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Biomedical subjects

E Tavani

Publications and source records attributed to E Tavani.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

[Renal angiomyolipoma with locoregional lymph node localization associated with pulmonary tuberous sclerosis: a case report].

The angiomyolipoma is a rare tumor of the kidney with benign clinical evolution which can be found in more than half of the female patients with tuberous sclerosis. An uncommon case of renal angiomyolipoma with extracapsular extension, inter-aortocaval lymph node involvement and pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis with a clinical history of spontaneous recurrent pneumothorax but without the neurological signs of the tuberous sclerosis, is described. The natural history of this disease which has various clinical forms of presentations is still unclear. The role of the lymph-node dissection in the surgical treatment of this tumor is discussed.

Adult↗

Stages I and II non-Hodgkin's lymphoma of the gastrointestinal tract. Retrospective analysis of 79 patients and review of the literature.

We reviewed the medical records of 79 patients with primary gastrointestinal lymphoma (GI-NHL), defined according to the criteria of Dawson et al. (without involvement of liver, spleen, peripheral or mediastinal lymph nodes, or bone marrow), observed and treated in our institution between 1973-90. The most common disease site was the stomach (70 patients), followed by the small bowel (five patients) and the large bowel (four patients). The stage was IE in 36 cases and IIE in 43. Radical surgery or surgical debulking was the main therapeutic approach (67 patients); 12 patients received only chemotherapy, eight of whom had tumors considered unresectable at laparotomy. After surgery, most of the patients received chemotherapy; radiotherapy (RT) was given to only four patients. Surgically calculated overall survival (OS) rates at 5 years for the patients treated with surgery plus chemotherapy were 64% (radical surgery) and 46% (surgical debulking with microscopic lymphoma residue). For the 12 patients treated with chemotherapy alone, OS at 5 years was 0%. Our findings, in accordance with most published data, suggest that surgery, together with stage and tumor size, remains an important prognostic factor of survival in primary GI-NHL, especially when it is radical. In patients with negative prognostic factors (bulky disease, high-grade histologic type, microscopic residue, and stage II), postoperative chemotherapy and RT decrease the risk of distant failure and local recurrence.

Adult↗

[Lymph node myofibroblastoma: report of a submandibular case with peculiar morphologic and immunohistochemical characteristics].

The Authors describe a case of intranodal myofibroblastoma presenting in the submandibular region as a firm, indolent and freely mobile rounded nodule of about 3 cm. in diameter. The nature of this uncommon benign lesion is discussed. The observed histological features are partly different from the cases originally described. A proliferation of moderately pleomorphic spindle cells, which are vimentin and muscle specific actin positive, occupies a large part of a lymph node, sharply separated from the normal tissue. The so called "amianthoid fibres" are however absent and the inflammatory cells are almost exclusively eosinophils, mainly localized at the border between the lesion and the residual lymph node. Some spindle cells also show an unexplained positivity for the S-100 protein. In addition, extranodal extension of inflammation with few spindle cells is present. Such a complex picture has many features in common with the inflammatory pseudotumor of lymph node, another benign cause of lymphadenopathy. For this reason, the Authors suggest the possibility that myofibroblastoma is not a true neoplasm, but, together with the inflammatory pseudotumor, a peculiar type or a different stage of an abnormal lymph node reactivity.

Humans↗

Extent of lactose absorption in children with active celiac disease.

We have estimated lactose absorption indirectly by the breath H test to see if disaccharide exclusion is necessary for untreated celiac children. Lactose at 2 g/kg body weight (maximum 50 g) was administered to 42 infants and children (ranging in age from 9 months to 12 years) with flat small intestinal mucosa. Later, different amounts of lactose were given to determine the quantities tolerated and absorbed. One hundred percent of patients expired hydrogen more than 20 ppm over the baseline after an oral lactose load of 2 g/kg (maximum 50 g). Thirty-eight percent of them did not tolerate this quantity. Thirty-seven subjects aged 0-6 years absorbed and tolerated 0.5-1.5 g/kg (5-12.5 g total), and five patients aged 6-12 years absorbed and tolerated 0.5-0.6 g/kg (12-16.2 g total). We conclude that in many subjects with untreated celiac disease, lactase activity is sufficient for absorption and tolerance of the amount of lactose present in 250-300 ml cow's milk. Because of lactose's nutritional value, it should not be excluded unless necessary.

