Many recent reports in the North American literature have documented an increase in the ratio of proximal to distal colorectal cancers with an increase in right-sided lesions. In order to assess trends in the distribution of large bowel carcinoma at our hospital we reviewed the files of 1553 patients who presented with primary colorectal carcinoma over a 30-year period. Thirty-nine percent of patients were over 70 years old and 51% were in the 50-69 year age group. Seventy five percent of the carcinomas were left-sided, 22% right-sided and caecal carcinomas accounted for 18%. This distribution varied only slightly over the study period. Left-sided lesions were more common in males (55%: p less than 0.005), and right-sided lesions were more common in females (57%: p less than 0.005). Caecal carcinoma was more common in patients over 69 years old than in younger patients (p less than 0.001). In elderly females (greater than 69 years) 30% of colorectal carcinomas occurred in the caecum. These findings may have important implications for the investigation of patients with suspected colorectal disease or for screening programmes.

The early and long term complications of subtotal thyroidectomy in 306 hyperthyroid patients (multinodular goitre and diffuse hyperplasia) followed for up to 30 yr are reviewed. There were no perioperative deaths. Sixteen patients (5.2 per cent) had transient symptomatic hypocalcaemia, while 9 (2.9 per cent) had permanent hypocalcaemia. Permanent unilateral vocal cord paralysis occurred in 11 (3.6 per cent) patients (1.8 per cent of nerves at risk). Cumulative per cent (+/- s.e.m.) relapse and hypothyroid rates at 30 yr (life-table analysis) were 15.6 +/- 2.4 per cent and 20.5 +/- 2.1 per cent, respectively. Lifelong follow-up of post-thyroidectomy patients is mandatory because of the risk of relapse of hypothyroidism.

No abstract

A case is described of fatal perforation of the small bowel through an area of undiagnosed secondary involvement from primary thyroid lymphoma during treatment by chemotherapy. There is a known association between primary thyroid lymphoma and gastrointestinal metastases. To avoid this lethal complication, a specific search should be made for gastrointestinal involvement before chemotherapy is started in patients with advanced thyroid lymphoma.

Highly selective vagotomy (HSV) was performed in 509 patients over 12 years for the surgical management of duodenal ulceration; 103 HSVs were carried out during the treatment of complications. The overall rate of ulcer recurrence was 7%, ranging from 10% in the first 4 years to 4% in the 6 years between 1975 and 1980. Highly selective vagotomy was performed in addition to closure of a perforated ulcer in 16 patients, with no recurrent ulcers or re-perforations. After the control of their bleeding duodenal ulcers, 25 patients had HSV with no rebleeding, although two patients had recurrent ulceration. Highly selective vagotomy was performed in 62 patients with stenosis in addition to dilatation (44) or duodenoplasty (18). There was a high incidence of recurrent ulceration (7) and stenosis (9) with digital dilatation while duodenoplasty gave better results with one recurrent stenosis and no recurrent ulceration. The authors conclude that HSV is justified by its late results as a definitive operation in chronic duodenal ulceration that allows preservation of the pylorus during surgery for complications.