Avoiding free nipple grafts during reduction mammaplasty in patients with gigantomastia.

Excessive breast hypertrophy or gigantomastia (>2000 g excision of tissue per breast) has traditionally been approached with breast amputation and free nipple grafting during reduction mammaplasty procedures. Disadvantages of free nipple grafts include loss of sensation, poor projection, uneven nipple-areolar complex pigmentation, and loss of lactation. We report our experiences utilizing the inferior pedicle technique of reduction mammaplasty with successful preservation of the nipple-areola complex for patients with gigantomastia.

Splenic artery embolization in the management of an acute immune thrombocytopenic purpura-related intracranial hemorrhage.

Although relatively rare, intracranial hemorrhage remains the most common cause of immune thrombocytopenic purpura-related mortality [Medeiros D. Current controversies in the management of idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura during childhood. Pediatr Clin North Am .

Factors associated with local recurrence of mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ in patients given breast-conserving therapy.

Background: The authors reviewed their institution's experience treating patients with mammographically detected ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast with breast-conserving therapy (BCT) to determine 10-year rates of local control and survival and to identify factors associated with local recurrence.

Methods: From January 1980 to December 1993, 132 breasts in 130 patients were treated with BCT for mammographically detected DCIS at William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. All patients underwent an excisional biopsy, and 64% were reexcised.

The effect of radiation on an ambulatory chemotherapy infusion pump.

Background: Ambulatory infusion pumps are used to deliver concurrent chemotherapy with pelvic radiation therapy for patients with rectal carcinoma. The pump is worn around the waist and may be exposed to direct as well as scattered radiation, possibly leading to a complete malfunction, requiring a new pump, and/or changes in the pump timing, with clinically significant reductions in chemotherapy administration.

Methods: Two new ambulatory chemotherapy pumps were irradiated using a 6-megavolt linear accelerator.

Cancerization of lobules and atypical ductal hyperplasia adjacent to ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast.

Recurrent carcinoma develops in approximately 10% of patients with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast treated with local excision and radiation therapy. Cancerization of lobules (COL) and atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH)frequently occur at the edge of DCIS. We postulated that recurrent carcinoma is associated with ADH or COL near the DCIS excision margin, and the amount of DCIS left in the breast may be too large for eradication by radiation therapy.