Intramuscular hemangiomas are rare benign tumors, making up 0.8% of all hemangiomas. They are of interest to the surgeon because their location may present considerable therapeutic challenge since radiographic work-up of the soft- tissue mass by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be suspicious for malignancy. The definitive diagnosis is made by histological study of the surgical and/or biopsy specimen. Patients with intramuscular hemangiomas may have soft-tissue complaints, such as pain and swelling, present for years. The gross and microscopic appearance of intramuscular hemangiomas is variable. Grossly, the capillary type is nonvascular and spongy in appearance, whereas the cavernous type is composed of large, thin-walled, dilated vessels lined by flattened endothelial cells. In general, wide excision is the treatment of choice to prevent local recurrence, but every patient with intramuscular hemangioma should be treated individually after evaluating the tumor location, accessibility, and depth of invasion, the patient's age, and cosmetic considerations. From October 1, 1989, to June 30, 1997, 11 patients underwent surgical treatment with the definitive histological diagnosis of intramuscular hemangioma. Pain upon activity but also at rest as well as swelling were the major symptoms. The average duration of symptoms was 13 months (range 1 month to 5 years). After a mean follow- up of 3 years and 4 months (range 12 months to 9 years), one of the patients has developed a recurrence; all remaining patients enjoy pain relief without any recurrence.

We examined the preferences and performances of five beetle species (four chrysomelids and one scarab) on two species of willows (Salix sericea and S. eriocephala) and their interspecific hybrids. Beetle species differed markedly in their responses. In preference assays, two chrysomelid beetle species (Calligrapha multipunctata bigsbyana and Plagiodera versicolora) preferred hybrids, two chrysomelids (Chrysomela scripta and Ch. Knabi) preferred hybrids and S. sericea, and the scarab beetle (Popillia japonica) preferred S. eriocephala. Experiments with purified salicortin indicated that salicortin concentration may contribute to these preferences. The relative performance (growth rate, pupal/adult weight and survivorship) of these beetles on the three willow taxa did not correspond with their feeding preferences. Three species exhibited intermediate performance on hybrid willows (the two Chrysomela spp. and P. japonica); the Chrysomela spp. performed best on S. sericea, while P. japonica performed best on S. eriocephala. One species performed equally well on all three taxa (C. multipunctata bigsbyana). The performance of Pl. versicolora was not tested. Our results support the general pattern that willow taxa with phenolic glycosides are more acceptable to specialist willow herbivores while those taxa without phenolic glycosides are more acceptable to generalist herbivores. We also show that to predict the relative susceptibility of hybrid and parental plants to herbivores, consideration must be given to the inheritance of traits affecting both preference and performance.

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Blount's epiphyseal stapling can be recommended as a safe procedure with predictably good results in idiopathic angular deformities of the leg and leg length difference caused by overgrowth.