Soft tissue sarcoma - A review of presentation, management and outcomes in 110 patients.

UNLABELLED: Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare group of mesenchymal tumours the treatment of which poses oncological and reconstructive challenges. Limb-salvage surgery aims to balance adequate excision margins for disease control and preservation of important structures to retain function. Reported here is the review of the Hull Plastic surgery sarcoma service over a twelve year period. METHOD: We performed a review of the Hull sarcoma database over a twelve year period between 1997 and 2009. Demographic data, tumour grade, operative details complications and outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: The database contained a total of 435 patients with a diagnosis of sarcoma. 110 were treated at the Plastic Surgery department over a period of 12 years between 1997 and 2009. The patients treated in our department consisted of 67 males and 43 females (median age 70 years). The most common histological type was leiomyosarcoma (n = 23). Distribution of anatomical sites affected were head and neck (n = 15), upper limb (n = 17), lower limb (n = 56), trunk (n = 22). Large tumours (greater than 8 cm) n = 30, deep tumours n = 48, and high grade (Trojani 3) n = 33. Patients were treated with surgical excision and postoperative radiotherapy in the high grade groups (2 and 3). A range of reconstructive procedures were required from skin grafting, functional muscle transfer and free flap reconstruction. Nine patients developed regional recurrence, six patients had grade 3 tumours. Three were not resectable. Fourteen patients developed distant metastases, seven had grade 3 tumours, six underwent chemotherapy, two were treated palliatively. There were twenty deaths in this group, of which sixteen were sarcoma related. Deaths in the high risk groups was seven (high grade), nine (deep tumours) and eight (tumour size >8 cm). There were six survivors from eleven in the group with all three of these risk factors. CONCLUSION: This study summarises the management of sarcoma form one unit over a twelve year period and lends further evidence to the fact that the principles of limb-salvage surgery are applicable to a wide range of tumour-types and grades, to all patient age groups and anatomical sites with good functional results and that local and free flap reconstruction provides wound cover robust enough to withstand courses of radiotherapy. Early recurrence of high-grade disease and the development of metastasis carry a worse prognosis, especially if adjuvant therapy cannot be given. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.

Risk factors for complications following breast reduction: results from a randomized control trial.

Reduction mammoplasty has been shown to benefit physical, physiological, and psycho-social health. However, there are some recognized complications. It would be beneficial if one could identify and modify the factors which increase the rate of complications. To determine the effects of resection weight, BMI, age, and smoking on complication rates following reduction mammoplasty. Data were gathered as a part of randomized control trial (RCT) examining psycho-social & QOL benefits of reduction mammoplasty. Sixty-seven consecutive female patients referred to either the Hull Breast Unit or Hull Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Unit and underwent Inferior pedicle reduction mammoplasty were recruited. Complications were recorded prospectively. Data gathered included resection weight, BMI, age, and smoking status. Smoking status was categorized into current; ex; and never. Prospective records of all complications were noted. SPSS was used for purposes of statistical analysis. Of the 67 patients, 16 (23.9%) had complications. Higher resection weight, increased BMI, and older age are associated with high rate of complications with significance reaching p-values of p < 0.001, p = 0.034, and p = 0.004, respectively. Among the 67 women who had surgery, nine (13.4%) were current smokers, 20 (29.9%) were ex-smokers, and 38 (56.7%) never smoked. The incidence of complications was highest among current smokers and lowest among those who had never smoked. When comparing the current smokers with those who are not currently smoking, there is a 37% difference in the occurrence of complication. The chi-squared test shows that this is a significant difference (p < 0.01) at the 99% confidence interval. Higher resection weight, increased BMI, older age, and smoking are risk factors for complications. Patients should be adequately counseled about losing weight and stopping smoking.

Rupture rate following primary flexor tendon repair of the hand with potential contributing risk factors.

This study aimed to investigate rupture rates following primary flexor tendon repair and to identify potential risk factors of rupture. Fifty-one patients with 100 flexor tendon injuries who underwent primary repair over a one-year period were reviewed. We collected demographic and surgical data. Causes of rupture were examined. Ruptured primary tendon repairs were compared with those that did not rupture. Univariate and multivariate analysis were undertaken to identify significant risk factors. Eleven percent of repaired tendons ruptured with a higher rupture rate noted in the non-dominant hand (p value = 0.009), in Zone II (0.001), and when more than 72 hours surgical delay occurred (0.01). Multivariate regression analysis identified repair in Zone II injuries to be the most significant predictor. Our rate of rupture of 11% was associated with delay in surgery, repair on non-dominant hand, and Zone II repairs. Careful consideration of these factors is crucial to reduce this rate.

History and ethics of hand transplants.

