Midline granuloma in infant

Midline Granuloma is a very uncommon disease characterised by localised inflamation, destruction and often mutilations of the tissues of the upper respiratory tract and face. This unique case is being reported for its rarity having the complete destruction of the external nose and part of the upper lip.     

A phase I/II trial of intratumoral endoscopic ultrasound injection of ONYX-015 with intravenous gemcitabine in unresectable pancreatic carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Localized pancreatic carcinoma is rarely resectable and is resistant to conventional therapies. ONYX-015 (dl1520) is an E1B-55kD gene-deleted replication-selective adenovirus that preferentially replicates in and kills malignant cells. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has the potential to conveniently and accurately deliver local therapy to the pancreas. Therefore, we undertook a trial of the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of EUS injection of ONYX-015 into unresectable pancreatic carcinomas. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Twenty-one patients with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or with metastatic disease, but minimal or absent liver metastases, underwent eight sessions of ONYX-015 delivered by EUS injection into the primary pancreatic tumor over 8 weeks. The final four treatments were given in combination with gemcitabine (i.v., 1,000 mg/m(2)). Patients received 2 x 10(10) (n = 3) or 2 x 10(11) (n = 18) virus particles/treatment. RESULTS: After combination therapy, 2 patients had partial regressions of the injected tumor, 2 had minor responses, 6 had stable disease, and 11 had progressive disease or had to go off study because of treatment toxicity. No clinical pancreatitis occurred despite mild, transient elevations in lipase in a minority of patients. Two patients had sepsis before the institution of prophylactic oral antibiotics. Two patients had duodenal perforations from the rigid endoscope tip. No perforations occurred after the protocol was changed to transgastic injections only. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that ONYX-015 injection via EUS into pancreatic carcinomas by the transgastic route with prophylactic antibiotics is feasible and generally well tolerated either alone or in combination with gemcitabine. Transgastric EUS-guided injection is a new and practical method of delivering biological agents to pancreatic tumors.     

Treatment of Cervical Incompetence by Transabdominal Cervicoisthmic Cerclage

Summary: Cervical incompetence is a condition traditionally treated by cervical cerclage which in most cases is inserted via the transvaginal route. However the insertion of a transabdominal cervicoisthmic suture is indicated in those patients with recurrent mid-trimester losses due to an incompetent cervix where it is not technically possible to insert a transvaginal suture. Between 1987 and 1996, 12 women at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne were treated with transabdominal cervicoisthmic cerclage (TCC). Eight patients had cerclage in the nonpregnant state, and 4 were pregnant at the time. The completed pregnancies thus far have resulted in 10 surviving infants, a successful pregnancy rate of 69.2%. This compares favourably with a corrected preTCC successful pregnancy rate of only 13%. There were minimal intraoperative complications in our series. Bleeding, chorioamnionitis and premature rupture of the membranes have been reported elsewhere and occurred in 2 of our patients. Our results and a review of the literature confirms that TCC has an important role in carefully-selected patients.     

Frontal sinus surgery 2004: update of clinical anatomy and surgical techniques

Endoscopic frontal sinus surgery is still considered difficult, risky to perform, and likely to result in a high failure rate. We have previously reported on our technique of endoscopic frontal sinus surgery, stressing the importance of identification and preservation of natural outflow tract. Our study of frontal sinus anatomy shows that the mean frontal ostium anterior—posterior and transverse dimensions are 7.22 ± 2.78 mm and 8.92 ± 2.95 mm, respectively; therefore, dissection of obstructive structures in frontal recess leads to a wide opening of frontal sinus outflow. A key surgical landmark in our technique is the superior attachment of the uncinate process. This article provides an update of the surgical anatomy of the frontal recess region and our surgical technique, as well as a discussion of our approach to frontal sinus revision surgery.     

Linear Nevus Sebaceus Syndrome with bilateral complex limbal choristomas and extraocular muscle involvement

A case of a child with bilateral fleshy limbal masses with a coloboma of the right upper lid is discussed. Systemic examination revealed two patches of alopecia on the right frontoparietal and right occipital areas of the scalp. Punch biopsy and histopathological examination led to the diagnosis of Linear Nevus Sebaceus Syndrome (LNSS) with bilateral complex limbal choristomas. The authors have stated that they do not have a significant financial interest or other relatioship with any product manufacturer or provider of services discussed in this article. The authors also do not discuss the use of off-label products, which includes unlabeled, unapproved, or investigative products or devices.     

A case of colouterine fistula managed laparoscopically

Fistulas between the uterus and bowel are rarely reported. We report successful laparoscopic management of a colouterine fistula caused by a foreign body in the uterus. Fistulas between the gastrointestinal tract and the female genital tract are usually found between the vagina and rectum as a result of complications of childbirth or iatrogenic trauma. Communication between the uterus and bowel is rarely reported. We report successful laparoscopic management of an unusual case of colouterine fistula caused by a foreign body in the uterus.     

The role of fibrin glue instillation under skin flaps in the prevention of seroma formation and related morbidities following breast and axillary surgery for breast cancer: A meta‐analysis

A systematic review of randomised, controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of fibrin glue (FG) in reducing the postoperative seroma and seroma related morbidities following breast and axillary surgery was conducted. FG failed to influence the incidence of postoperative seroma, average volume of seroma, wound infection, complications and length of hospital stay in patients undergoing breast cancer surgery. However, a major multicentre and high quality randomised, controlled trial is required to validate these findings. J. Surg. Oncol. 2012; 106:783–795. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.