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The revascularization of a skin flap after flap transposition is an important step in flap survival. This study investigates the efficacy of certain angiogenic agents to expedite the neovascularization process and to increase the viability of skin flaps. Eighty-four island skin flaps were designed on the auricles of 42 New Zealand White rabbits to achieve 90% necrosis over a 7-day period. Thirty-six flaps were treated with Endothelial Cell Growth Supplement (ECGS) or Endothelial Cell Growth Factor (ECGF) at several concentrations topically or immersed in Gelfoam. The remaining flaps were used as normal saline controls. Flap viability and peripheral neovascularization were documented by polar planimetry, angiography, and histological analysis. The flap viability of the ECGS-Gelfoam -treated flaps was 100% greater than their normal saline-Gelfoam controls (p = .021). Flap angiograms demonstrated increased vascular ingrowth among the treated flaps compared to the controls. This study suggests that angiogenic agents can expedite flap neovascularization and have the potential to increase flap viability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The uncommon benign developmental malformation, nasopharyngeal hamartoma, is reported with a review of the literature. Nasopharyngeal hamartoma can be divided into two types based on the histologic presentation. A more common type is composed predominantly of mesodermal tissues while a less common type, as reported in this study, is composed of a spectrum of mucosal epithelial, serous/mucinous gland, and stromal elements. Four additional cases of this less common type of nasopharyngeal hamartoma were found in the literature and are discussed with reference to age, sex, presenting symptoms, location, size, and histology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a well characterized terahertz (THz) impulse ranging system we demonstrate broad bandwidth imaging at THz frequencies using an inverse synthetic aperture deconvolution technique. The system demonstrates millimeter and submillimeter resolutions along the cross range and range axes, respectively. The range resolution, determined by the THz pulse bandwidth is 0.12 mm, while the cross range resolution is 1.2 mm; both resolutions agree well with theoretical predictions. Through imaging of cylindrical targets we demonstrate quantitative measurement of target position in the image plane within the experimental error of 0.2 mm. Imaging of geometrically scaled complex targets is demonstrated for a 1:2400 scale model ship (1 mm=24 m) corresponding to a full scale frequency bandwidth of 83–625 MHz at a distance of 840 m. © 2001 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of intralabyrinthine schwannoma has been made either accidentally at the time of surgery or at postmortem examination. Brain stem evoked response audiometry and computerized tomography do not add to our ability to make this diagnosis clinically. A case is presented of an intralabyrinthine schwannoma found at the time of transmastoid labyrinthectomy. The literature is reviewed and a composite clinical picture is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compared to the number of reported cases of a papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum, malignant transformation is a rare event. This paper presents the third documented case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in the papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum in a lymph node of the parotid region. Review of the American literature reveals 5 other cases of malignant transformation of papillary cystadenoma lymphomatosum including two cases of adenocarcinoma and one case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma with an apparent low potential for metastatic spread. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]