[Retrospective analysis of 6 cases of elastofibroma dorsi]. / Elastofibroma dorsi: estudio retrospectivo de seis casos.

Elastofibroma dorsi is a benign lesion of fibroelastic tissue. It often presents bilaterally, is frequently localized to the subscapular region, and is more common in middle-aged and elderly women. The pathogenesis is still unclear but it has been suggested to involve reactive, degenerative, or neoplastic processes. We present a retrospective study of the findings from 6 patients with elastofibroma dorsi. Elastofibroma should be included in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous scapular tumors, as it is a benign lesion that only requires surgery when associated with symptoms or the lesion is extensive. Noninvasive techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and, above all, magnetic resonance imaging, may be sufficient to guide diagnosis. The results of histology and imaging are closely correlated, so the need for unnecessary biopsy and surgery may be avoided.

Elastofibroma dorsi: estudio retrospectivo de seis casos / Retrospective analysis of 6 cases of elastofibroma dorsi

El elastofibroma dorsi es una lesión benigna de tejido fibroelástico, a menudo bilateral, localizada frecuentemente en la región subescapular, más común en mujeres de edad media y ancianas. La patogénesis es desconocida, y se ha sugerido que se trate de un proceso reactivo, degenerativo o neoplásico. Presentamos un estudio retrospectivo de los hallazgos observados en seis pacientes con elastofibroma dorsi. El elastofibroma debe plantearse en el diagnóstico diferencial de tumoraciones subcutáneas de localización escapular, ya que es una lesión benigna que sólo requiere tratamiento quirúrgico cuando es sintomático o muy grande. Técnicas no invasivas, como la ecografía, tomografía computarizada y especialmente la resonancia magnética pueden ser suficientes para orientar el diagnóstico, con estrecha correlación entre el cuadro histológico y las imágenes radiológicas específicas evitando biopsias y cirugías innecesarias (AU)

Elastofibroma dorsi is a benign lesion of fibroelastic tissue. It often presents bilaterally, is frequently localized to the subscapular region, and is more common in middle-aged and elderly women. The pathogenesis is still unclear but it has been suggested to involve reactive, degenerative, or neoplastic processes. We present a retrospective study of the findings from 6 patients with elastofibroma dorsi. Elastofibroma should be included in the differential diagnosis of subcutaneous scapular tumors, as it is a benign lesion that only requires surgery when associated with symptoms or the lesion is extensive. Noninvasive techniques such as ultrasonography, computed tomography, and, above all, magnetic resonance imaging, may be sufficient to guide diagnosis. The results of histology and imaging are closely correlated, so the need for unnecessary biopsy and surgery may beavoided (AU)

Subcutaneous angioleiomyomas: gray-scale and color Doppler sonographic appearances.

PURPOSE: To describe the gray-scale Doppler and sonographic features of a series of subcutaneous angioleiomyomas. METHODS: The sonographic appearances of 10 pathologically proven angioleiomyomas were retrospectively reviewed; 4 in women and 6 in men, with an age range from 33 to 77 years. We evaluated size, shape, echo pattern, margins, location, relationships with adjacent structures, and vascularity. Examinations were performed using a multifrequency linear array transducer (9-11 MHz) connected to a Logiq 500 scanner (GE, Milwaukee, Wl). RESULTS: All tumors were subcutaneous and located in the extremities (7 in the lower extremities, 3 in the upper extremities). The sizes ranged from 0.6 to 6.4 cm, with an average size of 2 cm. All of the lesions were hypoechoic with well-defined margins, and 9 were oval. Intratumoral calcifications were observed in two patients. Vascularity was easily detected in all of them, and 4 tumors had a clear vascular pedicle. The spectral Doppler analysis performed in 5 cases, revealing a low-resistance arterial waveform in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although angioleiomyomas are uncommon soft tissue tumors, the presence of a well-defined, hypoechoic, vascular subcutaneous tumor in the extremities should raise the possibility of such a diagnosis.

[Rapid detection of neurologic morbidity in full term newborn infants]. / Detección rápida de morbilidad neurológica en el recién nacido de término.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of the simplified method to detect neurological morbidity in newborn and to estimate the predictive parameter, i.e. sensitivity, specificity and predictive value. The sample consisted of 100 newborn infants from the Maternity Clinic of Hospital Regional Docente Trujillo-Perú, during the period from March to May 1990. All infants were born full-term, of normal delivery and Apgar score of greater than or equal to 7 at one minute, and no congenital malformation were present. Each one of the newborn was evaluated with a complete neurologic examination and the simplified method. Previously, the effects of population variables had been evaluated: the mean birth weight was 3277 g. (S.D. 435). Seventy one percent of the infants were between 38.5 and 39.5 weeks of gestational age. Eighty five percent of cases, showed on Apgar score from 8 to 10. The results allowed to determine that the sensitivity of the rapid neurological assessment was 0.70 specificity 0.75 and predictive value 0.75 (P less than 0.01). These findings suggest the usefulness and convenience of the method to detect neurological morbidity in full-term newborn infants.

[Various risk factors for infantile epilepsy relapse after the end of treatment]. / Algunos factores de riesgo de recaída de la epilepsia infantil después de finalizado el tratamiento.

A study was conducted at the out-patient Pediatric Neurology clinic of the Trujillo Peru Regional Teaching Hospital on 127 children with epilepsy and who were seen for the first time at the clinic. After completing two years of continuous treatment and free of any convulsions, the patients were followed and later controlled for a minimum period of two to four years. The object of the study was to correlate the frequency of relapses and risk factors which may have influenced the convulsions. Remission was seen in 70.7% of the cases while the convulsions recurred in 29.3% of the patients. The convulsions recurred during the first 24 months after treatment was completed. Relapses of epilepsy in children are directly related to the start of the convulsions at and early age to the type and severity of the episode, to the added neurological abnormalities as well as persistent paroxysmal EEG abnormalities.