Carcinosarcoma (malignant mixed tumor) of the parotid: Report of a case with a pure rhabdomyosarcoma component

Background. Carcinosarcoma or true malignant mixed tumor of the parotid gland is extremely rare, accounting for <1% of all salivary gland malignancies. Methods. A 63-year-old woman presented with a 5-cm right parotid mass which was resected with a radical parotidectomy and infratemporal fossa dissection. Results. The tumor contained two distinctive histologic patterns, that of a poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma and a pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma. Additionally, a residual focus of pleomorphic adenoma was present peripherally, Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies confirmed the skeletal muscle differentiation. Conclusions. The pattern of combined rhabdomyosarcoma and ductal carcinoma has not been previously reported and adds further evidence to the myoepithelial derivation of these tumors. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Retroperitoneal versus transperitoneal approach for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms

We, as well as other authors, believe that the retroperitoneal approach is an excellent alternative to the transperitoneal route for the repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms. This approach is associated with a significant decrease in pulmonary and cardiac complications and therefore can be used in selected high-risk patients with expanding aneurysms. A well-controlled randomized multicenter trial should answer the question: "Is this approach the surgical access of choice for the elective repair of abdominal aortic aneurysms?"