• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.38 no.5
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• pp.679-682
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• 2011

Purpose: Neurofibromas of neuroectodermal origin are commonly found in Von Recklinghausens disease or neurofibormatosis type 1. It is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutation of the long arm of chromosome 17. It can present from small nodules to disfiguring giant tumor. Plexiform neurofibroma is benign in most cases, but it could be transformed into malignant tumor, which requires surgical excision. To cover the defects after the excision, a number of surgical correction methods are available. This study is to report a surgical correction of disfiguring plexiform neurofibroma using anterolateral thigh free flap for extensive defects after surgical excision of neurofibrona. Methods: Data of five neurofibroma patients with an average age of 39 including medical history, physical examination, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imaging were checked. No disease other than neurofibroma were detected. Biopsy on the excised tissues was performed. The follow-up period was 7 to 27 months. Results: The average size of defects after complete excision of neurofibroma was $13{\times}10{\sim}25{\times}15$ cm. Defects were covered by anterolateral thigh free flap, while donor sites were covered by local flap, split thickness skin graft and regional flap. Throughout follow-up, there were no complication, relapse, or any abnormalities. Conclusion: Despite various surgical correction methods are applicable to defects after excision on disfiguring plexiform neurofibroma, coverage of massive defects is still challenging in plastic and reconstructive surgeon. We have made five successful cases of surgical correction of disfiguring plexiform neurofibroma using anterolateral thigh free flap.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.512-515
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• 2009

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis(NF) is an autosomal - dominant systemic disease. Up to fifty percent of patients with NF are reported to have concomitant vascular abnormalities. In the resection of a larger NF, the risk of uncontrolled hemorrhage is much higher due to the difficulty of hemostasis of large vessels within the tumor. We ligated the base of the giant NF with a simple loop - shaped ligation before removal of the giant NF in both buttocks. And then we could successfully reduce the amount of hemorrhage during the operation. Methods: A 46 - year - old female patient presented for giant masses of both gluteal area, which has been growing slowly for the last ten years. Each mass was about $30{\times}20cm$ in size. After designing the elliptical resection margin, we tightened the tumor base by using continuous loop - shaped suture ligation(weaving the thread up and down in a loop - shaped pattern, leaving a space of 2 cm between each loop) with a straight needle and prolene 2 - 0. After skin incision, we proceeded the dissection toward the central and inferior side of the mass obliquely while we avoided breaking large vascular sinuses. We resected the tumor in a wedged - shape. Subcutaneous tissue was sutured layer by layer and skin was closed by vertical mattress and interrupted suture. The loop - shaped ligation of the base was removed and compressive dressing was done with gauzes and elastic bandages. Results: Postoperative complications such as infection, hemorrhage, hematoma, and dehiscense did not occur. Perioperatively the patient was sufficiently transfused with five units of blood and two units of fresh frozen plasma. During the subsequent 1 year follow - up, the functional and cosmetic result was excellent. Conclusion: A continuous loop - shaped suture ligation procedure along the base of the giant NF effectively reduced the amount of hemorrhage during the operation, made dissection and ligation of vessels easily and quickly, and shorten the operating time and postoperative recovery time.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.169-172
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• 2010

Purpose: The authors have experienced various lesions that simulate ganglion of the foot on the ultrasonography. The purpose of this study is to evaluate ultrasonographic findings of soft tissue lesions, which were interpreted as ganglion but confirmed as different lesions in the foot. Materials and Methods: We reviewed a database of patients with ganglion on the ultrasonography from two different institutions. There were 109 patients who underwent both ultrasonography and surgical confirmation. Twenty one lesions were identified, of which initial interpretation on the ultrasonography included ganglion which pathology revealed to be different lesions. All images were evaluated by one musculoskeletal radiologist, regarding size, margins, internal echogenicity of lesions, and presence of posterior enhancement. Results: Of 21 lesions, there were 6 fibrous tumors including fibroma, giant cell tumor of tendon sheath, and fibromatosis, 3 hemangiomas, 2 epidermal inclusion cysts, 2 chondromas, 2 angioleiomyomas, 1 trichilemal cyst, 1 neurofibroma, 1 granular cell tumor, 1 neurilemmoma, 1 neuromyxoma, and 1 nodular hidradenoma. Mean size of the lesion was 1.1 cm. Margins were smooth in 10, mild lobulation in 8 and marked lobulation in 3 lesions. Lesions were hypoechoic in 16, anechoic in 4 and isoechoic in 1 case. Posterior acoustic enhancement was definitely present in 5 lesions. Conclusion: On the ultrasonography, various soft tissue lesions of the foot may be confused with ganglion. During surgical resection care should be given even to a simple ganglion as it might turn up to be a solid lesions such as fibrous tumors.