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Introduction: The use of vagotomy is classically based on its inhibiting effects on acid secretion. Vagotomy induces both cellular and endocrine changes that may be involved in protective actions. Our aim was to study morphologic changes induced by vagotomy on the gastric mucosa and their relation to stress protection in the short, medium and long term., Material and Methods: An immobilization and cold stress model was used with 80 Wistar rats divided into two groups--control (with and without stress) and vagotomy (at 7, 30 and 120 days). Changes induced in the gastric mucosa by stress were studied with and without vagotomy, as well as relationship between these changes and the intended protective action., Results: Bleeding showed a very significant relation to stress (p < 0.0001). Bleeding incidence exhibited a significant difference between vagotomised and non-vagotomised rats (p < 0.0001) in the short, medium and long term (vagotomy was protective against stress). Regeneration signs related significantly to vagotomy (p < 0.0001) but not stress (p = 0.208). However, no significant relationship was found between the protective action and the presence of regeneration signs (p = 1)., Conclusions: Vagotomy has tropic effects on the gastric mucosa and is protective against stress. This protective action is maintained in the short, medium and long term. However, these changes are not sufficient to explain protection. An adaptation phenomenon mediated by hormonal and peptidic factors may be involved in this action.

Introduction: An increased incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) has been reported in patients with peptic ulcer disease treated with truncal vagotomy. Inhibition of gastric acid output and its hormonal consequence, hypergastrinemia, have been considered risk factors for the development of CRC. The aim of the present study was to determine whether truncal vagotomy increases, in the short (7 days) and long term (120 days), the incidence of CRC in a model of carcinogenesis., Material and Method: We used 86 Wistar rats distributed in 7 groups to which DMH (1,2-dimethylhydrazine dihydrochloride) was administered for the induction of colon tumors, at doses of 5 and 20 mg/kg of weight. The first three groups were used as control groups; the rats of the four other groups underwent a truncal vagotomy with pyloroplasty and Heller myotomy prior to the administration of DMH. Finally, we compared the incidence of colonic tumors in vagotomized vs non-vagotomized groups receiving the same dose of DMH., Results: In the non-vagotomized rats that received low doses of DMH (5 mg/kg of weight), mortality was 0% and 0% developed cancer as compared to 40% and 0%, respectively, of rats vagotomized 7 days before the administration of DMH and 20% and 0%, respectively, of rats vagotomized 120 days before the administration of DMH. After the administration of high doses of DMH, mortality was 50% and 80% developed cancer as compared to 100% and 0%, respectively, of rats vagotomized 7 days before the administration of DMH and 61.11% and 42.8%, respectively, of rats vagotomized 120 days before the administration of DMH., Conclusion: Truncal vagotomy does not increase the incidence of CRC induced by DMH in the rat.

Hepatic adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia are unfrequent benign lesions of the liver with individual histologic characteristics, but not always clinically distinguishable. The main difference is the intratumoral or intraperitoneal bleeding risk (high in adenoma and virtually zero in focal nodular hyperplasia). Surgery is the elective treatment for the first, while a more conservative attitude is allowed for the second. We present the case of a woman with an hepatic mass that clinically and radiologically seemed to be an adenoma. An atypical hepatectomy was done uneventfully. The examination of the specimen showed shaw focal nodular hyperplasia. We review the diagnostic and therapeutic controversy between these entities, because only the histologic examination of the entire surgical specimen could demonstrate the real nature of the lesion.

Small-cell anaplastic carcinoma of the colon is a very infrequent tumour (less than 1% of all colorectal neoplasms). Thirty-two cases have been described in the international literature up to 1992. A case, in a 54 year-old patient who underwent successful resection is presented. The importance of this tumour is due to its great aggressivity, and its great tendency to produce early hematogenous and lymph node metastases. It implies a bad prognosis and a survival of around 0% at one year. Because of these facts, treatment must include, beside surgical resection, an aggressive systemic protocol.