Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma: staging and management - a review of the case series report

Juvenile angiofibroma is a rare, highly vascular, histologically benign but locally invasive tumor, affecting predominantly male adolescents. Here we present a case series of 45 patients of nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, their clinical presentation, staging and the various surgical approaches for their excision.     

内镜辅助的眶上锁孔人路显微手术切除鞍区病变（附52例报告）

目的总结内镜辅助的眶上锁孔入路显微手术切除鞍区病变的经验、手术方法与技巧。方法对52例鞍区病变均采用内镜辅助的眶上锁孔入路显微手术切除。此52例鞍区病变中，垂体腺瘤22例，颅咽管瘤8例，脑膜瘤7例及前循环不同类型动脉瘤15例。结果37例鞍区肿瘤中，肿瘤全切除31例（83．8％，31／37），次全切除或部分切除6例（16．2％，6／37）。15例动脉瘤均准确完全夹闭瘤颈，预后优良者13例（86．7％13／15）和轻残2例（1313％，2／15）。全组病人无手术死亡及重残，且术前原有症状在术后均有明显不同程度的好转。结论内镜辅助的眶上锁孔入路显微手术能清楚显露鞍区病变与周围结构，创伤小，避免了重要结构的损伤，术后并发症少，效果好。     

用改良翼点、颅颧或颅眶颧入路显微手术切除大型及巨大型蝶骨嵴内侧脑膜瘤

目的 :研究探讨改良翼点、颅颧或颅眶颧入路显微手术切除大型及巨大型蝶骨嵴内侧脑膜瘤的技术要求及效果。方法 :本组男 7例 ,女 13例 ,临床症状和体征为典型的蝶骨嵴内侧脑膜瘤表现 ,行CT或MR检查确诊。肿瘤体积为 5cm× 4cm× 4cm～ 11cm× 9cm× 7cm。采用改良翼点入路 11例 ,颅颧或颅眶颧入路 9例。行肿瘤全切 12例 (6 0 % ) ,次全切除 5例 (2 5 % ) ,大部切除 3例 (15 % )。结果 :本组无死亡。术后 14例恢复良好 ,保持术前状态 3例。随访 6月～ 5年 ,有 4例肿瘤复发。结论 :根据肿瘤大小及生物学特征 ,采用这三种入路能够较好地处理这类病变     

Laparoscopic transhiatal treatment of large epiphrenic esophageal diverticulum

BACKGROUND: Epiphrenic diverticulum is an uncommon disorder of the distal third of the esophagus. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman with a large symptomatic esophageal epiphrenic diverticulum, diffuse nonspecific esophageal dysmotility, and a hiatal hernia. METHODS: Surgery was indicated by the patient's symptoms, the size of the diverticulum (maximum diameter 10 cm), and the associated esophageal motor disorder. Preoperative study included barium swallow, upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, and esophageal manometry. A laparoscopic transhiatal diverticulectomy associated with a Heller myotomy, hiatoplasty, and a Dor's fundoplication was carried out. The overall operative time was 230 minutes. RESULTS: No intraoperative complications occurred. Gastrografin swallow performed on postoperative day 4 did not show any signs of leakage from the staple line. The postoperative hospital stay was 5 days. The patient was readmitted 10 days after discharge complaining of fever and chest pain. A new Gastrografin swallow demonstrated a small leak from the staple line successfully treated with 3 weeks of total enteral nutrition. CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach to epiphrenic diverticulum is feasible. Postoperative Gastrografin swallow is not 100% sensitive in detecting small suture-line leaks if a preexisting esophageal motility disorder is present. In case of late postoperative fever and pleural effusion, a suture-line leak should be suspected. Conservative management of the small suture-line leak should be considered as an effective therapeutic option.     

Resection of the tracheal bifurcation through a left thoracotomy

The surgical management of tumors of the left main bronchus with involvement of the lower trachea is one of the most difficult problems of tracheobronchial surgery. Two cases of adenocystic carcinoma in this location are presented, where resection of the tumor and reconstruction of the airway were performed through a left thoracotomy. In one case reconstruction of the tracheobronchial tree could be accomplished without loss of lung parenchyma; in the second case the left lung had to be removed since the lobar bronchi were infiltrated by the tumor. Such extensive left tracheobronchial resections have so far not been reported in the literature.     

