Patient's Education Before Mastectomy Influences the Rate of Reconstructive Surgery.

Breast reconstruction (BR) should be offered and discussed to each woman with breast cancer who planned for mastectomy, except the cases with severe comorbidities. However, the majority of these patients do not undergo reconstructive surgery. A 20-question survey was administered to a group of 50 women (age 29-83 years, median 53) treated with mastectomy. 22.4 % underwent reconstruction of the breast, 24.5 % declared an interest in BR in the future, 53.1 % were not interested in reconstructive surgery. 51.2 % obtained information concerning BR before surgery, 58.1 % after and 44.2 % both before and after mastectomy. 59.2 % were informed about reimbursement. Information given before surgery had a statistically significant impact on performing reconstruction or a declared interest in BR (X 2 = 4.950, df = 1, p < 0.05), as well as information about reimbursement (X 2 = 8.875, df = 1, p < 0.05). Age <55 years was another significant factor (X 2 = 13.522, df = 1, p < 0.05, C Pearson = 0.525). Level of education did not impact upon the choice (p > 0.05). The main reasons for the refusal were fear of complications (47.4 %), priority to recovery over aesthetic (36.8 %), age, defined by the patient as "advanced" (31.6 %), high level of acceptance of the body after amputation (31.6 %), fear of cancer recurrence (26.3 %) and fear of the pain and discomfort (15.8 %). Each patient who planned for mastectomy should obtain sufficient information regarding breast reconstruction. Exact information is of special benefit to women discouraged by imagined disadvantages of surgery. Patients' education impacts the quality of life-not only before surgery but also lifelong after finishing the treatment.

[Neural endoscopy in hydrocephalus treatment in a case of tuberous sclerosis]. / Neuroendoskopia w leczeniu wodoglowia w przebiegu stwardnienia guzowatego.

Tuberous sclerosis is a rare, autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disease. The disease can also result from spontaneous mutations. Manifestations of this disease are typically characterized by involvement of the CNS (early childhood seizures, multiple brain tumours), skin (facial angiofibromas, Pringle's birthmarks), kidneys and liver (angiomyolipomas), heart and others. We present a case of 26 years old patient with brain tumour, with clinical and radiological signs of hydrocephalus due to a cystic lesion in the III ventricle. The patient was operated upon using neuroendoscopy, with clinical and radiological improvement.

[Retrospective analysis of mortality from malignant laryngeal neoplasms in the Tarnow District (1975-1993)]. / Retrospektywna analiza umieralnosci z powodu nowotworów zlosliwych krtani w Województwie Tarnowskim (1975-1993).

The authors presents a retrospective analysis of mortality from laryngeal cancer in the population of Tarnów in the years (1975-1993). The analysis was based on the data taken from Statistic Department of Tarnów.