[Intralesional Cryosurgery in the Treatment of Keloids - A Differentiation of Keloid Types for the Improvement of Patient Selection].

The overproduction of altered collagen fibers and the overexpression of Tumor Growth Factor-β must be blocked in order to interrupt the growth process within a keloid scar. This can barely be achieved with the classical therapeutic methods. The results of keloid treatment are difficult to predict and the recurrence rate is usually over 50 %.

Biomodelling of skull base tumours.

Stereolithographic (SL) biomodelling is a new technology that allows three-dimensional computed tomography magnetic resuance data to be used to generate solid plastic replicas of anatomical structures (biomodels). A prospective trial of 11 patients to assess the utility of SL biomodelling in skull base tumour surgery has been performed. Biomodels were manufactured and used for patient education, diagnosis and operative planning.

Cerebrovascular biomodelling: a technical note.

Background: Recently computed tomographic angiography (CTA) and MR angiography (MRA) have been used to image cerebrovascular structures. Although CTA and MRA are accurate and sensitive imaging modalities, limitations have been identified in relation to image interpretation. Stereolithographic (SL) biomodelling is a new technology that allows three-dimensional (3D) CT and MR data to be used to accurately manufacture solid plastic replicas of anatomical structures.

Biomodel-guided stereotaxy.

Objectives: To simplify the practice of stereotactic surgery by using an original method, apparatus, and solid anatomic replica for trajectory planning and to validate the method and apparatus in a laboratory and clinical trial.

Methods: The patient is marked with fiducials and scanned by using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The three-dimensional data are converted to a format acceptable to stereolithography.

Trigeminal neuralgia. Surgical treatment by microvascular decompression of the trigeminal nerve root.

The surgical management of trigeminal neuralgia has always been less than ideal. Evidence accumulated over the last 10 years suggests that the condition is caused by vascular compression of the trigeminal nerve root at the brain stem. Removal of this compression by means of micro-neurosurgical techniques has so far been very effective in relieving the pain of trigeminal neuralgia while maintaining normal facial sensation.

Surgical relief of post-herpetic pain by excision of scarred skin.

This paper deals with the problems of post-herpetic pain. The various modes of treatment which have been tried for its relief are discussed as is our experience of excision of the scarred area of skin. The procedure has been found to offer worthwhile pain relief to a significant number of patients.

Ascites from a ventriculoperitoneal shunt.

An unusual case of ascites secondary to a ventriculoperitoneal shunt is presented. The ascites did not redevelop following diversion of the distal catheter into the right atrium, and no adequate explantation was found as to why the cerebrospinal fluid was not absorbed by the peritoneum.