Food, nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of cancer: a global perspective – the WCRF/AICR second report

Summary   The 1997 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) report, Food, Nutrition and the Prevention of Cancer: a global perspective, has become the most authoritative statement on the topic. Since then, new evidence has emerged, and more sophisticated methods of reviewing and assessing the literature have been developed. As a result, WCRF/AICR has invited a new expert panel of scientists, with observers from the United Nations and other international agencies, to work on the production of a second report, due to be published in 2006. In addition, a special methodology task force, commissioned by WCRF, has established a methodology to systematically review the evidence. No such methodology has, up to now, been used for assessing mainly observational data on causation of disease. A portfolio approach to the evidence is used, in which all types of study, with their advantages and disadvantages, contribute to the inference of causation. Seven academic centres from the UK, the USA and continental Europe are using this new methodology to comprehensively review evidence in systematic literature reviews. In a separate process, an expert panel will make conclusions from the systematic literature reviews. Together with other relevant evidence, the panel will use these conclusions as the basis for formulating recommendations. Set against this backdrop, the new report will act as the most authoritative global report ever to be published on the subject of food, nutrition, physical activity and the prevention of cancer. It will form the basis for coherent strategies for cancer prevention and control and will set the scientific agenda for years to come.     

Unusual approaches for insertion of the greenfield vena cava filter: the value of its approach through the jugulosubclavian junction

During the last four years, we have attempted 249 insertions of the Greenfield inferior vena cava filter using the right internal jugular vein. This approach was impossible in 31 patients (12.5%). Our first alternative was the insertion of the filter through the venous junction between the right internal jugular and right subclavian veins. If this latter technique was not possible we attempted the insertion of the Greenfield filter through the left internal jugular vein before using the retrograde femoral route which is associated with high morbidity. By these techniques we have been able to reduce the number of patients in whom it is impossible to achieve mechanical endocaval partial interruption to 2.4%.     

Craniofacial resection for anterior skull base tumours

Summary This study presents a series of 10 patients with anterior skull base tumours, treated by a team of neurosurgeons and head- and neck surgeons. The series included 7 malignant tumours of the nose and paranasal sinuses and 1 retinoblastoma, all with intracranial extension through the lamina cribrosa. There were also 2 patients with an anterior base meningioma, growing into the ethmoid sinus and the nasal cavity.8 tumours were resected by a combined bifrontal craniotomy and uni- or bilateral rhinotomy. In 2 cases a bifrontal craniotomy alone without facial incision sufficed. The skull base was closed with a pediculated pericranial flap and a split-thickness free skin graft underneath.There were no postoperative problems of wound infection, CSF-leakage or meningitis. Recurrent tumour growth or systemic metastasis occurred in 5 out of 7 patients with malignant tumours, 6 months to 2 years postoperatively.The related literature and especially questions of operative indications and technique, including different possibilities of closure and reconstruction of the skull base, are discussed.     

A Novel, Intensive Home-Visiting Intervention for Runaway, Sexually Exploited Girls

PURPOSE.  Few studies have examined interventions that help adolescents who run away. This study both describes a home-visiting intervention program for young, sexually assaulted runaways (10–14 years old) and provides preliminary outcomes from the first 20 female participants.
DESIGN AND METHODS.  Using a strengths-based approach, advanced practice nurses provided frequent home and school visits and case management, and assisted girls to access an empowerment group over a 1-year period.
RESULTS.  Teens' risk behaviors decreased, including truancy, runaway episodes, sexually transmitted infections, and substance use.
CONCLUSIONS.  Preliminary results suggest that this is an effective intervention for reducing risk behaviors and helping younger runaways reconnect to school and family.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS.  Client-centered interventions in community settings can address the complex health needs of vulnerable young runaways.     

Posterior approach for simultaneous access to the popliteal and anterior tibial arteries applications to distal arterial bypass

Abstract Arterial surgery to salvage the lower limb tends to make use of the great saphenous vein, harvested with the subject in the supine position. If this is not possible the small saphenous vein is used, harvested with the subject in the prone position, however this requires a peroperative modification of the procedure. A bypass between the popliteal and anterior tibial arteries can be performed using either a lateral or a medial and lateral approach with the patient supine. In the event of trophic disorders of the lateral compartment of the leg, these approaches are not applicable. In such cases we propose a single posterior approach. The single posterior approach was used on 10 lower limbs from 5 cadavers in the prone position. Approach to the lower part of the popliteal artery was undertaken posteriorly between the two heads of gastrocnemius. The small saphenous vein was entirely dissected 10cm above the lateral malleolus, the Achilles tendon and short fibular vessels were retracted medially to expose the interosseous fascia, which was divided over 10 cm. Medial rotation of the limb by 30° exposed the anterior tibial artery. For 3 of the lower limbs an 8 cm fibular resection was necessary, whereas on the remaining 7 medial rotation enabled excellent exposure of the anterior tibial artery. The single posterior approach to the anterior tibial artery can be applied in cases requiring distal bypass, using the small saphenous vein, between the inferior part of the popliteal artery and the anterior tibial artery.