Detection of circulating epithelial cells after surgery for benign breast disease.

Background: Cytokeratins are predominantly expressed in epithelial cells and their malignant counterparts. Ultrasensitive methods for cytokeratin messenger RNAs (mRNAs) can detect rare circulating tumor cells consistent with hematogenous dissemination in epithelial-derived malignancies, including breast carcinomas. Intraoperative tumor-cell shedding may contribute to this process; this hypothesis is based on the assumption that only tumor cells can be mobilized during surgical manipulation.

Radical, modified, and selective neck dissection for cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Background: The roles of modified and selective neck dissections in treating patients with clinical metastatic melanoma and the place of adjuvant radiotherapy are unclear. In the elective setting, the efficacy of various selective dissections also requires clarification.

Methods: The prospectively documented experience of the senior author (COB) was analyzed.

Enucleation of parotid lymphoepithelial cyst in patients who are human immunodeficiency virus positive.

The incidence of benign lymphoepithelial lesions of the parotid gland in patients afflicted with HIV has increased. Enucleation is a safe and effective procedure that provides the patient with complete removal of the cyst and a low recurrence rate. Enucleation of these parotid cysts should be considered in treating these patients.

Head and neck reconstruction using the platysma myocutaneous flap.

A retrospective analysis of our experience with 41 patients who received a platysma myocutaneous flap for reconstruction of intraoral and pharyngeal defects is presented. All patients had epidermoid carcinoma of the head and neck region, with tumor size ranging from T1 to T4. The primary sites of malignancy were the oral cavity (61%), the oropharynx (32%), and the hypopharynx (7%).

Chondrosarcomas of the head and neck.

Chondrosarcomas of the head and neck are uncommon. Over a 35-year period (1950-1985) at our institution, 557 patients had an established diagnosis of chondrosarcoma. In 28 (5%) of these patients, the tumor was located in the head and neck region.