[Magnetic resonance imaging of craniofacial pathology]. / Apport de l'imagerie par résonance magnétique en pathologie crânio-faciale.

Effectiveness of nuclear magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was compared with that of the CT scan in several cases involving different lesions: intracranial, base of skull, facial sinuses, parapharyngeal spaces. MRI provided excellent contrast in soft tissues with good detection of tumors and their limits, the condition of neighboring tissues and any local or regional tumor extension. Vessels were also visualized. It was not influenced by dental artefacts, and allowed three-dimensional sections to be obtained simply without manipulation of patients. In contrast, bone structures were analyzed less clearly than by the CT scan. Marked progress in MRI technical features and results obtained can be expected in the very near future.

[Congenital esophagotracheal fistulas without esophageal atresia in children]. / Les fistules oeso-trachéales congénitales sans atrésie de l'oesophage chez l'enfant.

Ten cases are reported of children presenting isolated, congenital esophagotracheal fistulae without esophageal atresia, or "H-type-fistula" of Anglo-Saxon authors. The malformation is rare, of difficult diagnosis and often associated with other malformations. Respiratory symptomatology is sometimes dramatic, but diagnosis is based on data from radiologic imaging of the esophagus and from esophageal and tracheobronchial endoscopy. Treatment is surgical by a cervicotomy approach due to the almost constant high localization of the lesion.

[Our experience in reconstruction after transmandibular buccopharyngectomy. Comparative study of various flaps. Apropos of 74 cases]. / Notre expérience dans la reconstruction après bucco-pharyngectomie trans-mandibulaire. Etude comparative des différents lambeaux. A propos de 74 cas.

A total of 74 cases of transmandibular buccopharyngectomy with reconstruction by local or regional flaps were analyzed to compare results of the use of temporofrontal and pectoralis major musculo-cutaneous flaps. Findings in this series suggested superiority for the use of the latter type.

[A median craniofacial malformation: schizoprosopia. Apropos of 4 cases]. / Malformation cranio-faciale médiane: la schizoprosopie. A propos de quatre cas.

Four cases of a median craniofacial malformation, schizoprosopia, are reported. This rare but compatible with life anomaly is included within the group of neurocristopathies of the nasofrontal bud. Patients affected present signs of more or less severe mediofacial division with, in some cases an associated encephalocele or cranial bone defect. The possible presence of an associated hypopituitarism must be investigated routinely, and substitutive hormone therapy combined with surgical treatment of the various malformations when results are positive.

[Spontaneous rupture of the esophagus]. / Les ruptures spontanées de l'oesophage.

Two rare (as they were cervical) cases of so-called spontaneous rupture of the esophagus are reported, and similar cases treated in the C.H.U. Rennes, over the last 8 years reviewed. The historical background and pathogenic mechanism of this affection are recalled, and its difficult diagnosis emphasized, the latter being the result of the almost total lack of precise symptoms, which associate thoracic, abdominal, and cervical features to varying degrees. Therapy is difficult and the prognosis poor.