Retroperitoneal iliac fossa abscess: a complication of suppurative iliac lymphadenitis

The clinicopathologic manifestations in four patients with staphylococcal abscess localized to the retroperitoneal iliac fossa are presented. This type of abscess may represent a distinct entity and is most likely a complication of suppurative iliac lymphadenitis.Retroperitoneal abscesses localized to the iliac fossa rarely have any osseous component. Extraperitoneal drainage is curative.     

Hereditary polypoid diseases of the gastrointestinal tract: A working classification

Almost all published cases of hereditary intestinal polypoid diseases can be meaningfully classified into a relatively few distinct syndromes including familial polyposis of the colon, Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, and juvenile polyposis.Familial polyposis is characterized by the development of numerous adenomatous polyps of the colon and subsequent development of colorectal carcinoma in nearly all patients. Extracolonic manifestations are common but do not influence the premalignant nature of this syndrome.Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is identifiable by a combination of circumoral melanin pigmentation and hamartomatous polyps. These polypoid lesions have an unusually wide distribution and may occur in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or genitourinary tract. There is a small but definite increased incidence of gastrointestinal cancer in these patients.Juvenile polyposis presents a more variable spectrum. In one form there is extensive intestinal involvement leading to diarrhea, inanition, and increased susceptibility to infection. Another form is limited to the colon and easily confused with familial polyposis. With the third form, there is involvement of the stomach, intestines, and colon, which makes it easily mistaken for the Peutz-Jeghers syndrome.     

A simple method to determine the resolution of operative cholangiograms

A cholangiographic technique which facilitates visualization of the catheter itself permits the surgeon to measure the resolution of the roentgenographic technique used. When the wall of the catheter is visible, the surgeon can be confident that the resolution of the technique is in the 0.3 mm range. It is unlikely that stones greater than 0.3 mm in diameter will be missed using this technique.