Article Abstract:
A 14-year-old girl was admitted to a hospital for periodic rectal bleeding. A colonoscopy and other gastrointestinal studies did not reveal any abnormality but an exploratory laparotomy showed blood in her small intestine. Angiography showed no evidence of an arteriovenous malformation. A section of her small intestine and colon was removed surgically and a microscopic examination revealed that she had hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. This condition is characterized by an abnormal dilation of small capillaries. She was treated with aminocaproic acid.
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Article Abstract:
Preoperative radiation treatment may be beneficial to patients with rectal cancer, but the dosage and duration need to be evaluated. A 1997 study from Sweden found that a short-course of intensive preoperative radiation appeared to increase survival rates in a group of patients with rectal cancer. However, 10 other studies have not consistently found improved survival rates in patients who receive short, intensive radiation treatments. Conventional radiation treatment may be more beneficial, since it can be combined with chemotherapy.
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Article Abstract:
Not all patients with rectal cancer will benefit from preoperative or postoperative radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Surgery alone may be effective for patients early-stage disease whereas those with more extensive disease may benefit from preoperative radiation or chemotherapy.
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