Biomedical subjects

W K Stadelmann

Publications and source records attributed to W K Stadelmann.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1997

Sentinel node excision for the diagnosis of metastatic neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin: a case report.

The technology of sentinel node lymphoscintigraphy has made it possible to map and identify the lymph nodes draining the site of a primary cutaneous malignancy. This technique is now being used in the treatment of melanoma, and breast and vulvar carcinoma. With melanoma and breast carcinoma, the histology of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) has been found to be reflective of the histology of the remainder of the nodal basin. The concept of sampling the SLN is to provide an accurate staging for the entire nodal basin, obviating the need for a complete lymphadenectomy if the SLN is negative. It is believed that cutaneous malignancies with a propensity for regional metastasis, such as neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin, may spread via a similar lymphatic pathway involving an SLN. Using this technique we identified and excised the SLNs in a patient with a neuroendocrine carcinoma of the skin that contained the only focus of metastatic disease. Although this technique is still investigational we believe it holds great promise in being able to detect occult metastatic nodal disease in clinically node-negative patients.

Aged↗

PubMed1997

Incidence and natural history of saline-filled breast implant deflations: comparison of blunt-tipped versus cutting and tapered needles.

The silicone shells of breast implants are known to fail. When failure occurs in saline-filled implants, the consequences are always ultimately symptomatic. Failure may be due to shell elastomer fatigue, fold-flaw cracking, faulty valve mechanisms, trauma, and microperforations (defined as perforations that are too small to be seen with the unassisted eye). To determine the incidence and natural history of microperforations, a major manufacturer of saline-filled breast implants was contacted. Over a 30-month period, 289,033 saline implants were sold, and 2844 were subsequently returned due to perioperative deflation. By using a rigorous and reproducible method of evaluating returned deflated saline-filled breast implants, it was found that 197 (0.068 percent of all implants sold) sustained needle damage at the time of insertion and went on to deflate within 6 months. Of the implants returned, overall 6.93 percent were found to have sustained needle trauma as the cause of the deflation, and the incidence appears to be increasing with time. The actual incidence of needle-related deflations may be significantly greater, since these data reflect only those implants which are voluntarily returned to the manufacturer. As a second part of this study, a segment of the silicone shell from a saline-filled breast implant was tested to determine the resistance to puncture using blunt-tipped, tapered, and cutting needles. The blunt-tipped needle required 6.6 times more force to puncture the shell than a cutting needle (p = 0.0011) and 3.2 times more force than a tapered needle (p = 0.0052). The difference in force needed to puncture the shell for a tapered and a cutting needle was not statistically significantly different (p = 0.5045). Microperforations do occur in the operating room and are responsible for a significant percentage of early (less than 6 months) deflations. Blunt needles require significantly more force to puncture the shell of an implant than do cutting and tapered needles, and their use may reduce the incidence of microperforations and subsequent implant deflations.

Breast Implants↗

PubMed1995

Synovial cell sarcoma of the temporomandibular joint.

Synovial cell sarcoma is a relatively rare tumor that occurs infrequently in the head and neck. Despite the low incidence, synovial cell sarcoma should be a part of the differential diagnosis when evaluating masses in the head and neck region. The primary mode of treatment is wide en bloc excision. The decision to perform lymph node dissections should be based on physical findings or imaging studies that suggest lymphadenopathy. Post-operative radiation therapy is believed to be of value, but only in large doses of 65 Gy or more. The role of chemotherapy remains unclear. Despite recent advances, the prognosis for this disease remains poor. This report describes the fourth reported case of synovial cell sarcoma involving the temporomandibular joint. The case report details the principles of wide excision and adjuvant radiation therapy in the treatment of synovial cell sarcoma.

Combined Modality Therapy↗

PubMed1989

Skin graft survival--the bacterial answer.

An in vitro wound model was created to determine the mechanism by which bacteria cause skin graft failure. A wound surface was simulated by a human fibrin clot. Staphylococcus aureus or group A streptococcus was incubated over the clot. Either saline, human plasminogen, aprotinin, or epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA), or a combination of these, was added to the tubes. After 30 hours, the tubes were examined for the presence of the clot. The supernatant was then examined for the presence of fibrin degradation products (FDP). S. aureus was incapable of destroying the fibrin clot without the presence of plasminogen in the culture media. Group A streptococcus was capable of some clot degradation, but this was markedly improved in the presence of plasminogen. High FDP levels correlated with the destruction of the clot. Both aprotinin and EACA were capable of preserving the fibrin clots. In this study we carefully controlled the chemical and bacterial milieu on a simulated wound.

Antifibrinolytic Agents↗