Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0021843 (bowel obstruction)
 9,927 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The radiological diagnosis and interventional management of neuroendocrine tumours of the gastrointestinal tract and pancreas are challenging, demanding the complete gamut of available resources. Carcinoid tumours are most commonly found in the appendix and small bowel. Barium studies usually disclose a small solitary mucosal or submucosal mass in the distal ileum at times associated with smooth muscle hypertrophy and thickening of the mucosal folds. Intussusception and bowel obstruction may be the presenting finding. Mesenteric involvement may evoke a desmoplastic reaction with rigidity, fixation, angulation and tethering of small bowel loops. Angiography may demonstrate a hypervascular primary neoplasm but more frequently reveals vascular encasement and distortion from the mesenteric desmoplastic reaction. Pancreatic islet cell tumour is best defined radiologically by angiography and computed tomography as a well circumscribed hypervascular mass which enhances with contrast material. Portal venous sampling is of considerable assistance in localizing insulinoma. Metastases from neuroendocrine tumours to lymph nodes and to the liver are usually hypervascular. In the evaluation of the liver by CT scanning prior to contrast as well as dynamic scanning during the bolus intravenous injection of contrast material are necessary. At times the precontrast scan is more revealing. Computed tomography with the catheter in the superior mesenteric artery followed by selective hepatic arteriography is the most accurate combination for the detection of hepatic metastases. Interventional radiological management by sequential hepatic arterial embolization is the treatment of choice for multiple hepatic metastases from neuroendocrine tumours. Thus far, the maximum number of embolic episodes in a single patient has been 13. The carcinoid syndrome has been controlled in 87% while 79% of islet cell tumour hepatic metastases have responded. Contraindications to HAE includes a combination of all of the following: (i) replacement of more than 50% of the liver by tumour, (ii) serum lactic dehydrogenase above 425 mU/ml, (iii) serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase above 100 mU/ml, and (iv) bilirubin above 2 mg/dl. In the face of occlusion of the portal vein by intravascular neoplasm, HAE is contraindicated only if portal flow through collateral vein is away from the liver.
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PMID:Gastrointestinal and pancreatic endocrine tumours. 267 21

Hereditary angio-oedema is caused by a heterozygous deficiency of C1 inhibitor. This inhibitor regulates several inflammatory pathways, and patients with hereditary angio-oedema have intermittent cutaneous or mucosal swellings because of a failure to control local production of bradykinin. Swellings typically evolve in several hours and persist for a few days. In addition to orofacial angio-oedema, painless swellings affect peripheries, which causes disfigurement or interference with work and other activities of daily living. Angio-oedema affecting the gastrointestinal tract or abdominal viscera causes severe pain often with vomiting due to oedematous bowel obstruction. About 2% of swellings involve the larynx and can be fatal if untreated. About 50% of patients have laryngeal swellings that are potentially fatal despite prophylaxis. In this Seminar we review the clinical features, diagnosis, and management of hereditary angio-oedema, with specific emphasis on the new treatments available for acute swellings.
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PMID:Hereditary angio-oedema. 2230 26