Clinical Characteristics and Outcome of Malignant Eyelid Tumors: A Five-Year Retrospective Study.

INTRODUCTION: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study about malignant eyelid tumors in the region of Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and it shows similar results comparing with other countries (the annual incidence of eyelid tumors in Tuzla region is about 3.73/100 000 population). Malignant eyelid tumors are relatively uncommon, but potentially fatal disease. However, if detected early and treated adequately, the prognosis is generally excellent. AIM: The aim of this study was the clinical and microscopical analysis of malignant eyelid tumors in treated patients, the presentation of surgical treatment and reconstructive methods of eyelid tumors. METHODS: This retrospective study included 60 patients surgically treated at the University Clinical Center Tuzla from January 2012 to December 2016, who were initially diagnosed with malignant eyelid tumors in accordance to the final results obtained by histological examination of excised lesions. RESULTS: In the group of malignant tumors, the most common tumors were BCC (85%), which were predominantly found on the lower eyelids (92.16%) and showed female predominance (51.06%). SCC was the second most common eyelid malignancy (15%) and showed a predilection for the lower eyelid involvement and male predominance (55.56%). Tumors up to 2 cm in diameter (clinical stage T1) were found in 78.33% of cases, 95.74% of which with radical excision, while 4.26% with non-radical excision. CONCLUSION: Treatment by complete excision with histological confirmation of tumor clearance is recommended. Perineural spread is an adverse prognostic sign, which may require postoperative radiotherapy. Orbital invasion is a rare complication but, if recognized early, it can be treated effectively with exenteration. Because presentation varies and histological examination is required for accurate diagnosis, any suspicious lesion occurring on the eyelids should be excised or biopsied. All patients with malignant tumors should be advised of the risk of recurrent or new tumors and encouraged to attend lifelong follow up.

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF OCULAR MELANOMA IN UNIVERSITY CLINIC CENTER IN TUZLA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA.

AIM: Melanoma represents a malignant tumour arising from melanocytes. Uveal melanoma is the most common primary ocular malignancy among the adult population. The aim of the study was to examine epidemiological characteristics of ocular melanoma in University Clinic Centre in Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina from January 2001 till November 2015. METHODS AND MATERIALS: In this retrospective study we used all available medical documentation to investigate the clinical findings which included age, gender, tumour size, histopathological features and the precise anatomic origin of the ocular melanoma. RESULTS: Over the 14 year period of this study, there were 32 patients with microscopically confirmed ocular melanoma at the Department of Pathology. All malignant melanoma were uveal origin. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: For early detection of the disease, regular checkups are necessary, especially in older population. As there is a limited number of reports on the epidemiology of malignant tumors of eye and ocular adnex in our region, this is very important study. We conclude that this is a first study in Bosnia and Herzegovina that document the number of uveal melanomas.

Complications following autologous latissimus flap breast reconstruction.

Use of an autologous latissimus flap in breast reconstruction accounts for a supple and natural look of reconstructed breast. Most common postoperative complication, seroma, became more of a rule then an exception when it comes to postoperative evaluation of the patients who underwent this reconstructive procedure. A retrospective study analysing and evaluating different complication rates in 20 patients who underwent breast reconstruction by autologous latissimus flap, was conducted. All patients included in the study were operated at the Department of plastic surgery of Hôpital Civil in Strasbourg, France, between 1996 and 2008. The complication rates were noted as follows: seroma in 19 of our 20 patients (95%), late hypertrophic scarring in 3 patients (15%), postoperative surgical site hematoma in 3 patients (15%), and 2 patients (10%) presented postoperative chronic back pain. Different options used in seroma treatment and prevention (subcutaneous-fascia anchor sutures of donor site, application of corticosteroids by injection into donor site postoperatively, passive drainage) can reduce seroma formation and thus overall complication rates, leading to much faster patient's recovery time and return to normal daily activities.

Pattern of head and neck malignant tumours in a Tuzla ENT clinic--a five year experience.

Head and neck neoplasia can affect certain fundamental functions, including eating, drinking, speaking and respiration. One overriding factor in deciding on treatment policy is the tendency for head and neck malignancy to be limited to the primary site and regional lymph nodes with surgery and chemotherapy and radiotherapy. The aim of the study was to analyze the occurrence of Head and Neck tumours operated at ENT clinic Tuzla, University Clinical Center Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Medical records of patients with histopathologically confirmed head and neck malignancies over a 5 year period (2003-2007) were analyzed. Eight hundred and eight one (881) cases, made up of 519 (58,8%) males and 362 (41,1%) females were found. The most common sites for head and neck malignancies were found to be in the larynx (26,1%), oral cavity (21,7%), the thyroid gland (14,64 %) and the neck (8,51%). A total of 230 patients were diagnosed with laryngeal carcinoma (M:173; F:57), showing the increasing number of female patients. The histopathological tumour types found in this work were mostly squamous cell carcinoma (72,09%), papillary carcinoma (12,2%), while many other minor histopathological variants accounted for 13%. The most patients were presented with stage I and stage III of disease (27% and 28,3%), and 19,9% with stage IV. About 40% of patients did not have data about smoking habit and alcohol drinking. The incidence of head and neck tumours seems to be relatively high, but without significant increase during investigated period. More investigation concerning risk factors, diagnostic procedures, and management strategies should be done in future.