Cytologic brushing as a simple and rapid method in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori infection.

OBJECTIVE: To assess broad antral cytologic brushing as an alternative approach for the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori gastric colonization as compared to histology. STUDY DESIGN: Multiple gastric biopsies were taken from the antrum of 117 patients with an endoscopic appearance compatible with antral gastritis. Broad antral brushing was also obtained, and smears were stained with Papanicolaou stain. RESULTS: Chronic gastritis was diagnosed histopathologically in 93 patients. H pylori was identified in 115 cytologic smears. Cytologic smears from 97 patients with H pylori on biopsy specimens contained the organisms. Only two poor-quality cytologic smears with no H pylori had the organisms on biopsy specimens. In 18 patients, H pylori was identified on the cytologic smears and not on the biopsy specimens. CONCLUSION: Broad antral cytologic brushing is a useful alternative approach to histology for the diagnosis of H pylori gastric infection.

[Giant gastric and duodenal trichobezoar. Presentation of a case and review of the literature]. / Tricobezoar gigante gástrico y duodenal. Presentación de un caso y revisión de la literatura.

The case of a giant trichobezoar of 2.500 g in weight observed in a 26-year old woman with paranoid disorder which led her to trichophagia is presented. A review of the literature was carried out with the different etiopathogenic theories and proposed treatments being discussed.

Retinopathy as a systemic complication of acute pancreatitis.

We describe three cases of sudden severe retinopathy in patients with acute pancreatitis. The relative times of the organ manifestations and comparisons with other published cases strongly suggest that pancreatitis was the cause of the retinal changes. This systemic complication is unknown to most physicians, but approximately 35 cases have been published. The pathogenesis is not well known. We briefly discuss the significance of this complication and several possible pathogenetic mechanisms.

[The brown bowel syndrome. A case report]. / Síndrome de intestino marrón. Descripción de un caso.

We present a patient with celiac sprue in whom intestinal lymphoma was suspected. At laparotomy, a brown discolouration of small bowel loops was observed, and a transmural biopsy confirmed a brown bowel syndrome, an entity that is found in long-standing malabsorption conditions. We believe that the intestinal disorder caused by deposition of lipofuscin in the bowel non-striated muscle may cause radiologic changes similar to those seen in intestinal lymphoma.