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Hemangiomas in the pediatric middle ear are a rare occurrence. We present the case of a 3-year-old boy with unilateral hearing impairment and recurrent otitis media with effusion due to a hemangioma in the middle ear. This caused a venous sinus thrombosis, osteomyelitis, and mastoiditis. Interdisciplinary treatment was performed. This case shows that even benign lesions in the middle ear can cause severe, life-threatening complications due to the close proximity of important anatomic structures in the middle ear. Every case of asymmetric hearing loss should thus be examined in detail., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Die Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.

Background: Tufted angiomas (TAs) are uncommon benign vascular tumors mostly located cutaneously or subcutaneously in the skin of the neck and upper trunk, which appear during childhood and grow slowly. TAs are a variant of lobular capillary hemangiomas. This is the first study to provide an overview of the current literature in combination with the authors' own clinical experience on this rare entity in the head and neck area with non-dermatological localization., Methods: A selective Medline and Google Scholar database search was performed. Additionally, we conducted an ICD-10-based database search on hemangiomas (D18.0) in the Charité SAP patient records., Results: We identified 13 reports in the literature consisting of 16 cases of TA of the head and neck. Males were predominantly affected by TAs (70.6%). The mean age of the patients at the time of surgery was 31.5 years; the mean maximum diameter of the tumors was 16.3 mm. Additionally, we report on one case of TA in our Department of Head and Neck Surgery. A male patient presented with swelling and redness of the left upper eyelid. Radiological examination with computed tomography showed a suprabulbar tumor with a diameter of 13 mm. The tumor was surgically removed via a transcutaneous blepharoplasty approach with the patient under general anesthesia., Discussion: There is only one other case report on the surgical excision of an intra- orbital TA described to date. Here, we present an epidemiological overview, therapeutic considerations, and differential diagnoses.

Intraarticular benign tumors are rare lesions in many cases seen as incidental findings. One of the typical lesions is the diffuse or nodular form of pigmented villonodular synovitis, which needs a complete surgical removal. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is diagnostic in most of the cases because of the intracellular iron content which shows an at least in some parts dark T2-sequence. Adjuvant therapies as radiosynoviorthesis should be considered in diffuse or recurrent lesions. Synovial Chondromatosis represents a metaplastic disorder of the synovial membrane resulting in the production of loose cartilage bodies. Also in this dissease synovectomy or, in late cases, removal of the loose bodies only, is recommended. Synovial hemangiomas are hamartomas which may lead to pain or restriction of movement. In these cases total or partial resection is justified. Alternative treatment options such as laserablation may be possible. Lipoma arborescens represents a proliferative lipoid lesion of the subsynovial region leading to villonodular synovial proliferation. If clinically symptomatic, resection by arthroscopic or open synovectomy is recommented.

Regarding thromboembolic events, non-vitamin K antagonists, so-called new oral anticoagulative agents (NOACs), have widely enlarged prophylaxis and therapy. In contrast to vitamin K antagonists they can be administered in a definite dose and do not need any regular control of coagulation parameters. Thus being simple in handling, these drugs have become enormously attractive for both patient and physician.In spite of all their advantages NOACs have to be considered carefully. They have a significant disadvantage: the plasma concentration is not detectable by a simple blood test, nor is there any antidote available. As a consequence the bleeding risk remains unknown.In this review we focus on two different settings in routine surgical work: the preoperative management of patients undergoing elective surgery differs significantly from that needed in urgent surgery.

