Noninvasive treatment of cutaneous neurofibromas (cNFs): Results of a randomized prospective, direct comparison of four methods.

BACKGROUND: People with Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) suffer disfigurement and pain when hundreds to thousands of cutaneous neurofibromas (cNFs) appear and grow throughout life. Surgical removal of cNFs under anesthesia is the only standard therapy, leaving surgical scars. OBJECTIVE: Effective, minimally-invasive, safe, rapid, tolerable treatment(s) of small cNFs that may prevent tumor progression. METHODS: Safety, tolerability, and efficacy of 4 different treatments were compared in 309, 2-4 mm cNFs across 19 adults with Fitzpatrick skin types (FST) I-IV: radiofrequency (RF) needle coagulation, 755 nm alexandrite laser with suction, 980 nm diode laser, and intratumoral injection of 10 mg/mL deoxycholate. Regional pain, clinical responses, tumor height and volume (by 3D photography) were assessed before, 3 and 6 months post-treatment. Biopsies were obtained electively at 3 months. RESULTS: There was no scarring or adverse events > grade 2. Each modality significantly (P < .05) reduced or cleared cNFs, with large variation between tumors and participants. Alexandrite laser and deoxycholate were fast and least painful; 980 nm laser was most painful. Growth of cNFs was not stimulated by treatment(s) based on height and volume values at 3 and 6 months compared to baseline. LIMITATIONS: Intervention was a single treatment session; dosimetry has not been optimized. CONCLUSIONS: Small cNFs can be rapidly and safely treated without surgery.

The free revascularized rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap for the repair of tumour related defects in the head and neck area.

The present work reviews a series of 11 consecutive patients who have received free revascularized rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps for primary reconstruction of soft tissues after ablative tumour surgery in the head and neck area. In 10 patients, a total or subtotal glossectomy had been performed and the flap was used to replace the resected tongue volume. In 5 of these cases, extensive perforating defects had resulted after additional resection of large portions of the chin and the cheek. Mandibular continuity was restored by a metal plate and the flap was divided into an intraoral and extraoral portion in these patients. In one patient, the flap had been used for closure of a full thickness defect of the calvarium. 9 of the 11 flaps healed uneventfully. In one case, a partial flap loss was encountered after thrombosis of the venous pedicle due to compression as a result of an unfavourable defect anatomy and flap positioning. Primary closure of the abdominal wall was achieved in all cases. A subcutaneous hematoma occurred at the donor site in one patient. According to our present experience, the rectus abdominis free flap may serve as an alternative to the frequently employed latissimus dorsi flap in maxillofacial reconstructions while it offers the possibility for flap elevation simultaneously to the surgical procedures in the head and neck area.

Hypnoanesthesia in the morbidly obese.

The advent of chemical anesthesia relegated hypnosis to an adjunctive role in patients requiring major operations. Anesthesia can be utilized with acceptable risk in the great majority of patients encountered in modern practice. But an occasional patient will present--such as one with morbid obesity--who needs a surgical procedure and who cannot be safely managed by conventional anesthetic techniques. This report describes our experience with such a patient and illustrates some of the advantages and disadvantages of hypnoanesthesia. The greatest disadvantage is that it is unpredictable. Close cooperation between the patient, hypnotist, anesthesiologist, and surgeon is critical. However, the technique may be utilized to remove very large lesions in selected patients. Hypnoanesthesia is an important alternative for some patients who cannot and should not be managed with conventional anesthetic techniques.