Ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration diagnosis of supraglottic laryngeal cancer.

Background: Although intraoperative laryngoscopic examination and biopsy of patients who present with locally advanced supraglottic carcinomas remains the standard of care, there are occasions when a more expedited biopsy can be helpful.

Methods And Results: We describe a quick diagnostic technique of ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration of endolaryngeal advanced supraglottic carcinomas, which can be performed in the clinic without any preparation. Ultrasound scanning is performed through the thyrohyoid membrane.

Recurrent abscess after MammoSite brachytherapy.

Recently a new catheter was introduced to facilitate brachytherapy in a lumpectomy cavity. Data are limited on the side effects of high-dose brachytherapy to the lumpectomy cavity with the MammoSite catheter. We present a case of recurrent abscesses over a 7-month period in the lumpectomy cavity after MammoSite brachytherapy.

Locating the axillary vein and preserving the medial pectoral nerve.

The exposure for an axillary dissection has become more limited as surgical treatment for breast cancer has evolved from a radical mastectomy to a limited axillary dissection. Exposure of the axillary vein is made more difficult by the smaller incisions, by preservation of intercostobrachial nerves, and by the induration resulting from a previous sentinel node biopsy. To assist in the identification of the axillary vein, I describe the course of a visible but small vein adjacent to the medial pectoral nerve.

Radioguidance is not necessary during parathyroidectomy.

Background: Improvements in the accuracy of preoperative localization and the availability of the rapid parathyroid hormone assay have permitted minimally invasive parathyroidectomy in patients with primary hyperparathyoidism.

Hypothesis: The use of intraoperative radioguidance is beneficial during targeted parathyroid operations.

Design: A retrospective analysis of a prospective database of patients.