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Although rarely published, operative injuries to thoracic duct in neck are by no means exceptional, and can occur during all types of surgery to lower cervical and supraclavicular regions. A case is reported and used as a basis for an analysis of diagnostic means and therapeutic possibilities of injuries detected during operation or those developing manifestations at a later stage. In the case reported, long-term medical treatment resulted in arrest of lymphorrhea within 37 days.

Routine mammography screening can detect radiologically evident but subclinical breast anomalies. Insofar as these anomalies can correspond to carcinoma, either in situ or invasive, surgeons are increasingly forced to operate on non-palpable breast lesions. A regulated and strict surgical technic is necessary to ensure exeresis of a radiologically detected focus, while avoiding sufficient adjacent healthy parenchyma and thus reducing the esthetic prejudice to a minimum. Technical artifices are described to assist compliance with these imperatives. First, the periareolar incision is chosen, as a principle, for its cosmetic qualities. Insofar as it provides an often limited approach it can be extended radially. The latter is concealed during closure without major alteration to the areola. Second, the radiating exeresis assists detection and is safer. It also provides glandular reconstruction of good esthetic quality and facilitates follow up surveillance.

Results of a 7-year follow-up review of a patient with intratubal cancer and lumbo-aortic glands invasion are reported. The highly lympholytic character of these tumors and the existence of elective lumbo-aortic lymph node metastases suggest that surgery should include routine bilateral lumbo-aortic curettage in tubal cancer, particularly stages I and IIA. As well as providing improved assessment of degree of extension of the disease it can also avoid the frequently poorly tolerated abdominopelvic radiotherapy.