A Novel Local Transposition Flap for Lateral Breast Reconstruction After Breast Conserving Surgery.

BACKGROUND: Breast conserving surgery (BCS) followed by radiotherapy is used for the management of early-stage breast cancers. There are different techniques to reconstruct the breast after BCS, each has its own advantages and disadvantages. In this study, we aim to present a novel local transposition flap and report the follow-up results of patients who underwent breast reconstruction using this method in the short and long term. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We enrolled 100 patients who underwent BCS in the form of upper or lower outer quadrant lumpectomy with or without axillary lymph node dissection. After lumpectomy, the patients underwent breast reconstruction using the local transposition flap technique. We followed the patients for 1 year, and the satisfaction results are assessed and reported postoperation, after radiochemotherapy, and after 1 year. RESULTS: The patients' mean age is 47.6 (±11.7) years, and the mean BMI is 32.4 (±2.5). The duration of hospitalization was 1 day in 96 patients and 2 days in 2 patients. There were 2 patients hospitalized for 3 days. Three patients developed seroma and there were no cases of any other complication. The surgeon and patients satisfaction surveys conducted postop, after the radiochemotherapy course, and 1 year after BCS shows that the excellent and good satisfaction rate is 85%, 85%, and 92% respectively. CONCLUSION: We believe that the local transposition flap can be an excellent substitution for the existing methods in the reconstruction of the lateral side breast defects.

Comparing open conventional carpal tunnel release with mini-incision technique in the treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome: A non-randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is the most common nerve entrapment neuropathy which is the result of the compression of the median nerve in the wrist. Currently, there is no consensus about the best treatment option. The purpose of this clinical trial was to compare the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing open CT release with mini-incision CT release. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This clinical trial included 75 patients with CTS who were divided into two groups of 45 and 30 patients to undergo open-CT release or mini incision CT release respectively. Patients were evaluated pre-operatively, days after the surgery and then five months after the operation to record outcomes. At follow-up, the visual analogue scale (VAS) scores for pain, patients' satisfaction, return to work, length of scar, paresthesia, grip and opposition strength were measured. RESULTS: A total of 75 patients (mean age: 52.13 years, 73.3% female) underwent CTS surgery. Forty-five patients (60%) had open-CT release and 30 patients (40%) had mini-incision CT release. Postoperative pain and scar length were significantly lower in the mini incision group compared to open group (p < 0.001). The mini-incision CT group returned to work earlier than open group with higher satisfaction (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between two groups in respect to the improvement of the opposition, grip and paresthesia (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study demonstrated that mini-incision CT release improves pain more effectively and has better quality of life because of smaller length of scar, immediate return to work and higher overall satisfaction. Neurosensory and motor improvements were also seen in both techniques with the same clinical impact.

Comparison of Split Thickness Skin Grafts and Flaps in Bilateral Chronic Axillary Hidradenitis Suppurativa.

BACKGROUND: Hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic inflammatory disease with multiple inflammatory nodules and abscesses. We aimed to compare split thickness skin graft (STSG) and flaps in bilateral chronic refractory axillary hidradenitis suppurativa. METHODS: Thirty patients were investigated from March 21, 2010 to March 20, 2015. Debridement of involved skin and subcutaneous fat was done until deep fascia. The second operation was a reconstructive procedure to cover bilateral axillary wounds with STSG in left side and random fasciocutaneous flaps in the right side. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 35.2±9.3 years. There were 16 men (53.3%) and 14 women (46.7%). Duration of the disease before trial was 6.5±2.1 years. The association between pain at one-month follow-up for graft or flap sites was not significant. The patients did not have pain at flap and graft sites at three-month, six-month and one-year follow-ups. Twenty-four patients (80.0%) had normal ranges of motion at one-month follow-up. At six-month and one-year follow-ups, all patients had bilateral normal ranges of motion. All patients were satisfied from symmetry of flap and graft sites at six-month and one-year follow-ups. All patients were satisfied from graft and flap donor sites at six-month and one-year follow-ups. At one-month, three-month, six-month and one-year follow-ups, recurrence of hidradenitis suppurativa was not seen. CONCLUSION: Both STSGs and fasciocutaneous flaps were successful and satisfactory for tissue coverage in patients with axillary hidradenitis suppurativa. We recommend this technique in cases of bilateral axillary hidradenitis suppurativa.

