Primary Adenocarcinoma of Terminal Ileum with Clinical and Gross Morphologic Features Simulating Crohn's Disease. A Case Report

We report a case of primary adenocarcinoma of the terminal ileum, which presented with clinical, radiologic and surgical findings indistinguishable from Crohn's disease. The age of the patient and the rapidly progressing symptoms were the only preoperative clues to the diagnosis of an occult malignancy. Frozen sections of an intraoperative biopsy established the correct diagnosis and led to a radical change in the treatment. This is the third report of adenocarcinoma of the small bowel simulating Crohn's disease.

[Hemorrhages of the upper gastrointestinal tract. A comparison of the diagnostic accuracy between endoscopic and radiological examinations]

One hundred and forty-eight patients admitted for upper gastrointestinal hemorrhage, but excluding esophageal varices, underwent optic fibre gastroscopy at the time of admission and were then examined using a barium meal after a 24-48 h interval. The aim of the study was to compare the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy of the two tests. A correct diagnosis was obtained using both procedures in 58.2% of cases. Endoscopy provided an accurate diagnosis in 35.1% of patients, whereas gastrointestinal x-rays showed the exact site of the lesion in only 6.7% of cases. Endoscopy had a sensitivity of 92.5% compared with 60.7% for the barium meal. Endoscopy also had a higher level of specificity (100%) versus the barium meal (33.3%). The results obtained from the pathological examination of specimens confirmed the accuracy of endoscopy. In conclusion, early endoscopy is a reliable procedure in the emergency assessment of the hemorrhaging patient; routine x-ray examination does not appear to add additional information and may be reserved for subsequent use if endoscopy gives doubtful or misleading indications of the site of bleeding.

[Renal ectopia in childhood. Experience in 13 cases]

Renal ectopy is a rare congenital malformation related to an abnormal migration of the kidney from the sacral to the lumbar region. Three possibilities are present: absent migration (pelvic ectopia), excessive (intrathoracic ectopia) or to the opposite side (crossed ectopia). During the last 10 years in the Department of Pediatric Surgery of the Niguarda Hospital 13 cases of renal ectopy have been observed. Five patients had a crossed ectopy (4 with fusion) and eight had a simple ectopy (1 intrathoracic, 7 pelvic). Female were more affected than males (9 cases) and the right side was involved in 8 cases, the left in 4 cases and both kidneys in 1 case. Associated anomalies were present in 7 patients: 6 cases with exclusively genito-urinary malformations while 1 patient only was polimalformed (cloacal exstrophy, MMC, bilateral TEV). Correct diagnosis was obtained during urologic screening in 5 cases (1 suspected antenatally), while in 7 cases was related to the associated symptoms (UTI, hematuria, abdominal pain). Seven patients were surgically treated for the associated urologic abnormalities while in the remaining six cases no treatment was required.

[Retrocaval ureter in children: a rare form of obstructive uropathy]

Retrocaval ureter is a rare anomaly, often misdiagnosed for years, presenting with sign of urinary infections and obstruction. Recognition of this anomaly is rare in childhood. We report a case of a 9 years old boy, who was successfully treated by ureteral section, excision of the retrocaval segment and uretero-ureteral anastomosis. Current diagnostic procedures and different methods of treatment are reviewed.