Spindle Cell Lipoma of the Posterior Neck: A Case Report

PURPOSE: Spindle cell lipoma(SCL) is an uncommon subcutaneous soft tissue neoplasm that arises in the shoulder and posterior neck of older male patients. The imaging appearance of SCL is not pathognomonic and can display some features overlapping with liposarcoma. We report a case of SCL on the posterior neck. METHODS: The patient is a 50-year-old man with a slowly enlarging subcutaneous mass on the right side of posterior neck. Computed tomographic imaging revealed a 7.0cm sized, well-circumscribed, heterogenous and fatty mass with enhanced solid components. Whole body Fluorine-18 Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron emission tomogram(FDG PET-CT) showed little increase of FDG uptake on the right posterior neck and there was no distant metastasis. RESULTS: The mass was surgically removed. The resection margin was free of tumor on frozen biopsy. Histopathologic examination indicated spindle cell lipoma consisting of a mixture of mature adipocytes and uniform spindle cells within a matrix of mucinous material. CONCLUSION: Although CT image of the solitary mass in posterior neck is similar with the one of liposarcoma, we should consider that it may be a spindle cell lipoma if PET-CT and other systemic studies reveal no distant metastasis. And we should perform fine needle aspiration to differentiate SCL from malignant lesions.

Finger Injury by Green Onion Cutting Machine

PURPOSE: Finger injury by green onion cutting machine is one of the common hand injuries in the kitchen. It has a unique feature: there are multiple parellel laceration 3 -5mm wide. There are two directions of injuries(vertical, oblique). It may involve bone, tendon, nerve, and vessel injuries. We discuss its management and the long -term progress. METHODS: We have treated six patients from 2003 to 2007. We carried out low tension approximation with thin suture materials to avoid ischemia and performed the additional operation as nail bed repair, tenorrhaphy, open reduction, vessel anastomosis, and composite graft. We reviewed the record of initial injury and collected the follow-up record. RESULTS: They were all middle aged - women who had worked in the kitchen. Right hand was dominent over left hand. The ratio of the directions was 3:3 (vertical:oblique). They were all competely healed although there were three atrophy, four hyperesthesia, and one nail deformity. CONCLUSION: Finger injury by green onion cutting machine is a unique pattern of laceration with various accompanied injuries. It may look like a severe form of injury, but in most cases have relatively favorable progress. We have to perform careful examination of accompanied injuries and carry out the proper management. First and foremost, the user especially in the middle aged women should be warned to be careful in handling this risky machine.

Desmoplastic Trichilemmoma Arising in a Nevus Sebaceus

PURPOSE: Desmoplastic trichilemmoma is a rare variant of trichilemmoma. Histologically, it has a typical characteristic of trichilemmoma with epithelium of central portion and dense fibrous interstitium. There are only 4 reported cases of desmoplastic trichilemmoma arised in a nevus sebaceus, so we present a case of desmoplastic trichilemmoma arised in a nevus sebaceus with literature review. METHODS: A 46-year-old female was clinically diagnosed as nevus sebaceous on left side of the forehead. Considering the facial contour, the mass was totally excised elliptically and direct closure was feasible with undermining subcutaneous layer. RESULTS: Pathology report confirmed desmoplastic trichilemmoma developed from a nevus sebaceus and all tumor margins were negative. There were no evidences of tumor recurrence after surgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Desmoplastic trichilemmoma developed from a nevus sebaceus is a very rare tumor. Variant tumors can be developed from nevus sebaceus, so surgeon should be cautious in excising the mass totally and confirm the final pathology report.

A Tunable Digital Tourniquet Using Nelaton Catheter

PURPOSE: Surgery on digit requires a clear, bloodless field and it can be achieved by using a tourniquet. Several type of tourniquet have been used including Penrose drains and sterile glove with hemostat. We present a simple digital tourniquet using nelaton catheter, which is easily available, inexpensive, easy-to-apply, and effective for digital surgery. METHODS: We made a small incision on the opposite side of an opening at the tip of nelaton catheter. Then the other tip of nelaton catheter is passed through the incision to form a ring. Nelaton catheter is placed aournd the base of the injured finger, making a tight circle to desired pressure. RESULTS: A simple tourniquet using nelaton catheter effectively achieves a bloodless field and allows fine control of the pressure for digital surgery. CONCLUSION: We present a sismple digital tourniquet using nelaton catheter, which is easily available, inexpensive, tunable, and available for more than one finger.

