Sixty patients with subglottic stenosis of acquired and nonneoplastic origin were surgically managed by multiple open procedures. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 10 years. Fifty-seven patients had stable and excellent or good results, 2 of them after further surgery, 1 patient had to live with a retained tracheostomy indefinitely and the remaining 2 patients died. While the whole spectrum of surgical modalities employed in this series may not be recommended with total conviction, the authors express their satisfaction with single resection and end-to-end anastomosis which yields invariably good and rapidly obtainable results (22 cases with complete success). Nevertheless, laryngeal enlargement seems to be essential in the case of upper glottic lesions (19 operations provided 19 successes) while primary resection with moulding plasties may be applicable to complex and extended stenoses (19 operations: 16 successful results and 3 failures). With regard to the choice of operation, the authors emphasize the importance of careful preoperative assessment of the lesions which should assure adequate selection of therapeutic methods according to the degree of associated involvement of the trachea, glottis or supraglottic area. Conservative measures including dilatation, electro-coagulation and laser-beam surgery are considered as palliative only, however, they may be useful either in the course of the patient's preparation or in order to achieve more successful postoperative results.

Seventy-two patients with laryngeal or laryngo-tracheal stenotic lesions resulting from tracheal intubation or laryngo-tracheal injuries are reported. Prior to 1978, the method of surgical treatment consisted mainly of laryngoplasty supported by laryngeal stenting. Twenty-six patients were treated by this method with 2 mortalities. Twenty-one long term results were good and 3 were fair. After 1978, laryngo-tracheal resection was performed in 46 patients. Twenty-seven had a Pearson-type operation, 13 underwent total or subtotal cricoid plate resection and modelling, and the remaining 6 had modelling alone. Perfect results after resection depend on the treatment of infection and inflammation of the airway before surgery. Our preferred method is resection and end-to-end anastomosis whenever possible. In addition to the anatomical site of the lesion, the glottic opening has to be considered in planning the surgical operation since impairment necessitates enlargement of the glottis as part of the procedure.

One hundred and twenty patients with bronchogenic carcinoma were prospectively studied by both computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during the 2 weeks preceding thoracotomy or mediastinoscopy. MRI scans included contiguous axial and coronal slices. Results of CT and MRI studies were compared with the surgical and pathological findings on the basis of the TNM classification. Although no significant difference was found between the two imaging methods for the evaluation of tumour extent, MRI appears to be a valuable imaging technique for left upper lobe and apical neoplasms. Comparison between the two techniques for mediastinal node evaluation showed that sensitivity of MRI is superior to CT in the left paratracheal, aortopulmonary and subcarinal node areas.

Primitive liposarcomas of the pleura are exceptional tumours. We report a new case of primitive liposarcoma of the pleura revealed by chest pains in a 50 year old man. Computed tomography showed a large fat density mass in the left pleural cavity. Surgical resection was performed, completed with adjuvant radiotherapy. Few reports are available in the literary world. We present our case, review previously reported cases and discuss treatment.