[Our experiences in treatment of squamous cell skin cancer of head and neck]. / Iskustva u lecenju planocelularnog karcinoma koze glave i vrata.

The incidence of squamous cell skin center is the second, after basocellular skin cancer. Surgical treatment is the first and most effective therapy for this tumor. The aim of study is to present experiences of Surgical clinic in Nis in treatment of squamous cell skin cancer in head and neck. During 10-year period (1990-2000) there were operated 346 patients with squamous cell skin cancer of head and neck. We performed wide surgical excision with clinical free margins of 5-10 mm, and more radical excision and reconstructions for advanced tumors. We registered postoperative complications in 14 (4.04%) patients. Early diagnose and adequate treatments of squamous cell skin cancer are prerequisite for good postoperative results and low complication rate.

[D-dimer in the early detection of deep vein thrombosis in the lower extremity]. / D-dimer u ranom otkrivanju tromboze dubokih vena donjih ekstremiteta.

Deep vein thrombosis is important social and health care problem for its high incidence, pulmonary embolism-related mortality, and long-term sequelae which may be disabling (post-thrombotic syndrome and ulceration). The aim of our work was to determine the diagnostic potential and importance of D dimer in the early detection of deep vein thrombosis of lower extremities. Prospectively we have analyzed a group of 47 patients who were admitted to vascular department of Surgical Clinic in Nis during the period from 1.8.2001. to 31.3.2003. with echosonographically verified deep vein thrombosis of no more than 48 hours of duration. D dimer was measured before anticoagulant treatment started using commercial Nycomed test. The activation of coagulation process was detected with increase in D dimer values in 44 out of 47 examined patients (93.61%). D dimer is highly sensitive diagnostic tool that should be routinely used in the patients with suspected deep vein thrombosis of leg.

DNA ploidy analysis and cell proliferation in congenital sacrococcygeal teratomas.

BACKGROUND: Congenital sacrococcygeal teratoma is the most common germ cell tumor in infants and children. It usually is diagnosed at birth, is benign, and consists of fully differentiated mature tissues. Congenital sacrococcygeal teratomas (SCTs) also may contain immature tissues, most commonly of neural origin. The proportion of malignant teratomas increases with advancing age, but the relation between mature and immature SCTs is not well understood. Thus, it is very important to determine proliferative activity, DNA ploidy, and DNA index to predict biologic behavior of these tumors. METHODS: DNA ploidy and cell proliferation were analyzed by flow cytometry, and the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and Ki-67 were analyzed immunohistochemically on paraffin embedded tissue. RESULTS: All the tumors that were surgically treated within 3 months after birth, including immature teratoma, were diploid. Strongly positive PCNA immunostaining was found in both immature teratomas, and weakly positive PCNA was found in nine cases. Weak positivity for Ki-67 was observed in 2 cases, and moderate positivity was observed in 6 cases including immature teratomas. CONCLUSION: The value of flow cytometry in the prediction of biologic behavior of congenital SCT should be analyzed further. Our results suggest that Ki-67 and especially PCNA may reflect the proliferative activity of these tumors.