Transumbilical endoscopic breast augmentation: submammary and subpectoral.

Endoscopic techniques have recently been applied to aesthetic cosmetic surgery procedures. Endoscopic bilateral augmentation mammaplasty through a transumbilical approach ("TUBA") has recently been advocated as an alternative technique. The purpose of this article is to describe the author's transumbilical technique, to identify procedural limitations and special considerations, and to retrospectively analyze preliminary results.

Radiation-induced sarcoma of the breast.

A small but growing number of radiation-induced sarcomas after breast-conserving surgery for carcinoma have been reported. Because breast-conserving surgery followed by irradiation is becoming increasingly popular, the potential for the emergence of these sarcomas is growing. Unfortunately, because of postirradiation changes in the affected breast, detection of a new lesion can be difficult, resulting in a delay in diagnosis.

Hürthle cell carcinoma of the thyroid.

Hürthle cell tumors of the thyroid are uncommon neoplasms that generate considerable controversy regarding the correct clinicopathologic criteria for determining which lesions require aggressive surgical management and which lesions require conservative therapy. The neoplasms range from benign tumors that disappear spontaneously to tumors with widespread metastasis. The origin of these tumors is unclear, their clinical course is variable and largely unpredictable, and diagnosis is difficult.

Soft tissue sarcoma of the anterior abdominal wall: review of reconstruction techniques.

Tumors of the abdominal wall excised with inadequately wide margins have a high local recurrence rate. The surgeon's fear of iatrogenic defects of the abdominal wall should not outweigh the need for wide resection margins to prevent tumor recurrence when excising primary and secondary malignancies. Appropriate monobloc excision of abdominal wall malignancies can be satisfactorily accomplished through a wide array of modalities.

Laser surgery procedures in the operational KC-135E aviation environment.

The operational aviation and space environments present a potential for surgical trauma to aircrew and passengers. Current wound care techniques for trauma in the aviation and space medicine environment focus on classical surgical management of wounds. Medical lasers used in these environments can provide rapid control of bleeding wounds, reduce aircraft environmental contamination from body fluids and secretions, and foster rapid triage of injured personnel.