[Intratumoral Onyx embolisation in the management of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma]. / Intratumorale Onyx-Embolisation in der Therapie von juvenilen Nasenrachenangiofibromen.

Preoperative embolization for the treatment of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma was successfully accomplished with Onyx by intratumoral puncture for the first time. Extratumoral migration of Onyx particles was not observed, precluding the necessity to inflate the shield balloon. Postinterventional angiography showed complete occlusion of all supporting blood vessels. Transnasal surgery on the following day achieved complete resection of the angiofibroma without complications. Direct intratumoral embolization of juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas appears to be a safe and effective preoperative method without complications. It could represent a new strategy for the treatment of JNA, as is already the case with other highly vascularized head and neck tumors. Moreover, it increases the likelihood of achieving complete resection.

[Cervical paravertebral lesion]. / Zervikale paravertebrale Raumforderung.

We present the case of a 56-year old male patient complaining of occasional shoulder pain and paresthesia in the left hand. Computer tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a left cervical lesion. Angiography was normal. Due to anatomical restrictions, the tumor could only be partly excised. Histologic examination showed a chordoma. The diagnosis and therapy options are presented and discussed.

[Heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the bifurcation of the bile duct : Rare diagnosis mimicking a Klatskin tumour]. / Heterotopes Pankreasgewebe in der Hepatikusgabel : Seltene Differenzialdiagnose zum Klatskin-Tumor.

Heterotopic tissue of the pancreas can be found in 1-2% of autopsies. The main locations are stomach, duodenum, jejunum, Meckel's diverticulum, and ileum. Less frequently it is observed in the liver, gallbladder, common bile duct, and papilla of Vateri. We report the first case of heterotopic pancreatic tissue in the bifurcation of the bile duct mimicking a Klatskin's tumour. The case is discussed based on the current literature.

[Direct percutaneous embolization of a carotid body tumor with Onyx]. / Perkutane Onyx(R)-Embolisation zur Therapie von Glomus-caroticum-Tumoren.

Carotid body tumors are highly vascularized lesions that require successful preoperative embolization to achieve favorable clinical results in terms of morbidity and complete tumor resection. The procedure of percutaneous embolization was performed using ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (Onyx) in addition to balloon-catheter protection to prevent particle displacement into the internal carotid artery. The procedure resulted in nearly complete tumor embolization and facilitated the uneventful complete surgical resection. Percutaneous angiographic embolization of carotid body tumors in the head and neck was found to be safe and effective. This technique is likely to result in improved surgical outcomes and tumor resectability.

[Hamartoma : a rare nasopharyngeal pathology as a cause of nasal obstruction]. / Das Hamartom : Eine seltene nasopharyngeale Pathologie als Ursache einer Nasenatmungsbehinderung.

We present a case of a 44-year-old man with complaints of double-sided nasal obstruction and a foreign body sensation. A polypoid lesion was seen in the nasopharynx and was later completely excised. Histologic examination showed a respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma. The clinical and pathological features of this rare tumor as a cause of nasal obstruction are discussed.

Quality of life after surgical therapy of bronchogenic carcinoma.

Quality of life (QL) after the "curative" resection of non-small cell bronchogenic carcinoma was assessed by patients using the EORTC QL questionnaire (QLQ) and by a psychologist using the Spitzer Index. Quality of life was assessed in 52 patients on one occasion 12 months postoperatively and in 20 patients regularly starting with a preoperative assessment. Self- and external evaluation showed a significant correlation (r = 0.41), but QL was assessed as being higher by the external observer. After surgery it was mainly affected by restrictions related to physical activities, job and household tasks, and disease symptoms, whereas limitations in emotional, social, and financial domains were found less frequently and less severely. Of the different medical (surgical procedures, tumor recurrence) and social factors (sex, marital and employment status), only tumor recurrence was determined to have a significant and negative influence on postoperative QL (P < 0.02). When compared to the preoperative assessment, QL had deteriorated on discharge from hospital but was restored within 3-6 months postoperatively in disease-free patients.

[New methods for the morphometric analysis of anisotropic tissues]. / Neue Methoden zur morphometrischen Analyse ausgerichteter Gewebe.

Some unbiased, design-based stereological methods that have recently been developed for the study of anisotropic tissues like muscle, myocardium, brain, cartilage, and skin, are briefly reviewed. Vertical sections permit the unbiased estimation of surface density and mean volume-weighted particle volume from microscopic sections. The available experience includes various studies on malignant melanomas. In addition, the surface area of total organs (e.g., the pleural surface area) can be determined with vertical sections, which was hitherto not feasible. The orientator is a simple method to generate isotropic sections in biological material. With the orientator method it is possible to determine not only the surface density, but also the length density of the objects. Thus the method is suitable for the study of fascicular systems (tubules etc.), and for the study of vascularisation in particular.