AIM:To employ, in such conditions, a biological graft such as bovine pericardium that offers resistance to infection. METHODS:In our surgical department, from January 2006 to June 2010, 48 patients underwent abdominal wall reconstruction using acellular bovine pericardium; of these 34 patients had a contaminated wound due to diffuse peritonitis (complicated diverticulitis, bowel perforation, intestinal infarction, strangled hernia, etc. ) and 14 patients had hernia relapse on infected synthetic mesh. RESULTS:In our series, one patient died of multiorgan failure 3 d after surgery. After placement of the pericardium mesh four cases of hernia relapse occurred. CONCLUSION:Recurrence rate is similar to that of prosthetic mesh repair and the application of acellular bovine pericardium (Tutomesh ® , Tutogen Medical Gmbh Germany) is moreover a safe and feasible option that can be employed to manage complicated abdominal wall defects where prosthetic mesh is unsuitable.

Our experience suggests that this CT technique, which includes using India ink to label and localize peripheral small pulmonary nodules, is a safe, valid option for marking the lung, thereby facilitating subsequent thoracoscopic resection.

Even if there are not yet any reports about the usefulness of laparoscopic treatment of ruptured liver hydatid cysts, we believe that laparoscopic approach can help the diagnosis and in selected cases, the management of this condition. However more studies need to be carried out to evaluate it's long-term safeness about the recurrence of hydatid disease.

Pulmonary blastoma is an uncommon lung malignancy, usually presenting itself as a large chest mass causing pain, hemoptysis, cough and dyspnea; however, it is asymptomatic in up to 40% of patients. We present the case and suggestive images of a 37-year-old non-smoking lady with a monophasic pulmonary blastoma located in the lower lobe of the left lung who underwent a left posterolateral thoracotomy with lower lobectomy, hilar and mediastinal node dissection, followed by chemo and radiation therapy. After 36 mo, there is no disease progression and the patient is in good health, clinically stable and without significant chest pain. Core tip: Pulmonary blastoma is a rare condition and diagnosis may be difficult to obtain. It is important to underline that the appropriate management of this unusual type of lesion can be achieved only by a multidisciplinary specialized team, able to plan the correct integrated strategy based on aggressive surgery and chemo-radiation therapy.Magistrelli P, D'Ambra L, Berti S, Bonfante P, Francone E, Vigani A, Falco E. Adult pulmonary blastoma: Report of an unusual malignant lung tumor.

We conclude that this combined approach is better than using either technique alone in the preoperative staging and the evaluation of resectability of left upper lobe tumours.