Glenoid dysplasia. A case report and review of the literature.

Glenoid dysplasia is a rare congenital abnormality that may be associated with vague shoulder pain, limitation of motion, and weakness of the upper extremity. In many cases it is an incidental finding on chest roentgenogram, and high-level function is usually possible before the onset of symptoms or degenerative changes. The case of an 18-year-old collegiate football offensive lineman who developed symptoms secondary to previously undetected bilateral glenoid dysplasia is reported. Roentgenograms demonstrated dysplastic scapular necks, and arthrography showed a deformed, constricted shoulder capsule. Magnetic resonance imaging defined the extent of the cartilaginous anlage, and arthroscopy demonstrated progressive articular cartilage degeneration. Although treatment alleviated the shoulder symptoms at low-level activities, the patient was unable to successfully compete under the extreme demands of an American football lineman.     

Focal myositis. Description of a case and review of the literature

The authors describe a rare form of pseudotumor of the muscle tissue of an inflammatory nature with an unknown etiology that occurred in a boy aged 13 years, characterized by the occurrence of rapidly-developing swelling, no pain symptoms, with degeneration of the myofibers, evident eosinophilia and lymphomonoplasmacellular infiltrate. Surgical excision of the lesion is the treatment of choice.     

Aorto-mesenteric compression syndrome. Description of clinical case and critical review of the literature]

Aorto-mesenteric duodenal compression syndrome is a rare disease in which superior mesenteric artery causes a substenosis of the duodenum. Pathogenesis of this syndrome is due to congenital or acquired factors. Symptomatology is usually non specific and intermittent. Diagnosis is given by selective superior mesenteric artery angiography. Therapy is only surgery.     

Retroperitoneal tumors. Description of a clinical case

The paper reports a case of retroperitoneal leiomyosarcoma; it appeared following the onset of left lumbocruralgia pain which was recacitrant to medical and physical therapy and was followed by loss of weight and endoabdominal swelling. The paper also discusses retroperitoneal tumors, paying particular attention to their diagnosis and surgical treatment.     

Gastric leiomyoblastoma. Description of a clinical case

The paper describes a case of gastric myoblastoma, a rare tumour of the smooth musculature most commonly found in the stomach but also encountered outside the digestive tract. The tumour is potentially malignant and the occasional malignant forms feature histologically a large number of clearly atypical mitoses and clinically an aggressive pattern often involving even widespread metastasis. The case presented is that of a 73 year old woman given a Billroth I gastric resection who was in perfect health 7 months later despite the findings of a myoblastoma with some signs of enhanced mitosis.     

Posttraumatic hemiballismus. Description of a clinical case

The authors report an uncommon case of hemiballism following head injury. A CAT-scanning had been carried out. They consider that changes in the brain micro-vascular bed are a very important cause of hemiballism. They cannot confirm the influence of neuro-chemical alterations which are reported by many authors.     

Tranylcypromine and general anesthesia. Description of a clinical case

The Authors report a collapsial reaction during general anaesthesia for total hip replacement in a patient treated with tranylcipromine, an inhibitor of MAO, as antidepressant agent. She had discontinued drug intake eight days before. Nevertheless a serious collapsial reaction appeared in association with general anaesthesia. It would be suitable, in their opinion, to stop antidepressant therapy with tranylcipromine at least three weeks (like with other IMAO) before general anaesthesia.     

Cloacogenic carcinoma of the anus. Description of a clinical case

A clinical case of cloacogenic anal carcinoma is reported. These neoplasms, deriving from embryonal residuals at different levels of the ano-rectal junction, have a better prognosis than squamous carcinomas; the surgical alternative to abdomino-perineal resection is a simple local exeresis for small tumours that do not invade the muscular layer, with a good radical result as reported by the literature.