This study reinforces the importance of baseline liver function (Child-Pugh classification and MELD score) in the survival of patients with HCC, although staging systems allowed the stratification of patients in different prognostic groups. Ascites, bilirubin and PVT were independent pretreatment predictors of survival. All treatments influenced the patient's outcome, whether in early or advanced stages.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is characterized by clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Two loci implicated in the disease have previously been mapped (PKD1 on chromosome 16 and PKD2 on chromosome 4). By two point and multipoint linkage analysis, negative lod scores have been found for both chromosome 16 and chromosome 4 markers in a large Portuguese family, indicating that a third PKD locus is involved in the development of the disease.

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Background Hidradenitis suppurativa is a complex and infrequent autoinflammatory disease that impacts on quality of life. Its pathogenesis is not fully understood, which limits the development of curative treatments. Objectives To evaluate clinical and quality of life aspects of hidradenitis suppurativa patients from a social group on the Internet. Methods A cross-sectional, Internet-based survey study among participants in a discussion group (Facebook) of individuals with hidradenitis suppurativa. Patients were asked to answer a questionnaire about clinical-demographic aspects and quality of life (DLQI-BRA). Results A total of 390 individuals agreed to participate in the study, 82% of them female, median age (p25-p75), of 31 (25-37) years old, disease onset at 15 (13-23) years, family member affected in 20% of cases, overweight (BMI 29 [25-33]) kg/m2 and severe impact on quality of life (DLQI 20 [13-25]). Regarding Hurley's classification, the participants provided information that enabled classification into: I (19%), II (52%) and III (29%). More severe cases were associated with males (OR = 1.69), higher weight (BMI: OR = 1.03) non-white color (OR = 1.43) and higher frequency of other autoinflammatory diseases (OR = 1.37). Study limitations Voluntary adherence survey with self-completion of the questionnaire by 390 from about 1600 group members. Conclusions Hidradenitis suppurativa patients who participated in a social network group had onset of the disease after puberty, with a predominance in females and overweight people, with great impact on the quality of life.

The case of a 76-year-old woman with a submucosal tumor of the esophagus, whose principal symptoms were dysphagia and epigastric/retrosternal pain, is reported here. Endoscopy, barium swallow and a CAT scan all pointed to extramucosal localization. The lesion was located in the lower esophagus lying on the stomach fundus. An ulcer in the region of the cardia complicated the tumor. Two sets of conventional biopsies failed to detect malignancy, only inflammation and intestinal metaplasia were seen in the specimens of the mucosa surrounding the ulcer. The endoscopic ultrasonographic findings were an indistinct margin, hypoechogenicity, homogeneous appearance and location within the second and third echographic layer. The surgical resection of the tumor was complemented by an anterior partial fundoplication. The histologic study revealed an inflammatory fibroid polyp, which is a rare, benign, non-capsulated submucosal lesion composed mainly of loose connective tissue and vessels, with an eosinophilic inflammatory component. This lesion is seldom found in the esophagus.

The authors present a case of a presacral myelolipoma diagnosed in an 84-year-old male patient with longstanding pelvic pain and past medical history of bladder cancer. Pelvic computed tomography (CT) revealed a well-encapsulated and lobulated presacral mass, with mixed fat and soft-tissue attenuation. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging provided further confirmation of macroscopic intralesional fat and excluded either adjacent bone invasion or bladder cancer recurrence. A presacral myelolipoma was suspected based on imaging findings, with liposarcoma and teratoma having also been considered for the differential diagnosis. The histological confirmation of the tumor was only attained postoperatively. This case report alerts to the possible presacral location of myelolipomas, which should be considered for every fat-containing lesion detected in this region. The main clinical, imaging, and differential diagnoses of this entity are reviewed in this paper.

Background: Hyperthyroidism is a risk factor for reduced bone mineral density (BMD) and osteoporotic fractures. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is a radiological method of visualization of the spine, which enables patient comfort and reduced radiation exposure. Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate BMD and the prevalence of silent vertebral fractures in young men with hyperthyroidism. Design: We conducted a cross-sectional study in a group of Portuguese men aged up to 50 years and matched in hyperthyroidism (nZ24) and control (nZ24) groups. Materials and methods: A group of 48 Portuguese men aged up to 50 years was divided and matched in hyperthyroidism (nZ24) and control (nZ24) groups. BMD (g/cm 2 ) at L 1 -L 4 , hip, radius 33%, and whole body as well as the total body

Aseptic liver abscesses preceding the diagnosis of Crohn's disease are extremely rare. We report a patient with multiple liver abscesses that yielded negative microbiologic investigation and failed to develop full remission under antibiotic therapy. Diagnosis of Crohn's disease of small and large bowel was later established and she was started on sulfasalazine and azathioprine with total regression of the hepatic abscesses. This case illustrates the rare possibility of aseptic liver abscesses as an initial manifestation of Crohn's disease, which could be interpreted in the light of recent data on aberrant homing of gut T memory/effector lymphocytes in the liver.