[INTRODUCTION - Authors present six cases of intramural oesophageal metastases of adenocarcinomas located in the gastro-oesophageal junction. The tumours and metastases were diagnosed by endoscopic examinations. PATIENTS AND METHODS - Between 01. 01. 1994. and 31. 12. 2000. a total number of 143 patients were examined with the diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction. In six patients (4,19 %), intramural oesophageal metastases were verified. In each case the diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination. TNM stage of the tumours was assessed considering the results of endoscopic ultrasound examination, the findings at initial operation and the pathological data in all cases, where resection was performed. The tumours were localized according to Siewert- Stein’s classification. RESULTS - In six patients who had adenocarcinoma of the gastro-oesophageal junction, the diagnosis of intramural oesophageal metastases was confirmed. The histological structure of the primaer tumours and metastases were the same. Metastases were detected by endoscopic ultrasound examination in three cases of the four examined patients as submucosal masses. All of the cardiac tumours proved to be well advanced: four of them classified as T4N1 by endoscopic ultrasound. Intramural metastases were diagnosed in each Siewert-Stein subgroups. CONCLUSION - Endoscopic examination is of crucial importance in the diagnosis of adenocarcinomas of the gastro-oesophageal junction and in their intramural metastases as well. Beside the endoscopic identification the primary tumour, the thorough examination of the proximal part of the oesophagus seems to be of great importance. These metastatic cancers appeared in the advanced stage of the disease. Endoscopic ultrasound examination is of great help in these cases to identify whether the mass causing oesophageal impression is outside of the wall of the organ, or in which layer it is localized. Endoscopic ultrasound examination also gives the possibility for preoperative assessment of the TNM stage of the disease.]

[Platelets play pivotal role in the pathophysiology of unstable angina, acute myocardial infarction and in complications following percutaneous coronary intervention. Three classes of platelet-inhibiting drugs, aspirin, thienopyridines and platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors are now commonly used for the prevention and treatment of the disorders of coronary artery thrombosis. For the last several decades, aspirin has been the sole option for antiplatelet therapy in the treatment and prevention of the manifestations of cardiovascular disease. However, a wider selection of antiplatelet agents, including the thienopyridines (ticlopidine and clopidogrel) and the platelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa receptor antagonists are available today. This review summarizes these drugs and scientific data that have led to their use in primary and secundary prevention, unstable angina, myocardial infarction and percutaneous coronary intervention.]