Subfascial elimination of incompetent perforating veins is the most effective therapeutic principle in the treatment of trophic skin disorders associated with varicosis. A recently developed endoscopic technique allows accurate sectioning of perforating veins with direct observation of the veins and minor trauma. From November 1986 to July 1991 endoscopic sectioning of perforating veins was performed in 72 patients (103 legs). The most frequently transected perforating veins were Cockett's veins (n = 219), 24 cm perforating veins (n = 83), and Boyd's perforating veins (n = 82). Postoperative delayed wound healing was observed in 3 (2.9%) legs with pronounced trophic skin disorders in the lower extremities. Two patients complained of dysesthesia in the area of distribution of the sural nerve. Further complications recorded were extended subcutaneous hematoma in 6 (5.8%) legs and postoperative dysesthesia in the area of distribution of the saphenous nerve in 10 (9.7%) legs. At follow-up examination (mean 27 months postoperatively) clinical investigation and Doppler sonography showed newly formed incompetent perforating veins in only 2 lower legs. Radiography at follow-up revealed one incompetent Dodd's perforating vein in 1 leg, which was the starting point of pronounced recurrent varicosis in the lower leg. After an average follow-up of greater than 2 years, we recorded the occurrence of new varices in 9 lower legs. Staging of chronic venous incompetence showed an upward trend ranging from change to a more favorable stage to complete cure. Findings were unchanged in only 10% of the patients. There was no case of postoperative aggravation.

In 45 patients who underwent an esophagus resection due to a squamous cell carcinoma, in addition to the TNM classification and usual morphologic criteria, the paraffin-embedded material underwent deparaffinization, was rehydrated, and was mechanically and enzymatically processed into a single-cell solution. For evaluating the DNA histogram this was analyzed with the help of automatic single-cell cytophotometric study. The method, contrary to that of flow cytometric study, allows for the selective analysis of tumor cells due to the electronically, previously given selection criteria, whereas artifacts, stroma, and infection cells remain excluded from analysis. The multivariate analysis shows that the prognosis is only correlated with DNA content of the tumor cells. Patients with diploid tumors had a median survival time of 32 months as compared with the 22 months of patients with hypotriploid tumors, and 6.5 months with hypertriploid tumors. DNA cytometric analysis should be included when diagnosing patients with esophagus carcinoma.

A new 99mTc-labelled tracer (99mTc-Sestanriibi) was used for the first time to demonstrate the perfusion of the skeletal muscle. In 16 patients with obstructive atherosclerosis of the lower limbs the change of perfusion of thigh and lower leg was studied with SPECT before and after vascular surgery (n = 11) or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 5). Comparative results of scintigraphic measurements and clinical observations (ancle-arm pressure, treadmill test) in 10 surgical patients (14 operated legs) showed correct positive or negative results in 86% (12/14).

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