[Conservative surgery and esthetic rehabilitation of carcinoma of the breast]. / Chirurgia conservativa e riabilitazione estetica nel carcinoma mammario.

A careful review of the literature stimulated these comments on current developments in conservative surgery as an alternative to radical mastectomy in stage I and II breast cancer with particular reference to their implications for cosmetic rehabilitation. It is emphasised that the data so far available indicate comparable results in terms of locoregional recurrences, metastases and survival. It is also pointed out that the efficacy of the conservative techniques reflects new concepts of the natural history of breast cancer. The hope is expressed that these encouraging data will be confirmed by more extensive and systematic clinical experiment in order to minimise the indications to more radical surgery which notoriously has such devastating physical and psychological effects that it takes extremely complex and demanding plastic surgery to reshape the patient to psychological sexual and social health.

[Treatment of tissue loss in surgery of the scalp. An analysis of 89 patients brought to our attention]. / Il trattamento delle perdite di sostanza nella chirurgia del cuoio capelluto. Un'analisi di 89 pazienti giunti alla nostra osservazione.

The recent computerisation of operating theatre and forensic files facilitated a retrospective study of 136 plastic surgery operations performed on 89 patients presenting traumatic or surgical scalp tissue loss in the San Camillo Hospital, Rome between 1/1/1980 and 31/12/1987. The study provided some useful data for the planning of the surgical approach to this delicate anatomical area. Where the dimensions of the defect and the trophic condition of the local tissues permitted, the best functional and cosmetic results were obtained by using flaps of contiguous skin. In this field, new prospects are offered by the introduction of skin expanders whose gradual and controlled distension of the skin permit excellent functional and cosmetic results.

[Complications of septorhinoplasty]. / Complicanze nella settorinoplastica.

A review of the literature on complications in septorhinoplasty is presented. Though rare, complications may arise in the surgical treatment of such a delicate anatomical area as the nasal septum and both theoretical and practical knowledge of the problem is necessary in order to prevent and/or handle such unexpected events. Complications are grouped according to aetiopathogenesis into infectious, haemorrhagic, traumatic, systemic and miscellaneous.