Ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of fluid collection complications following abdominoplasty.

A 6-year prospective study of 80 abdominoplasties is reported. Type and incidence of complications are presented with particular attention toward the incidence of fluid collection following abdominoplasty, such as seroma and hematoma. Ultrasound was performed in 56 patients (70%), with normal findings in 27 patients (48%). Accurate diagnosis of fluid collection in 29 patients (51.8%), seroma in 24 (42.8%), and hematoma in 5 (9%) was confirmed with the aid of ultrasound. The advantage of early radiological diagnosis alerted the surgeon for positive findings of fluid collection areas in the abdominal wall, which resulted in close observation and early intervention whenever indicated. Ultrasound of the abdominal wall following abdominoplasty provides a noninvasive, accurate, and low-cost method of diagnosing fluid collection in the abdominal wall. This method, if performed routinely postabdominoplasty, will aid the surgeon in managing potential complications such as wound-healing problems, infection, and patient discomfort.

Eccrine spiradenoma: a report of malignant transformation.

The authors report the case of a 21-year-old man who had malignant transformation within an eccrine spiradenoma involving the big toe. Although benign eccrine spiradenoma is not an uncommon cutaneous adnexal tumour, malignant change in this tumour is rare. To the authors' knowledge only 16 cases have been reported previously. Two histologically distinct components were seen in the tumour: typical eccrine spiradenoma, constituting a small part of the tumour, and carcinoma with areas of transition. The patient was treated by below-knee amputation and superficial inguinal node dissection. There was no evidence of recurrence 2 years after surgery.