Postmastectomy reconstruction.

Reconstructive surgery following mastectomy has had an increased acceptability with improved techniques and prostheses. Plastic reconstructive procedures following prophylactic mastectomy were performed in 104 patients and following mastectomy for cancer in 88 patients. Capsular contractions have not occurred with the use of a subpectoral pocket and detection of recurrent cancer is not hampered by the materials now used.

Pacinian neuroma, an unusual cause of finger pain.

Two cases of painful lesions of the fingers are presented. Both proved to be Pacinian neuromata, and they are the sixth and seventh such cases reported in the literature. This lesion is rare, but it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of painful lesions of the hand.

Silicone prostheses and anti-tumor immunity: an in-vitro rat study.

We believe we have demonstrated that there is no difference in the immune responsiveness in normal animals which undergo sham surgery (as compared to those unoperated). With the addition of a simple placement of a silicone prosthesis, there was an increase in the lymphocyte cytotoxicity--but this was equalized by a blocking effect at both the target cell and the lymphocyte levels. This response appeared to be of short duration. The presence of tumor, as previously documented produces an increase in lymphocyte cytotoxicity with a concomitant increase in the target cell and the lymphocyte blocking effect. Importantly, we found no significant difference in the immune response when prostheses were placed as an adjunct to surgical excision of transplanted tumors in this rat model.

A dermal flap for carotid artery protection.

We describe a dermal flap for use in protecting an especially vulnerable carotid artery from rupture after a radical neck dissection. We have used this flap successfully in 3 patients in the last 5 years.