BackgroundThe most common cutaneous malignant masses are basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma. The predominant site of a malignant mass is the face, which has many opportunities to be exposed to ultraviolet radiation. However the predilection sites of malignant masses have been equivocal due to the use of general regions, rather than anatomical landmarks, in surveys. A facial esthetic unit is an anatomical site classified as an area of similar facial contour characteristics that can be distinguished from other areas. The purpose of this study is to determine widely accepted anatomical landmarks using the esthetic unit.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed 118 cases of malignant masses in our clinic from January 2005 to October 2012. We evaluated the patients' age, gender, and predilection site of the malignant mass by esthetic unit through pathology, medical records and patient photographs. We mapped the occurrence site of the malignant mass on schematic drawings of the esthetic units.ResultsMost of the malignant masses were BCC. The ratio of males to females was 1:1.41. The frequent predilection site of a malignant mass was on the nasal unit (33.1%), followed by the buccal unit (11.0%). Primary closure was the most common method of repairing a surgical defect (38.9%), followed by a local flap (35.5%).ConclusionsThis review described the relationship between clinical characteristics and esthetic units by proposing objective predilection sites for malignant masses, which can be used commonly as a framework in the study of malignant masses by unifying equivocal occurrence sites.

BackgroundIsolated pure blowout fractures are clinically important because they are the main cause of serious complications such as diplopia and limitation of extraocular movement. Many reports have described the incidence of blowout fractures associated with diplopia and limitation of extraocular movement; however, no studies have statistically analyzed this relationship. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the correlation between the location of isolated pure blowout fractures and orbital symptoms such as diplopia and limitation of extraocular movement.MethodsWe enrolled a total of 354 patients who had been diagnosed with isolated pure blowout fractures, based on computed tomography, from June 2008 to November 2011. Medical records were reviewed, and the prevalence of extraocular movement limitations and diplopia were determined.ResultsThere were 14 patients with extraocular movement limitation and 58 patients complained of diplopia. Extraocular movement limitation was associated with the following findings, in decreasing order of frequency: floor fracture (7.1%), extended fracture (3.6%), and medial wall (1.7%). However, there was no significant difference among the types of fractures (P=0.60). Diplopia was more commonly associated with floor fractures (21.4%) and extended type fractures (23.6%) than medial wall fractures (10.4%). The difference was statistically significant (Bonferroni-corrected chi-squared test P<0.016).ConclusionsData indicate that extended type fractures and orbital floor fractures tend to cause diplopia more commonly than medial wall fractures. However, extraocular movement limitation was not found to be dependent on the location of the orbital wall fracture.

Background. Recently, ultrasound- (US-) guided selective nerve root block (SNRB) has been reported to have similar effects compared to fluoroscopy- (FL-) guided cervical epidural steroid injection (CESI). There is no published study comparing the therapeutic efficacy and safety of interlaminar- (IL-) CESI and transforaminal- (TF-) CESI with US-guided SNRB. Our retrospective study aimed to compare the mid-term effects and advantages of the US-guided SNRB, FL-guided IL-CESI, and TF-CESI for radicular pain in the lower cervical spine through assessment of pain relief and functional improvement. Methods. Patients with radicular pain in the lower cervical spine who received guided SNRB (n = 44) or FL-guided IL (n = 41) or TF-CESI (n = 37) were included in this retrospective study. All procedures were performed using a FL or US. The complication frequencies during the procedures, adverse event, treatment effects, and functional improvement were compared at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last injection. Results. Both the Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Verbal Numeric Scale (VNS) scores showed improvements at 1, 3, and 6 months after the last injection in all groups, with no significant differences between groups P<0.05. Furthermore, the treatment success rate at all time points was not significantly different between groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the injection method (US- or FL-guided), cause, sex, age, number of injections, and pain duration were not independent predictors of treatment success. Blood was aspirated before injection in 7% (n = 3), 14% (n = 6), and 0% patients in the FL-guided IL, TF, and US-guided groups, respectively. In 2 patients of FL-guided IL and 7 of FL-guided TF group, intravascular contrast spread was noted during injection. Conclusions. Our results suggest that, compared with FL-guided IL and TF-CESI, US-guided SNRB has a low intravascular injection rate; it is unlikely that serious complications will occur. Also, US-guided SNRB requires a shorter administration duration while providing similar pain relief and functional improvements. Therefore, for the treatment of patients with lower cervical radicular pain, US-guided SNRB should be considered as a prior epidural steroid injection.

To compare the accuracy rates between ultrasound (US)-guided in-plain (IP), out-of-plain (OOP) and blind knee intra-articular (IA) injection via the mid-medial portal. US-guided IA injection in the IP, OOP, and blind methods was performed on 126 knees with radiographically confirmed knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 2 or 3) without effusion. About 6 ml of a mixed material containing 1% lidocaine (1 mL) and triamcinolone 20 mg (1 mL) and nonionic contrast (4 mL) was injected into the IA space of the knee through the mid-medial portals. After an US-guided and blind IA injection into the knee joint, a radiographic image was taken to determine whether the injected material had reached the IA space or infiltrated into the soft tissue. US-guided IA injections in the IP (97%; P < 0.05) and OOP method (95%; P < 0.05) showed significantly higher accuracy rate than injections in the blind injection (78%). Both US-guided IA injection methods may be used to access the knee joint with high degree of accuracy.

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