Transnasal, transfacial, anterior skull base resection of olfactory neuroblastoma.

Purpose: Using a transnasal, transfacial, anterior skull base approach, we have removed olfactory neuroblastomas (OFN) obviating the need for a frontal craniotomy. The objectives were to present our surgical approach in achieving clear margins, to assess patient survival, and to recommend eligibility criteria.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective chart review was done to identify patients diagnosed with OFN who underwent this surgical approach.

Parapharyngeal space pleomorphic adenoma: a 30-year review.

Objectives/hypothesis: To evaluate the treatment results of pleomorphic adenoma (PA) of the parapharyngeal space at a single institution during a 30-year period.

Study Design: A retrospective review.

Methods: This study was performed by examining the records and reviewing the pathology of 44 patients with PA of the parapharyngeal space treated at a single medical center from January 1975 to November 2005.

Combined cisplatinum and laser thermal therapy for palliation of recurrent head and neck tumors.

In recent years endoscopically controlled laser-induced thermal therapy (LITT) has been increasingly accepted as a minimally invasive method for palliation of advanced or recurrent head and neck or gastrointestinal cancer. Previous studies have shown that adjuvant chemotherapy can potentiate endoscopic laser thermal ablation of obstructing tumors leading to improved palliation in advanced cancer patients. Eight patients with recurrent head and neck tumors volunteered to enroll as part of an ongoing phase II LITT clinical trial, and also elected to be treated with systemic chemotherapy (cisplatin, 80 mg/m(2)) followed 24 h later by palliative laser thermal ablation.

Acellular dermal matrix grafts for prevention of microarterial thrombophlebitis.

Objective: To examine the role of acellular dermal matrix grafts for prevention of microarterial anastomotic thrombophlebitis.

Design: Bilateral femoral artery microvascular anastomoses were created in the field of established wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in 12 rats. In each animal, 1 femoral microarterial anastomosis was wrapped with an acellular dermal matrix graft, and the contralateral femoral anastomosis was left unprotected.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the submandibular gland: a 35-year review.

Objectives: To evaluate the treatment results of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) of the submandibular gland at a single institution during a 35-year period.

Study Design & Setting: A retrospective review was performed by examining the records and reviewing the pathology of 22 patients with ACC of the submandibular gland treated at UCLA Medical Center from June 1963 to December 1997.

Results: Seven men and 15 women with an age range of 23 to 85 years (median, 48 years) were treated.