Annals of surgery
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To determine the impact of clinical presentation variables on the management and survival of patients with gastrointestinal (GI) tract carcinoid tumors. ⋯ Gastrointestinal tract carcinoid tumors have a nonspecific clinical presentation, except in the case of the carcinoid syndrome. Surgical resection is the treatment of choice for improving survival. Surgically treated patients with carcinoid tumor have an overall favorable 83% 5-year survival rate.
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Using a large single-institution experience at a Western referral center, the authors examine partial hepatectomy as treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and relate treatment outcomes to clinical parameters, including the etiology of underlying cirrhosis. ⋯ Partial hepatectomy is safe, effective, and potentially curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. The presence of cirrhosis did not affect the surgical mortality rate but did affect the long-term survival rate. The cause of cirrhosis did not influence outcome. As treatment for small hepatocellular carcinomas, partial hepatectomy produces results similar to those of transplantation. For patients with large tumors who are poor candidates for transplantation, resection results in long-term survival in one third of patients.
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This is a report of 50 consecutive patients with juxtapyloric perforations after smoking "crack" cocaine (cocaine base) at one urban public hospital. ⋯ Juxtapyloric perforations after the smoking of crack cocaine occur in a largely male population of drug addicts who are 8 to 10 years younger than the patient group that historically has perforations in the pyloroduodenal area. These perforations are usually 3 to 5 mm in diameter, and an antral mucosal biopsy for subsequent urease testing should be performed if the location and size of the ulcer allow this to be done safely. Omental patch closure is appropriate therapy for patients without a history of prior ulcer disease; antimicrobial therapy and omeprazole are prescribed when H. pylori is present.