Hand transplantation is a form of composite tissue allotransplantation, whereby the hand of a cadaveric donor is transferred to the forearm of an amputee. The aim of such a procedure is to achieve better outcomes in terms of functionality and appearance when compared with prosthetics. The microsurgical techniques required have been well established for many years. In addition, advances in immunosuppressive therapy have meant that hand transplantation is a feasible therapeutic option. However this is not a life-saving procedure, requiring lifelong antirejection treatment with potentially serious side-effects. Hand transplantation is therefore a controversial concept with ethical, financial and psychological implications that need careful consideration. Before this treatment can be fully accepted, further research is still required; this should be directed towards achieving immunological tolerance, while minimizing costs and potential side-effects of post-transplant therapy.

Primary eccrine porocarcinoma of the finger with transit forearm and axillary metastasis.

Sweat gland tumors of the upper extremity are uncommon. Eccrine porocarcinoma is a rare skin malignant lesion representing 0.005% to 0.01% of all cutaneous tumors, which most commonly presents in patients more than 60 years of age. Approximately 250 cases of eccrine porocarcinoma have been reported since this disease was first described in 1963. However, only 2 cases occurring specifically on the finger (including the current case) have been documented in the literature to date. On the basis of the rarity of eccrine porocarcinoma of the finger, we report an eccrine porocarcinoma that presented as an ulcerated lesion of the left ring finger with metastasis to the forearm and axilla in an 80-year-old man. The etiology, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of this disease are discussed, with a brief review of the literature.

Quality of life issues in aesthetic breast surgery.

Health is multi-dimensional. Mortality, morbidity and cost are traditional health indicators, whereas outcomes research relates to quality of life and health-related quality of life. This article reviews the literature on quality of life issues in aesthetic breast surgery, highlighting the concepts of health and health outcome measures.

Basal cell carcinoma with a sarcomatous component (carcinosarcoma): a series of 5 cases and a review of the literature.

Cutaneous carcinosarcomas are rare biphasic malignant tumors with a malignant epithelial component together with malignant stroma. Five cases treated in the Yorkshire region of England between 2003 and 2006 are presented. The patients were male with an age range from 58 to 84 years. Four lesions occurred on the face and one on the trunk. Each tumor had an epithelial component resembling a typical nodular basal cell carcinoma. The stromal components demonstrated atypical spindle cells and tumor giant cells, undifferentiated stroma, or osteoid formation. All underwent surgical excision and none showed evidence of recurrence (follow-up 3-17 months, one death from unrelated causes). The recent literature concerning the pathogenesis and prognosis of these unusual tumors is reviewed.

The impact of dressings on recovery from carpal tunnel decompression.

SUMMARY: This study assesses the impact on outcome of wearing a bulky dressing following carpal tunnel decompression. One hundred patients were randomised for having a bulky dressing removed at either 24h or 2 weeks postoperatively. A Levine score was measured preoperatively and postoperatively at 2 weeks. The surgery and other dressings used were standardised as per the protocol. Comparison was made between the symptom and functional severity scores for each group to assess the impact of duration of wearing the dressing on resolution of symptoms. The results indicate no difference in outcome between the 2 week and 24h groups. We therefore feel that patients should be given the choice as to when to remove their dressing. If they feel restricted, they are free to remove the bulky dressing without an increased risk of a worse outcome. If they feel secure in the dressing, they will not suffer leaving it in place for 2 weeks.

Macromastia and carpal tunnel syndrome: is there an association?

Macromastia is a disorder commonly reported by women. The prevalence of electrophysiologically confirmed, symptomatic carpal tunnel syndrome is 3% among women. A consecutive series of 31 patients with macromastia requesting breast reduction between August 2002 and April 2003 was recruited. The physical characteristics recorded included age, body mass index, and breast size. Clinical and electrophysiologic assessments of the upper limb were performed. Electrophysiologic testing showed that 7 (22%) of the 31 women had a prolonged median nerve latency conduction time longer than 0.40 ms. Age, chest circumference, and the ratio of nipple-to-inframammary line to chest circumference was associated with carpal tunnel syndrome. The prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among patients with macromastia was shown to be higher than in previous epidemiologic studies investigating the prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome among women. Age, chest circumference, and breast size, but not body mass index, have a positive correlation with the increased prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome in macromastia cases.

The effect of body mass index and wound irrigation on outcome after bilateral breast reduction.

Thirty patients undergoing bilateral breast reduction by inferior pedicle technique were entered into a prospective, randomized study to determine the effect of unilateral saline wound irrigation and body mass index (BMI) on outcome. Each patient was assessed at 1, 4, and 8 weeks after surgery for wound dehiscence, infection, fat necrosis, and breast comfort by means of a visual analog pain score. The mean patient age was 33 years; mean weight, 67.7 kg; mean BMI, 26.3; and mean weight of breast tissue excised per patient, 1270 g. In 60 breasts there were 13 cases of minor wound breakdown, all of which had healed by 8 weeks postoperatively. Wound irrigation had no significant effect on the rate of T-junction breakdown or on postoperative pain. BMI was associated significantly with wound breakdown (BMI > 26.3, 33% wound breakdown rate; BMI < 26.3, 10% wound breakdown rate; P < 0.05, chi2 test). Patients with a high BMI are more likely to have delayed healing after breast reduction.