Carotid free-floating thrombus causing stroke in a young woman with lupus anticoagulant: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: In young adults Stroke is a challenging condition and various tests are needed to diagnose and manage its underlying problems. Free floating thrombosis of internal carotid artery (FFT-ICA) is one of the rare problems among carotid artery diseases which can lead to stroke in adults. Owing to limited cases of FFT-ICA there is not a worldwide accepted consensus on management of FFT-ICA, but some recurrences after medical management have been reported in the literature. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A-25-year old woman was referred to hospital with sudden onset aphasia and right sided hemiparesis. Carotid duplex ultrasonography showed an iso-echogenic thrombus ranged about 5×10mm partially attached to arterial wall of the right internal carotid artery. It was floating in accordance with the heartbeat. Anticoagulation therapy was initiated and subsequently she underwent an urgent operation. To explore the etiology of her problem, various lab tests were carried out; the results showed markedly elevated levels of lupus anticoagulant. She was discharged from hospital after an uneventful recovery showing gradual improvement of symptoms in follow-up visits. DISCUSSION: FFT-ICA is one of the scarce disorders of carotid artery. Less than 150 cases have been reported in the literature indicating its common occurrence in old men. Hence the etiology of this case (FFT in a young patient with high levels of lupus anticoagulant antibody) may be the first of its type. CONCLUSION: In this case we chose surgical treatment resulting in complete resolution of symptoms and non-recurrence within 6 month follow-up.

Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma Presenting as Abdominal Pain with a Pulsatile Mass.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a rare tumor that mostly involves adults aged 50 to 70. The most common anatomic location is the lower extremities. MFH of the retroperitoneum usually manifests late in its course and may be initially mistaken with other more common diagnosis. Here, the authors describe a 60-year-old man that was brought to the emergency department with a chief complaint of periumbilical abdominal pain. Our patient presented with symptoms consistent with a symptomatic aortic aneurysm, but a mass was encountered during surgery. In such circumstances the diagnosis of malignant sarcoma must be kept in mind and attempts at full resection with tumor-free margins are necessary.

Necrolytic migratory erythema as the first manifestation of glucagonoma.

Necrolytic migratory erythma (NME) as a rare skin disorder that can affected Perineum, distal extremities, lower abdomen and face are the most commonly affected sites.It can be as a part of Glucagonoma syndrome that is defined as an association of glucagonoma with NME, hyperglucagonemia, glucose intolerance, anemia and weight loss. Here, Authors describe a woman admitted to the dermatology ward with NME which was later found to be associated with glucagonoma and multiple hepatic lesions.

Survival rate of gastric cancer in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Stomach cancer is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. In Iran, the mortality of stomach cancer is the first cause of death due to cancer in both sexes. This study was designed to estimate survival rate of stomach cancer at national level. METHODS: From the national cancer registry file, 3439 cases of stomach cancer that had telephone number and were diagnosed between years 2001 and 2005 were called to obtain information about their life status. Survival estimates were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the survival probability was calculated for the overall cohorts and also for gender and anatomical sites of tumor. Relative ratios (RR) according to demographic and risk variables were calculated by Cox's proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The overall 5-year survival rate was 12.8%. The likelihood of death was higher in men (RR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.11-1.33) and patients more than 70 years old had worse prognosis rather than those below fifty years old (RR = 1.67; 95% CI: 1.46-1.91). The 5-year survival rate for tumors located in antrum was significantly higher than corpus and cardia (p = 0.009). Patients with lymphoma had a significantly higher 5-year survival rate compared to those with adenocarcinoma (RR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.31-0.66). CONCLUSIONS: The status of stomach cancer, including relative low survival rate in Iran, indicates the extremely urgent needs for health authorities to adopt measures of cancer prevention that proved effective in other countries.