Background: The cavernous haemangioma (cavernoma) is the most common orbital tumour in adults. Various surgical approaches have been described so far. We prefer a transconjunctival approach and analyse herein how our outcomes compare with those of transcutaneous or transosseous approaches., Methods: A retrospective series of 10 cases was analysed with regard to surgical success and complications., Results: The tumour could be completely removed in all cases. In one case, preoperative diplopia disappeared after surgery. Another case suffered from postoperative diplopia, which resolved within two months. Two cases developed a long-lasting partial tonic pupil., Conclusion: A retrobulbar cavernoma can be safely removed via a transconjunctival approach through shrinkage by coagulation and subsequent cryoextraction., (Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)

In the unusual case of a 68-year-old woman with one-sided painless lateral neck swelling, the ENT examination showed a firm nuchal mass (4 × 4 cm) on the right side with no other pathological findings. Angio-MRI confirmed a solid, sharply demarcated tumor with arterial hyperperfusion. Core needle aspiration biopsy was performed, revealing well-circumscribed tufts showing the typical "cannonball" aspect. After preoperative embolisation we performed extirpation of the mass. Histological examination showed an acquired tufted angioma. Clinical as well as radiological follow-up examination detected neither local relapse nor metastases.

Intramuscular tumours of the head and neck often represent a differential diagnostic challenge. We report the rare case of an intramuscular haemangioma arising from the sternocleidomastoid muscle in the 6th decade. Pre-operative diagnosis was difficult, as these tumours are extremely uncommon in the head and neck region, with only very few cases reported in the literature. Due to the marked tendency of intramuscular hemangiomas to recur, accurate preoperative diagnosis forms the basis of adequate surgical therapy with sufficient safety margins.

For the most part soft tissue tumors are benign. However, the clinical presentation, including radiological aspects, is not always clear. Therefore, a biopsy is necessary in some cases to detect malignant tumors at an early stage. The course of even benign tumors is sometimes complicated. A not insignificant group of local, aggressive or intermediary tumors tend to recur and in exceptional cases can be fatal. Benign soft tissue tumors are subdivided according to the current WHO classification from 2002. They are classified by the tissue they mimick. In clinical practice they are additionally grouped according to aggressiveness. Some benign soft tissue tumors occur in the context of a syndrome, leading to multiple tumors. In these cases there is the threat of a tumor becoming malignant (neurofibromatosis, Maffucci syndrome).

Littoral cell angioma is a rare vascular tumor of the spleen. An increased association with concomitant malignancies has been described. We report the case of a 67-year-old man suffering from colon carcinoma and presenting with a tumor of the spleen which could be seen using radiography. Splenectomy was performed and histology revealed a 2.1 cm vascular tumor with a characteristic immunophenotype (CD31/68+). In addition a hepatocellular carcinoma was found. Due to the relationship with malignant tumors littoral cell angioma should be considered in every case of a splenic tumoral space-occupying mass, particularly in carcinoma patients.

The authors present their results on the treatment of benign liver tumors. 65 patients were operated upon in the University Hospital in Pil-sen from 2000 until July 2006. Benign liver lesions were rather rare compared to malignant tumours, for which 273 patients were treated within the same period. The most often found benign -lesions were hepatocellular adenoma, focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) and hemangioma. Sometimes, it was not possible to make a correct diagnosis preoperatively. The surgical procedures used for benign tumours were mostly enucleation and non-anatomic parenchyma-saving resection (55.4 %). Morbidity in this group was 26.5 %, mortality 0 %.

Hepatic surgery has made substantial advances in the last two decades due to technical developments and improvements in perioperative management. This has reduced surgery dependent mortality to less than 5%, and provides the possibility of carrying out more substantial hepatic resections and to interpret the indications more liberally, also for tumours localized unfavorably. A widely standardized surgical technique as well as new possibilities for organ conservation and, in particular, immunosuppression mean that given suitable indications, liver transplantation is today regarded as a routine procedure for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. This work provides an overview of the current status of surgical therapy for the most frequent, benign liver tumours, as well as for hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma.

Cystic necrotization with liquefaction and calcification of muscle tissue is a rare late sequel of compartmental syndrome. Diagnosis and treatment of this clinical picture is still a problem. In the literature, various therapeutic approaches are described such as incision, needle decompression, and complete compartmental debridement. We report a case in which cystic degradation and liquefaction of three compartments developed 51 years after a complete fracture of the tibia. The patient was treated by radical compartmental resection. No postoperative complication was noted, and almost no functional loss occurred.