A Case of Lipoma of the Parotid Gland

PURPOSE: Lipomas are common soft tissue neoplasms but are rarely found in the parotid gland. They constitute 1-3% of all parotid tumors, and are often not considered in the initial differential diagnosis of parotid gland tumors. METHODS: Our experience is a case of 70-year-old male who had a slow growing, nontender parotid mass for 1 year. CT scan showed a well encapsulated mass with fat density in the superficial lobe of left parotid gland. Lumpectomy including fatty mass and adjacent gland tissue was performed, preserving branches of facial nerve. RESULTS: Frozen section showed lipomatous lesion without malignancy, so, further treatment such as superficial parotidectomy was not needed. CONCLUSION: Though lipoma of parotid gland is rare, lipoma should be included in the initial differential diagnosis of parotid gland tumors and lumpectomy would be enough to treat lipoma if frozen section excluded the possibility of malignancy.

Traumatic Pseudoaneurysm of the Superficial Temporal Artery diagnosed with 3-Dimensional Computed Tomography Angiography: Two Cases Report

PURPOSE: Superficial temporal artery(STA) aneurysms are very rare and mostly occur as pseudoaneurysms secondary to trauma. Clinical diagnosis of STA pseudoaneurysm is based on a history of trauma or surgery to frontotemporal region, which presents with pulsatile mass. To confirm diagnosis, many imaging strategies can be used such as digital subtraction angiography, sonography, CT and MRI. But, these imaging modalities are invasive or inaccurate or expensive. Thus, we used 3D CT angiography to confirm STA aneurysm and to get accurate information. METHODS: We have experienced two cases of pulsatile mass on the temporal area, suspected as STA pseudoaneurysms. On the basis of clinical information, we performed 3D CT angiography to get more accurate information about this pulsatile mass and to confirm diagnosis. On the basis of information from 3D CT angiography, we performed operation. RESULTS: The lesions were diagnosed as pseudoaneurysm of superficial temporal artery by 3D CT angiography, and surgically resected safely without any complication on the basis of information from 3D CT angiography. 3D CT angiography was excellent diagnostic method for detecting STA pseudoaneurysms, and effectively showed many information about pseudoanerysms such as relationship between the aneurysms and surrounding structures, and its size. CONCLUSION: We could effectively diagnose and treat on the basis of information from 3D CT angiography. We present our cases with a brief review of the literature related to STA traumatic pseudoaneurysms.

Great Toe Pulp Graft for the Reconstruction of the Postburn Flexion Contracture in the Fingers

PURPOSE: In case of postburn flexion contracture of the fingers, skin graft, geometrical relaxation techniques, local flap, and free flap have been used. Among these procedures, full-thickness skin grafts from the inguinal area are widely used to reconstruct a postburn flexion contracture in the fingers. But there are many esthetic and functional problems in this procedure. Especially, hyperpigmentation of the skin-grafted fingers poses a troublesome problem, particularly in the patients who have dark colored skin. To solve the problem, we have used pulp graft which was harvested from the lateral aspect of great toe. In the present study, we report pulp graft, with which we have obtained a good result in the treatment of postburn flexion contracture of the fingers. METHODS: Between September of 2004 and August of 2006, great toe pulp graft was performed to 20 sites of 15 patients. After release of the postburn flexion contracture using Z-plasty, the composite tissue (pulp) harvested from the lateral aspect of great toe was grafted on the raw surface. Moisture dressing with ointment and foam dressing material was performed. Stratum corneum of the graft got stripped off in two to four weeks after pulp graft. The color of the pulp graft was slightly reddish, then it became similar to the adjacent tissue. RESULTS: There was complete take in all the patients who were treated with pulp graft. Great toe pulp graft provided similar color and texture to the adjacent skin, high rate of graft take, and left only a minimal scar at donor site. CONCLUSION: Thick keratin layer and inelastic nature of the pulp make this type of the graft much easier and simpler, and ensure a better take. Pulp graft is useful method for the reconstruction of the postburn flexion contracture in fingers.

