BACKGROUND:To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of endosonography (ES) in a prospective series of cancer of the cardia.METHODS:Thirty-five patients with cancer of the cardia were investigated by ES; 29 underwent surgery. ES staging for the surgery patients was compared with histopathologic findings. Tumors were staged according to the 1987 TNM classification.RESULTS:ES had a diagnostic accuracy of 79% for the T category, 79% for the N category, 89% for the M category, and 72% for prognostic TNM staging.CONCLUSION:ES is an excellent paraclinical modality for the staging of local-regional spread of cancer of the cardia and a useful complement to computed tomography for evaluation of these tumors.

Here is reported the case of a young woman with atypical mycobacteria gastro-intestinal infection during undeterminated inflammatory colitis. This report raises pathogenic problems as mycobacterial involvement In inflammatory colitis; especially Crohn disease is evocated.

Here is reported the case of a young woman with atypical mycobacteria gastro-intestinal infection during undeterminated inflammatory colitis. This report raises pathogenic problems as mycobacterial involvement in inflammatory colitis ; especially Crohn disease is evocated.

During an 8-year period, 35 patients aged over 60 and presenting with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura were observed. At the time of diagnosis, 51.5 percent had haemorrhages which were major in 26 percent of the cases. Response to various treatments, notably corticosteroid therapy, was weak (43 percent). During the course of the disease, 2 patients (5.7 percent) died of cerebral haemorrhage. This series confirms the importance of haemorrhagic syndrome and the resistance to treatment of the elderly as opposed to younger subjects. This is probably due to the heterogeneity of purpura in old age: in a number of patients purpura corresponded to refractory chronic thrombocytopenia or to chronic thrombocytopenia associated with carcinoma.

During an 8-year period, 35 patients aged over 60 and presenting with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura were observed. At the time of diagnosis, 51.5 percent had haemorrhages which were major in 26 percent of the cases. Response to various treatments, notably corticosteroid therapy, was weak (43 percent). During the course of the disease, 2 patients (5.7 percent) died of cerebral haemorrhage. This series confirms the importance of haemorrhagic syndrome and the resistance to treatment of the elderly as opposed to younger subjects. This is probably due to the heterogeneity of purpura in old age: in a number of patients purpura corresponded to refractory chronic thrombocytopenia or to chronic thrombocytopenia associated with carcinoma.

From 35 case reports of IPT in old age patients it appeared that the usual treatment is disappointing (only 50 % of complete remission within a year) and the disease is severe, with frequent hemorragic complications.