[Hospital-based internal medicine: year 2011 in chief resident's perspective]. / Médecine interne générale en pratique hospitalière: l'année 2011 mise en perspective par les chefs de clinique.

The year 2011 was full of significant advances in all areas of medicine. Whether small or large issues, they all have an impact on daily practice in general internal medicine. For example, intravenous administration of diuretics in heart failure shows no benefit. But double dose may improve symptoms faster. Direct Xa inhibitors are emerging as alternative to anti-vitamin K. beta-blockers reduce overall mortality in COPD and do not worsen lung function significantly. Each year, the chief residents from the Department of internal medicine at the University hospital of Lausanne meet to share their readings. Twelve new therapeutic considerations of 2011 are reviewed here.

The modified sagittal osteotomy of the mandible: two case reports.

Two case reports of a modified sagittal split osteotomy of the ramus of the mandible are presented which illustrate a technically simplified modality of treating various dentofacial abnormalities. A brief review of the literature is presented and observations are made on the procedures. The need for future documentation of intraoperative and postoperative results on this type of procedure is recommended.

[Directions for mammography from a radiological viewpoint]. / Richtlinien für die Mammographie aus radiologischer Sicht

A significant decrease in mortality due to breast cancer is feasible only by earlier diagnosis. The decisive screening method is mammography, which permits identification of a malignancy in its earliest stages. Indirect and direct signs of malignancy exist whose detection necessitates biopsy. Radiological examination of the tissue sample permits evaluation of the adequacy of excision and thus renders possible specific histological examination of the region of interest. Pneumocystography is a method for simultaneous diagnosis and therapy of benign cysts.

[Procedure to be followed in cases of suspected changes diagnosed by means of mammography]. / Das Vorgehen bei mammographisch suspekten Veränderungen

As a rule the diagnosis of larger focal lesions of the breast can be easily confirmed by biopsy. Intraoperative localization is more difficult, however, in lesions of below 5 mm diameter as measured by mammography or malignant alterations only indirectly indicated by mammography. Experience to date in 64 patients shows that specimen radiography provides immediate confirmation of large lesions detected by mammography and localizes the area for histologic examination. So far it has been found that precisely those biopsies that are performed as a result of indirect signs of malignancy or of small lesions are the most valuable contributing factor in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.