Thoracoscopic resection of a pericardial cyst.

The development of new instruments that can be applied endoscopically opens up new possibilities for minimally invasive thoracic surgery. The surgical technique is exemplified by a thoracoscopic resection of a pericardial cyst. The benefits for the patient are impressive: minimization of surgical trauma and postoperative pain, a short convalescence, and an optimal cosmetic outcome.

[Menopausal bone density in healthy females of Voralberg. Lack of relation to anamnesis]. / Menopausale Knochendichte bei gesunden Voralbergerinnen. Fehlende Beziehung zur Anamnese.

Bone density was evaluated in 182 healthy climacteric women. Women were recruted from a general prevention program. The results show deviation from 58.2 to 218.6--mean value 128.28, SD 30.91 mg/ccm K2HPO4. 28% of bone density values are under the fracture risk level citated in literature. No statistical relationship was found between bone density and anamnestic data--only the age at hysterectomy shows statistical correlation. The follow up after one year shows no predictive value of anamnestic data to the lost of bone mineral density.

[Clinical early symptoms and CT findings in Fahr syndrome]. / Klinische Frühsymptome und CT-Befunde beim Fahr'schen Syndrom.

We present the results of an investigation on initial symptomatology of patients with bilateral, symmetrical intracerebral calcification of the basal ganglia (Fahr's syndrome). 62 patients, who because of various neurological or psychiatric symptoms or other reasons were referred to cranial computer-tomography, revealed clear manifestation of Fahr's syndrome. In these cases estimations of the volume of the opaque bodies were made, based on computer-integrated programmes (SO-MATOM D2). In 9 cases there was a history of thyroidectomy, on average 25 years previously. As a rule patients were referred in the age range between 40 to 60 years, those who had undergone thyroidectomy being on average somewhat older than the others. As presenting symptoms extrapyramidal syndromes, apoplexias, cephalea, affective organic alterations, alcoholism and dementia were noted. Cerebral localisation of bilateral, symmetrical calcification was most frequent in the pallidum, though this localisation may be responsible for numerous different neuropsychiatric symptoms. The dimensions of the opaque structures can be very greatly. Symptomatology seems to be practically independent of either cerebral localisation or volume, except that greater volumes of calcification seem to cause more pronounced neurological (extrapyramidal) symptomatology and dementia. The time-span between manifestation of the initial symptoms and diagnosis was shorter in neurological syndromes than in psychiatric cases. Like earlier workers, we found a high incidence (21%) of organic affective syndromes as an initial manifestation of Fahr's syndrome.

[Cancer of the so-called "empty breast" and its relation to Wolfe's classification of parenchymal patterns]. / Das Karzinom der sogenannten leeren Brust und seine Beziehungen zur Klassifikation der Parenchymmuster nach Wolfe.

Carcinoma in the 'empty breast' in our experience is so common that we doubt Wolfe's conclusions in his classification of parenchymal patterns. Amongst patients over 60 years, almost 70% of carcinomas were situated in an 'empty' parenchyma and they did not develop in a parenchymal group above P1. Mammographically, the 'empty breast' is the structureless fatty breast of older women after the menopause. Some authors believe that there is a lower incidence of carcinomas in this type of breast than in other types of parenchyma, such as those showing mastopathies. Our experience concerning carcinomas in involuted breasts is described.