholangio-pancreatography. The patient underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple procedure). The histological diagnosis was lymphoplasmacytic pancreatitis. The diagnosis of this disease is challenging. It should be suspected in patients with known autoimmune diseases. Accepted diagnostic criteria are diffuse swelling of the pancreas and diffuse or focal narrowing of the main pancreatic duct, but they are not always present. In the absence of the above-mentioned characteristics, when the disease presents as a solid or, less frequently, cystic mass it is almost impossible to distinguish it from pancreatic neoplasms. Awareness of this pathological condition in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic masses is necessary, especially in view of reports of complete recovery after medical therapy in the literature.

[Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the colon with metastasis to the brain: a case report and review of the literature]. / Carcinoma neuroendocrino del colon con metastasi cerebrale. Descrizione di un caso e revisione della letteratura.

The Authors report a case of a 71-year-old male with synchronous neuroendocrine colon carcinoma and a solitary brain metastasis. The patient was treated surgically with resection of both the cerebral and intestinal lesions followed by cerebral radiotherapy. A pulmonary metastasis was discovered after 3 months and treated with interferon and octreotide. No further cerebral or intestinal relapses were observed. The patient died of cardiac disease 11 months after the first operation. Central nervous system metastases from carcinoid tumours are rare. The reported survival in untreated cases or in cases treated by radiotherapy alone is 4 months. In the case reported, surgical resection of the cerebral and intestinal lesions followed by intracranial radiotherapy yielded complete local control of the disease and a slight improvement in survival.