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Introduction: In this study data on composition of uroliths collected from cats and epidemiologic data of affected cats in Switzerland from 2002 to 2009 are summarised. Of 884 stones analysed 50% (n=441) were composed of calcium oxalate, 45% (n=398) of struvite, 3% (n=18) of ammonium urate, 1% (n=12) were mixed stones, 1% (n=9) were composed of silica, 3 stones were solidified blood, 2 consisted of cystine and 1of xanthine. 40% of the ureteral stones were composed of struvite. Domestic cats had significantly less calcium oxalate stones compared to British Shorthair or Persian cats. Cats with calcium oxalate stones were older and cats with struvite stones were younger than other affected cats. Female and male cats were equally affected with stones. Compared to studies from other countries, in Switzerland silica stones occurred more often and ureteral stones were more often composed of Struvite. The present study shows that occurrence and prevalence of urinary calculi of cats from Switzerland exhibited only slight differences to studies from other countries.

Information on composition of uroliths collected between 2003 and 2009 from dogs in Switzerland and epidemiologic data of affected dogs are summarised in this paper. Of 490 stones analysed 44% were composed of calcium oxalate, 330% of struvite, 80% of silica, 7% of urate, 3% of cystine, 3% were mixed stones and 1% each were calcium phosphate and xanthine stones. Compared to other dogs, Norwich Terriers, Norfolk Terriers, Miniature Schnauzers, Miniature Pinscher and Yorkshire Terriers had a significantly increased risk to suffer from calcium oxalate stones, Dalmatians and Continental Bulldogs from urate stones and English Bulldogs from cystine stones. No breed had an increased risk of struvite or silica stones. Stones composed of silica were more prevalent in Switzerland compared to other countries and were more common in the eastern part than in the western part of Switzerland. This study shows that there are differences in occurrence and prevalence of uroliths between Switzerland and surveys of other countries.

The case of a 30-year-old male, who presented with a three months history of fever, night sweats, weight loss and myalgia is reported. Subsequently abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea and mononeuropathy multiplex developed. An abdominal and renal angiogram showed changes of vascular structures diagnostic for polyarteritis nodosa. An immunosuppressive treatment (Prednisolon 100 mg/day and Cyclophosphamid 200 mg/day) was started. However, diffuse peritonitis as the aftermath of bowel infarction, which comprised the total length of the jejunum and the proximal parts of the ileum, developed at the third week of this treatment. Despite immediate surgical resection of the ischemic bowel septic complications occurred and the patient died.

The value of radiologically controlled stent implantation compared to hepatojejunostomy in palliative treatment of tumor induced cholestasis was examined in a non randomised retrospective study. 54 patients suffering of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (n = 34), carcinoma of the distal bile duct (n = 10) and metastatic induced stenosis of the common bile duct (n = 10) were compared in regard to survival time, normalisation of cholestasis and complication rate. The survival time following stenting procedure (n = 31) is 6.0 months, after operation (n = 23) 7.1 months. The reduction of cholestasis showed no significant difference. The complication rate is lower (operated group 12.9%, stented group 9.6%) and the hospital stay following stenting procedure was much shorter (6.1 d vs. 18.0 d). Both a positive side effect of stent implantation.

Prolonged dynamic CT up to 32 minutes after intravenous bolus injection of 100 ml contrast medium improves the differentiation between benign (hemangiomas) and malignant (metastases) liver lesions. Our study shows that there are three distinct types of hemangiomas and that all three of them behave differently than metastases. Prolonged dynamic improves the problem of differentiation between hemangiomas and metastases but does not solve the problem completely.

488 PATIENTS WITH Graves' disease were treated by 131Iodine between 1960 and 1974. 427 (87,5%) of these patients were reexamined several times (clinically, 131I-uptake, PB127I, T4 (CPB-A), T3-uptake, and since 1973 TRH-test). The 131I was given as an individually calculated single dose treatment, using 7 000 -- 10 000 rd before 1965 and 6 000 rd thereafter. Two thirds of the patients became euthyroid after a single 131I-dose. In 20% the treatment had to be repeated. These patients show evidently a different biological behaviour of their disease, since multiple treatments revealed a higher rate of failure (33--35%). There is no principal difference between the out-come after 131I-therapy and surgery concerning the rate of failure, respectively relapse (3--4%) and hypothyroidism. Early incidence of hypothyrodism is dose--dependent, as could be shown in patients treated with higher doses before 1965. The reduction of the irradiation dose to 6 000 rd was followed by a drop of hypothyroidism from 18% to 7%. The reasons of late incidence of hypothyroidism are discussed. The incidence of hypothroidism was calculated by three different methods (over-all incidence, incidence within the observed interval after therapy, life-table method). All three methods revealed different results. This has to be taken into account comparing results after radioiodine as well as after surgery. Radioiodine therapy for hyperthyroidism offers a true alternative to surgery.