GIANT BASAL CELL CARCINOMA ON THE FOREHEAD AND WHY WE SHOULD PREVENT THEM - CASE REPORT.

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most prevalent malignancy, with rising incidence worldwide. Despite its naturally slow growth and initially low metastatic potential, it can cause significant morbidity and mortality when unrecognized, inadequately treated or poorly followed up. Authors present the case of a 61-year-old male with a 7-year history of multiple incomplete excisions of a “simple” BCC on the forehead. A CT scan of the head revealed an invasive mass (5.2 cm laterolateral x 4.0 cm craniocaudal) in the frontal area. There was no evidence of metastasis. Complete resection of the lesion and reconstruction was achieved in three stages. Final reconstruction was achieved using a left frontal fasciocutaneous flap. The secondary defect was closed with an advancement flap of the scalp and donor sites were covered using a split-thickness skin graft from the upper limb. This case demonstrates the necessity for vigilance in the approach to, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of these skin neoplasms. The development of giant BCCs should be avoided at all costs. Increased size of BCCs corresponds with increased recurrence rate, metastatic rate, morbidity, mortality, treatment difficulties and overall costs.

Aortic Dissection Limited to Abdominal Aorta: an Underrecognized Entity?

BACKGROUND: Aortic dissection limited to the abdominal aorta is a rare clinical entity with non-specific clinical features. Optimal treatment, as well as natural history and progression of the disease, remain unclear. In 1992 we -reported 5 cases of isolated abdominal aortic dissection (IAAD) and in the present paper we update our series with 5 additional patients. A concise literature review is also provided. METHODS: Between 1992 and 2014, we diagnosed 5 patients with IAAD (4 men, mean age 60.6 years, range 45-77). No patient presented with acute onset of symptoms. One patient was diagnosed with a periumbilical bruit, and diagnosis was made with magnetic resonance (MR)-angiography. Other diagnoses were incidental findings on computed tomographic (CT) scanning. Dissection was located infrarenally in four cases and at the celiac trunk in one case. RESULTS: All cases were treated conservatively with hypertension control and close follow-up. Follow-up period ranged from 10 months to 20 years and was performed yearly by CT- or MR-angiography and blood pressure monitoring. All patients remained symptom-free, all dissection lengths remained stable. Slowly increasing post-dissection aneurysmal dilatation was encountered in two patients. We combined results of these five new patients with five previously diagnosed and reported patients at our center. Treatment was surgical in only one out of 10 patients. There was no disease-related mortality during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our case series, IAAD remains a rare clinical condition with relative benign clinical course. Treatment was almost exclusively conservative. Recent publications state IAAD might be underrecognized and under-diagnosed compared to thoracic aortic dissections.

Spontaneous intrahepatic gas gangrene and fatal septic shock.

Gas gangrene of the liver is a rare clinical syndrome associated with a high rate of mortality. It is mostly associated with malignancy and immunosuppression. We report on a male patient who presented at the department of emergency medicine with high fever but no localised complaints. CT scan revealed a cavitary lesion filled with air in the liver. Clostridium perfringens was proved to be present in the hepatic lesion and the blood, and clostridium perfringens sepsis with gas gangrene of the liver was diagnosed. Despite early diagnosis and treatment the patient died. The importance of "an aggressive treatment policy" in this kind of life-threatening disease is emphasised.

Reduction of blood loss with tranexamic acid in primary total hip replacement surgery.

BACKGROUND: In this prospective, placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized clinical trial, we investigated the effect of a single preoperative bolus dose of tranexamic acid (15 mg/kg) on perioperative blood losses and packed cell transfusion requirements in patients scheduled for primary unilateral total hip replacement surgery for degenerative osteoarthrosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 40 patients were randomized to receive either 15 mg/kg tranexamic acid (TA group) or an equal volume of saline (placebo group) given as a single slow intravenous bolus injection 15 minutes before incision. We recorded per- and postoperative blood losses and transfusion requirements up to 24 hours postoperatively. The patients were screened for deep venous thrombosis with bilateral compression ultrasonography using colour Doppler imaging on the tenth postoperative day. RESULTS: Peroperative blood loss was not significantly different between the two treatment groups (TA group : 423 ml, placebo group 516 ml ; p = 0.093). Postoperative blood loss up to 24 hrs, and total blood loss were significantly less in the TA group : 352 vs 524 ml (p = 0.013), and 801 vs 1038 ml (p = 0.013), respectively. Packed red blood cell transfusion requirements were significantly lower in the TA group (1/20 patients, total 2 units) compared to the placebo group (6/20 patients, total 13 units). Compression ultrasonography on the 10th postoperative day was positive for deep venous thrombosis in 3 patients in the TA group (17 patients screened) and negative in all patients of the placebo group (18 patients screened). CONCLUSION: Tranexamic acid 15 mg/kg given as a single preoperative bolus dose reduces postoperative and total blood loss, and packed cell transfusion requirements in primary total hip replacement surgery.