Erysipelas of the Upper Extremity Following Surgical Therapy for Breast Cancer

PURPOSE: Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the dermis and hypodermis, mostly of streptococcal origin, and erysipelas of upper extremity following breast cancer treatment has never been reported in the Korean literature. METHODS: 39-year-old female presented to our hospital complaining of fever and painful swelling of her left upper extremity. She had a history of breast cancer and was treated with breast conserving surgery with axillary lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, and radiation. On physical examination, her left upper extremity showed vesicle, bullae, local heatness and erythema with well-defined margin. With these distinctive features of a skin lesion, we gave a diagnosis of erysipelas and started treatment with intravenous antibiotics. RESULTS: Resolution of the signs and symptoms of erysipelas occurred after 7 days of treatment. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of erysipelas with distinctive feature of skin lesion is essential and we emphasize that the prevention of any trauma are very important in these patients for prophylactic measures.

Erysipelas of the Upper Extremity Following Surgical Therapy for Breast Cancer

PURPOSE: Erysipelas is a bacterial infection of the dermis and hypodermis, mostly of streptococcal origin, and erysipelas of upper extremity following breast cancer treatment has never been reported in the Korean literature. METHODS: 39-year-old female presented to our hospital complaining of fever and painful swelling of her left upper extremity. She had a history of breast cancer and was treated with breast conserving surgery with axillary lymph node dissection, chemotherapy, and radiation. On physical examination, her left upper extremity showed vesicle, bullae, local heatness and erythema with well-defined margin. With these distinctive features of a skin lesion, we gave a diagnosis of erysipelas and started treatment with intravenous antibiotics. RESULTS: Resolution of the signs and symptoms of erysipelas occurred after 7 days of treatment. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of erysipelas with distinctive feature of skin lesion is essential and we emphasize that the prevention of any trauma are very important in these patients for prophylactic measures.

The Treatment of Osmidrosis Axillae by Use of Modified Skoog's Method

Various surgical procedures have been described for treating osmidrosis axillare. Elimination of the apocrine glands is prime goal. Optimal operative procedure is characterized as follows: minimal axillary scar(which has cosmetic merits), less complications such as hematoma and seroma, short and less painful recuperating period, minimal damage to the skin and low recurrence rate. Three types of incision technique in subdermal shaving method have beeb commoly used. First, single incision method has an advantage of minimal scarring but more recurrence due to incomplete removal of apocrine glands may occur. Second, double incision technique(Bipedicled flap) has advantages of complete excision, low recurrence rate and relatively minimal scarring, but it could cause frequent necrosis of skin and folding of skin flap. Skoog's method is the third method, which makes four flaps by offset cruciate incisions. It is a better technique in aspect of complete excision of apocrine glands and low recurrence rate but has disadvantages such as development of hypertrophic scar or scar contracture in the line that lies perpendicular to natural axillary skin crease. We used a modified procedure which has shorter length in vertical and transverse incision compared with the classic Skoog's method. We dissected further subcutaneous tissue through the diamond-shaped incision and utilize wide operation field that provide adequate excision of subdermal tissue and proper hemostasis. Between 1999 and 2004, we operated 160 osmidrosis axillare in 80 patients in this technique. Most patients obtained satisfactory result with very low complications. Hematoma or seroma 3.1% Infection 0.6% Partial wound disruption 10% Recurrence 1.2%. Modified Skoog's method for treating osmidrosis axillae could be a optimal technique providing wide operation field for adequate excision of apocrine glands and proper hemostasis and leaving relatively inconspicuous scar and low incidence of scar contracture.

The Role of Pericranial Flap in Surgery of Craniosynostosis

Reconstruction of calvarial bone defects from congenital anomaly or from bone loss due to traumatic or neoplastic processes remains a significant problem in craniofacial surgery and neurosurgery. To facilitate bone regeneration, there have been many trials such as autologous bone graft or allograft, and the addition of demineralized bone matrix and matrix-derived growth factor. Guided bone regeneration is one of the methods to accelerate bone healing for calvarial bone defects especially in children. Pericranium is one of the most usable structure in bone regeneration. It protects the dura and sinus, and provides mechanical connection between bone fragments. It supplies blood to bone cortex and osteoprogenitor cells and enhances bone regeneration. For maximal effect of pericranium in bone regeneration, authors used pericranium as a flap for covering calvarial defects in surgeries of 11 craniosynostosis patients and achieved satisfactory results: The bone regeneration of original cranial defect in one year after operation was 74.6%(+/-8.5%). This pericranial flap would be made more effectively by individual dissection after subgaleal dissection rather than subperiosteal dissection. In this article, we reviewed the role of pericranium and reported its usefulness as a flap in surgery of craniosynostosis to maximize bone regeneration.