Documented rarity, diagnostic difficulty and poor results stimulated this study of 79 malignant and 37 benign small bowel tumors in order to emphasize these lesions, determine their symptomatology and improve diagnosis and results, particularly in the malignant group. Chief symptoms were recurrent abdominal pain and tenderness, signs of obstruction and gastrointestinal bleeding. Fourteen cases were asymptomatic. The mean symptom-diagnosis interval was 6.6 months. Roentgenographic contrast studies were helpful in diagnosing 33 of 43 patients, with false negatives in 10. Laboratory studies were usually not helpful. Metastases were present at the time of surgery in approximately 58%. In the malignant group curative procedures were performed in 36 and palliative in 43, with an operative mortality of 10%. Five and 10 year survival rates were respectively 21/51 (41.2%) and 8/38 (21.2%) for malignancies. Individual 5 and 10 year survival rates were respectively as follows: carcinoid 11/15, 4/8; undifferentiated carcinoma 3/5, 1/3; lymphoma 3/11, 1/9; leiomyosarcoma 2/7, 1/6 and adenocarcinoma 2/13, 1/12. In the benign group results were excellent, except for one death from pulmonary embolism. The study suggests that if results with malignant small bowel tumors are to be improved, prompt diagnostic study and early consideration of laparotomy in patients with suggestive symptoms is mandatory.
A follow-up review of 45 patients with cough syncope was performed to ascertain the effect of therapy in relieving symptoms. These patients constituted 2.5% of all Mayo Clinic patients evaluated over a 3-year period for syncope. Cough syncope patients were predominantly male (43:2), the average weight was 96.1 kg, and the average age was 53.2 years. Eighty-two percent were current or ex-smokers at the time of the initial evaluation and 86% of those having pulmonary function tests demonstrated findings consistent with obstructive lung disease. Treatment was determined by their primary physician and, in general, was aimed at decreasing the cough. Cough-related symptoms were abolished or improved in 97% of patients. Smoking cessation was closely associated with decreased symptoms. Although felt by both patient and physician to be a benign disorder, cough syncope can result in severe bodily injury. Patients with a vigorous cough, especially smokers, should be questioned thoroughly about cough syncope. Treatment of cough is effective in relieving symptoms.
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