There is evidence in the literature that psychosocial aspects affect the symptoms and results of surgery for gastroesophageal reflux. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of psychopathological disorders measured using the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28) in a sample of patients with gastroesophageal reflux, and to assess the influence of such disorders on their quality of life. A prospective study was conducted in 74 consecutive patients before gastroesophageal reflux surgery; patients answered the GHQ-28, the health questionnaire SF-36, and the Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index (GIQLI). The convergent validity of the GHQ-28 questionnaire as compared to the other two questionnaires and preoperative quality of life was tested. A pathological result of the GHQ-28 questionnaire was found in 38.3% of patients. A correlation was seen between the results of the GHQ-28 questionnaire and all categories of the SF-36 and GIQLI questionnaires. Patients with pathological results in the GHQ-28 questionnaire had poorer results in all dimensions of the SF-36 and GIQLI quality of life questionnaires as compared to patients with a normal result in the GHQ-28 questionnaire. In conclusion, 38.3% of patients with gastroesophageal reflux showed psychopathological disorders when administered the GHQ-28 questionnaire. These patients also had poorer results in quality of life studies.

Follicular dendritic cell (FDC) sarcoma is a very rare condition. We report here an intra-abdominal FDC sarcoma occurring as a mass, dependent on the celiac and left gastric lymph chains, that was completely excised. Eighteen months after surgery a recurrence at the liver pedicle was detected by a CT-scan and fully resected; in order to prevent another disease relapse postoperative radiotherapy was given.

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The occurrence of an oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma following liver transplantation is very infrequent. Such an event has been related to a history of alcohol-induced cirrhosis, as in other squamous cell tumours of the oropharynx. We report the case of a 64-year-old male patient diagnosed as having oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma six years after having had a liver transplant due to alcohol-induced cirrhosis. The tumour was treated surgically and consisted of an Ivor-Lewis oesophagectomy. The patient is disease-free 17 months after surgery. A review of the cases reported in the literature indicated treatment with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and with excision in some cases. Generally, despite aggressive treatment the prognosis is poor.

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