Breath Tests↗

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis. Report of a case with immunohistochemical and ultrastructural findings.

Pulmonary lymphangiomyomatosis is a rare disease characterized by wide-spread proliferation of smooth muscle cells around lymphatic and blood vessels, smaller airways and in the interstitium. Young women in the fertile status are almost exclusively affected. Spontaneous recurrent pneumothorax is the most important symptom. Chylous effusions are reported in 37.5% of cases. Our observation deals with a woman aged 43. Light- and electron-microscopic findings are described. Estrogen receptors have been detected on smooth muscle cells. Bilateral oophorectomy and treatment with progesterone were successful.

Adult↗

Features of chronic hepatitis in alcoholics. A survey in Milan.

A study was carried out to confirm the pathogenetic role of ethanol in the development of chronic active hepatitis (CAH) and to assess if previous or current superimposed hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection could be relevant to the course of alcoholic liver disease (ALD). We examined clinical and laboratory reports of 57 alcoholics with biopsy-proven CAH. Serum and/or tissue HBV markers and the presence or absence of cirrhosis were investigated. Alcohol was the only aetiological factor present in a small group of CAH, with or without histological findings suggestive of alcoholic damage. Age, sex and survival were similar among the subgroups of CAH with and without previous or current HBV infection and among the subgroups of CAH with and without associated histological alcoholic features. Among the laboratory data, the AST/ALT ratio was higher in CAH without previous or current HBV infection. The mean age was comparable in CAH patients with and without cirrhosis, whereas the cumulative 5-year survival was worse in CAH with cirrhosis (87% vs. 49%). These data suggest a difference in alcohol susceptibility in our subjects.

Female↗

Rhabdomyosarcoma presenting as acute hematologic malignancy: case report and review of the literature.

The authors describe a case of undifferentiated rhabdomyosarcoma from unknown primary site, presenting as an acute hematologic malignancy with generalized lymphadenopathy, extensive bone marrow involvement and clinical and laboratory features of disseminated intravascular coagulation. Such a peculiar behaviour is known for rhabdomyosarcoma but is rare and can be a serious diagnostic problem for the clinician and the pathologist. The importance of a large spectrum immunohistochemistry as first diagnostic approach to any undifferentiated small-cell malignant tumor is stressed, together with the knowledge of the different immunoreactivity patterns. Desmin, MS-actin and myoglobin are the most reliable markers of this type of myogenic sarcoma.

Actins↗

Primary mediastinal embryonal carcinoma and choriocarcinoma. A case report.

A case of primary malignant germ-cell tumor of the mediastinum is presented. The diagnosis was suggested by a fine needle aspiration biopsy and confirmed by alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin demonstration in the patient's serum. The cytologic, gross and microscopic findings are described.

Choriocarcinoma↗

[Chronic gastritis in childhood. A possible cause of recurrent abdominal pain].

The peptic disease is not the commonest cause of recurrent abdominal pain, among the organic aetiology. Only recently the gastric disease as cause of abdominal pain has been described in pediatric age. We have studied 11 children aged 6 to 12 years, who were examined for recurrent abdominal pain. We found that this symptom was due to chronic gastritis. We have valued these patients on the basis of the clinical manifestations, endoscopic and biopsy findings. A family history of peptic disease was found to be highly significant. We can therefore consider the gastritis as a possible organic aetiology of recurrent abdominal pain after ruling out any other organic causes.

Abdomen↗

[Juvenile intestinal polyposis. Importance of the endoscopic diagnostic contribution].

We describe three cases of juvenile intestinal polyposis in children aged 9-13 years. Ulcerative colitis in two of them and Crohn's disease in one of them were initially diagnosed. These subjects came to us for symptom persistence in spite of medical (sulfasalazine and or corticosteroids) and dietetic therapy. Further an appropriate investigations were therefore necessary; endoscopy and histological study of the specimen drawn by fibroscopy were decisive for the diagnosis. The accuracy of the endoscopy is of valuable help in uncertain situations as in those described.

Adolescent↗