"Short" Barrett's esophagus: a condition not to be underestimated.
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Barrett Esophagus↗
Biomedical subjects
M Conio
Publications and source records attributed to M Conio.
Dilation in esophageal malignancy.
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Dilatation↗
CA 19-9 assay in patients with extrahepatic cholestatic jaundice.
Serum concentrations of the CA 19-9 tumour marker were determined in 35 patients with histologically proven bilio-pancreatic malignancies associated with obstructive jaundice and in 35 patients with benign extrahepatic jaundice due to choledocholithiasis. At a cut-off level of 37 U/ml the sensitivity of this assay was 82.8%, but the specificity was very low (45.7%). Thus CA 19-9 can not be employed to differentiate between malignant and benign extrahepatic jaundice. Serial samples of CA 19-9 were achieved in 7 patients with benign and in 6 patients with malignant biliary obstruction, before and after the disappearance of jaundice. Serum concentrations of this tumour-antigen returned to normal concurrently with the bilirubin values only in patients with benign obstruction, remaining unchanged in all cases of malignancies. The data suggest that patients with extrahepatic jaundice should be evaluated by other examinations or by collecting serial samples for this assay.
Adenocarcinoma↗
Self-expanding metal stents in the palliation of neoplasms of the cervical esophagus.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Self-expanding metal stents (SEMS) represent a major advancement in the palliative treatment of dysphagia caused by neoplasms of the esophagus. Malignant cervical stenoses are a challenge for palliative techniques, due to their close relationship with the cricopharynx. METHODOLOGY: Six patients with a malignant stricture of the upper esophagus, within 2 cm of the cricopharyngeal muscle, were treated with a self-expanding metal stent. All patients had a circumferential squamous cell carcinoma histologically proven. Patients were intubated under general anesthesia, and the procedure was carried out under simultaneous endoscopic and fluoroscopic control. RESULTS: All patients had a remarkable improvement of dysphagia and none of them reported a foreign body sensation. In 3 patients, an insufficient expansion of the stent, detected 24 hours later, required a balloon dilation in two of them, whereas, for the third patient, it was necessary to introduce a second stent. Neoplastic in- and overgrowth occurred in 4 (67%) patients after 1, 2, 4 and 8 months, respectively. These complications were managed by placing a second stent in 3 patients; in the fourth patient, a neoplastic involvement of the cricopharynx did not allow for an endoscopic examination. Improvement of dysphagia was observed only in the patient who received a covered Cook-Z stent. In the other 2 patients, a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy was performed. The only major complication occurred in the patient who received three metal stents, as he complained of severe cervical pain. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience shows that uncovered self-expanding metal stents provide a good palliation in this subgroup of patients. Tumour ingrowth, overgrowth, and the progressive impairment of the swallowing mechanism due to a proximal submucosal infiltration remain complications difficult to solve.
Aged↗
Cytosolic and nuclear androgen receptors in colorectal adenomas.
The aim of this study was to verify the presence of androgen receptors (AR) in human colorectal adenomas and in normal adjacent mucosa, and to determine whether there is any difference in AR tissue content between females and males. Our data show higher levels of nuclear AR in normal mucosa than in adenomas (p less than 0.001). A significant difference was also present in males between normal and pathological tissue both in cytosolic (p less than 0.05) and nuclear receptors (p less than 0.01). In female subjects this difference was also evident, but not significant. Our results seem to support the hypothesis of protective effects of androgens in colonic mucosa.
Adenoma↗
Combined treatment with lasertherapy (Nd:YAG) and endocavitary radiation in the palliation of rectal cancer.
BACKGROUND/AIMS: The ideal treatment for patients with advanced rectal cancer and who cannot undergo a radical therapy is still undefined. The association between lasertherapy (LT) and internal radiotherapy (IRT) could affect both technical results and quality of life. This study was aimed at evaluating the association of LT and IRT in the palliative treatment of rectal cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between January and April 1994, 9 patients (2 males, 7 females) with rectal cancer underwent a combined treatment modality in order to control their symptoms. All patients were unfit for surgery and EUS showed an invasion of the whole muscular layer. After laser recanalization, brachytherapy was applied at a one week interval from last laser session. Two fractions of 10 Gy were administered at one week intervals. RESULTS: The mean number of laser sessions to obtain a complete recanalization was 3 (range:2-5) and no complications occurred. After IRT, we obtained a good result in 7/9 patients (79%) and 2 patients required further LT. The mean follow-up was 146 days (range:74-240): during this period no laser treatment was performed. Four patients complained of acute perineal pain and tenesmus after brachytherapy: in one patient, a colostomy was performed. CONCLUSION: We deem that the administration of two fractions of 10 Gy is not advisable, particularly for the treatment of non-circumferential lesions, due to the severe side effects we observed.
Adenocarcinoma↗