Mediastinal aortosympathetic paraganglioma: report of two cases.

Thoracic paragangliomas or extra-adrenal pheochromocytomas are uncommon neoplasms that may arise from the extra-adrenal paraganglia. Paragangliomas arising in the anterior mediastinum are most frequent and are related to the base of the heart. Paragangliomas of the posterior mediastinum are most infrequent, and arise from aorticosympathetic paraganglia.

Spontaneous pneumomediastinum: 41 cases.

Objective: Spontaneous pneumomediastinum is characterized by the presence of interstitial air in the mediastinum without any apparent precipitating factor. The purpose of this study is to review and discuss our experience with this condition.

Methods: A descriptive, retrospective study of 41 cases--34 men (83%) and 7 women (17%)--treated at our hospital for spontaneous pneumomediastinum from January 1990 through June 2006.

An assessment of anxiety in patients with primary hyperhidrosis before and after endoscopic thoracic sympathicolysis.

Objective: Endoscopic bilateral thoracic sympathicolysis (EBTS) is an effective and minimally invasive procedure used for patients with primary hyperhidrosis. The purpose of this study was to examine anxiety levels using standardized psychometric tools in hyperhidrosis patients before and after EBTS.

Methods: A total of 106 patients diagnosed with hyperhidrosis who underwent EBTS were asked to fill out a questionnaire before and 12 months after the procedure that elicited the following information: (a) symptoms associated with hyperhidrosis; (b) the patient's level of anxiety; and (c) the extent to which this anxiety was incapacitating in their daily life.

Tracheal and cricotracheal resection for laryngotracheal stenosis: experience in 54 consecutive cases.

Objective: Partial tracheal resection (Küster operation (KO)) and cricotracheal resection (Pearson operation (PO)) are currently the standard operative techniques in the curative treatment of tracheal and cricotracheal stenosis, respectively. This study aims to analyze the outcomes of tracheal and cricotracheal resection when a specific protocol is applied.

Methods: Between 1990 and 2004 we treated 54 patients with laryngotracheal stenosis.

[Primary hyperhidrosis: prospective study in 338 patients].

Background And Objective: The objective of this report is to study the clinical aspects of the patients with primary hyperhidrosis (PH) and the social and occupational distressing condition.

Patients And Method: From January 1998 to October 2002, 338 patients with PH completed a preoperative questionnaire to register: age, gender, profession, associated diseases, familiar hyperhidrosis history, sweating location, associated dermatological lesions and social embarrassesment. 179 patients were asked about their general symptomatology.