1/8. Increased dermal angiogenesis after low-intensity laser therapy for a chronic radiation ulcer determined by a video measuring system.Acute and chronic radiation-induced dermatitis can occur after high doses of ionizing radiation of the skin. We describe a patient with a long-lasting radiotherapy-induced ulcer that healed after low-intensity laser therapy. A video measuring system was used to determine the number of dermal vessels in the ulcer before and after laser treatment. We found a statistically significant increase in the number of dermal vessels after low-intensity laser therapy in both the central and marginal parts of the ulcer compared with its pretreatment status.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 1keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
2/8. Chronic radiodermatitis following repeated percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.We review three patients who developed chronic radiodermatitis subsequent to undergoing multiple percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasties (PTCAs). All patients had had chronic ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and had undergone lengthy PTCA on several occasions. The skin eruption was characterized by an atrophic rectangular plaque on the left upper back, presenting as mottled hyper- and hypopigmentation with reticulate telangiectasia. Histologically, the eruption demonstrated epidermal atrophy, hyalinized and irregularly stained collagen, and telangiectasia of superficial vessels in the dermis. Although the risk of radiation injury in most patients undergoing cardiac catheterization is low, this danger should not be ignored. In particular, patients with long-standing IHD and numerous repeated catheterizations to only one or two occluded coronary arteries should be considered at high risk.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
3/8. interferon-gamma in 5 patients with cutaneous radiation syndrome after radiation therapy.BACKGROUND: Irradiation can cause acute inflammatory responses as well as chronic fibrotic alterations of the skin. Cutaneous radiation fibrosis evokes a complex of therapeutic problems. However, therapeutic options, apart from surgical approaches, are limited. patients AND methods: Five female patients suffering from severe cutaneous fibrosis were treated with interferon-gamma on a low-dose regimen, 3 x 100 microg/week subcutaneously for 6 months, then once per week for another 6 months. In 4 patients, skin thickness was measured with high-frequency (20 MHz) ultrasound in a clinically well-defined target skin lesion. In 1 patient, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging was performed to quantify the extent of cutaneous radiation fibrosis and to monitor the therapeutic outcome. RESULTS: All patients suffered from radiation-induced cutaneous fibrosis. Additionally, in 1 patient, a fistula, as assessed by lymph vessel scintigraphy, and in another patient a radiation ulcer was diagnosed. In all patients, reduction of radiation-induced fibrosis could be documented. Both fistula and radiation ulcer regressed completely under interferon-gamma therapy. CONCLUSION: Low-dose interferon-gamma therapy is a new and effective treatment modality for cutaneous radiation fibrosis caused by radiation therapy. The positive impact of interferon-gamma on our patients warrants randomized double-blind trials on therapy of radiation fibrosis.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
4/8. Structural fat grafting: more than a permanent filler.Grafted fat has many attributes of an ideal filler, but the results, like those of any procedure, are technique dependent. Fat grafting remains shrouded in the stigma of variable results experienced by most plastic surgeons when they first graft fat. However, many who originally reported failure eventually report success after altering their methods of harvesting, refinement, and placement. Many surgeons have refined their techniques to obtain long-term survival and volume replacement with grafted fat. They have observed that transplanted fat not only adjusts facial and body proportion but also improves surrounding tissues into which the fat is placed. They have noted not only the improvement in the quality of aging skin and scars but also a remarkable improvement in conditions such as radiation damage, chronic ulceration, breast capsular contracture, and damaged vocal cords. The mechanism of fat graft survival is not clear, and the role of adipose-derived stem cells and preadipocytes in fat survival remains to be determined. Early research has indicated the possible involvement of more undifferentiated cells in some of the observed effects of fat grafting on surrounding tissues. Of particular interest is the research that has pointed to the use of stem cells to repair and even to become bone, cartilage, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, and skin. Further studies are essential to understand grafted fat tissue.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
5/8. The latissimus dorsi free flap for coverage of sacral radiodermatitis in the ambulatory patient.Ambulatory patients with large sacral ulcers can represent extremely challenging coverage problems. Technical options become fewer when sacral ulcers are coupled with radiation dermatitis. Latissimus dorsi free flap transfer, with direct anastomoses to sacral vessels, is described in 2 patients.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
6/8. The rampant basal-cell carcinoma: report and lessons of a case.The case of a patient with a basal-cell carcinoma over a clavicle that escaped early treatment and became widespreadand deeply burrowing is recounted. It was first treated by radiotherapy, seemed to have been cured thereby, but two years later showed recurrence. It was then treated by Mohs' fresh-tissue technique which cleared the skin but exposed invaded bone and uncertain depth of involvement below. Radical extirpative surgery was subsequently attempted on two occasions, but when invasion was found to have involved major vessels in the neck, further treatment had to be abandoned. Some lessons of the case are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
7/8. The posterior intermuscular approach to the vessels of the leg.The posterior intermuscular approach emphasizes preservation of the soleus muscle by an intermuscular surgical approach to the vessels of the leg. The dissection proceeds from a normal zone proximally toward the zone of injury and facilitates selection of the site of microanastomosis. The neurovascular supply of the soleus is guarded, and its numerous venous channels are avoided. The indications and surgical planning are discussed. Two illustrative cases are presented.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 2.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |
8/8. Acute radiodermatitis from accidental overexposure to x-rays.Approximately 2 weeks after accidental overexposure to X-ray radiation, a worker developed acute radiodermatitis on fingers of both hands. Exposure simulation indicated that total ionizing radiation absorbed by his fingers amounted to about 20 Gy. After 2 years, acute radiodermatitis evolved to chronicity of lesions with presence of atrophic skin, teleangiectasia, alopecia, and dyskeratosis on three right-hand fingers. Cytogenetic dosimetry of peripheral blood lymphocytes, performed 2 months after acute radiation, showed an increase of micronuclei (7% vs. 1 /- 0.4% according to laboratory reference data). The increase was ascribed to the high dose of ionizing radiation absorbed by circulating lymphocytes in the vessels of overexposed tissues. The cytogenetic examination was repeated 27 months after acute irradiation; it was found that the percentage of micronuclei had been restored to within reference levels. The possibility of using cytogenetic dosimetry, following acute partial exposure to x-rays, not just as an indicator of previous exposure, but also as an indicator of the absorbed radiation dose is examined. Lastly, the possible stochastic effects that may set in on the skin of the affected fingers and the need for periodically monitoring the evolution of chronic skin lesions, are discussed.- - - - - - - - - - ranking = 0.5keywords = vessel (Clic here for more details about this article) |