The successful treatment of vascular anomalies depends on profound knowledge of the biologic behavior of vascular lesions and their correct classification. On the base of the clinical course Mulliken and Glowacki developed a biologic classification that was accepted as official classification by the ISSVA (International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies). Based on an extended literature research, this manuscript will give an overview of different internationally accepted treatment concepts. Even if a wait-and-see strategy can be recommended in many cases of uneventful hemangiomas in infants the proliferative growth of such lesions requires an adequate treatment indication. Vascular malformations that persist lifelong require treatment in the majority of the cases, especially when clinical symptoms occur. Based on individual parameters such as the diameter, location or growth behavior, different therapeutic options as cryotherapy, corticosteroids, laser therapy, sclerotherapy, surgical intervention and/or embolisation can be performed successfully. None of those treatment concepts, however, represents the only treatment method of choice.

This is the first report about the endoscopic removal of hemangiomas in the gastrointestinal tract using the double-balloon enteroscopic technique. We report on a 16-year-old female patient with a 10-year history of chronic anemia due to recurrent gastrointestinal bleeding. Besides permanent iron substitution, up to 3 blood transfusions per week are necessary. At birth a blue rubber-bleb nevus syndrome was diagnosed, with blue angiomatous lesions preferring her skin and digestive tract. In the 8 years before admittance numerous conventional endoscopic procedures and one intraoperative endoscopy with laser coagulation of many cavernous hemangiomas were performed. In our department the successful treatment of 150 hemangiomas with argon plasma coagulation or polypectomy in combination with double-balloon enteroscopy and conventional endoscopy was achieved without complications.

Intramuscular angiomas are rare vascular tumors with locally aggressive growth between the fibers of muscle. A malignant aspect poses a danger for the function of the hand. We report the case of a 32-year-old woman with a painless tumor in the thenar. Physical examination showed a 2 x 3 x 5 cm fixed and engorged swelling. Perfusion and sensibility were intact. The flexion and opposition of the thumb were reduced. CAT showed a tumor of the thenar with a solid structure with signal enhancement after administration of contrast medium. Histologic examination after local resection showed an intramuscular angioma. Intramuscular angiomas have a malignant aspect because of the rapid and infiltrative growth followed by functional impairment, pain, and deformity. A high rate of recurrence is described. Thus, radical excision is indicated.

Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty represent minimal-invasive techniques for cement augmentation of vertebral bodies. Both procedures are successfully used for pain-relieving stabilizations of osteoporotic fractures or malignant processes. Advantages of kyphoplasty over vertebroplasty are to be seen in the possibility of deformity correction as well as in a decreased risk of cement extrusions which represent the most important potential for clinical complications. Long-term experiences with the effect of cementing are sparse. Thus it seems even more important, to judge indications and possibilities realistically. The decision whether and when to perform an augmentation is influenced by multiple factors. These include age of the patient, age of the fracture, degree of deformation and further degenerative changes of the spine. This article summarizes the present research and literature und is thought to provide guidelines for the aforementioned decision making processes.

Intra-oral haemangiomas can lead to intra-operative bleeding while being excised conventionally with a scalpel. Therefore excision with CO2-Laser using coagulating effects and vaporisation of soft-tissues has been introduced. 52 intra-oral haemangiomas were excised minimal invasively and without relapse. With CO2-Laser no complications were seen postoperatively but the healing period was prolonged.

The medical indications for laser therapy have been somewhat overlooked, perhaps because of the success of cosmetic laser therapy. As a result, many effective medical treatments are not covered by insurance companies. Lasers are helpful in many aspects of dermatologic treatment. Examples include pigmented lesions (Becker nevus), benign tumors (organoid nevi, adenoma sebaceum), dyschromias (traumatic tattoos), inflammatory diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue (lupus erythematosus, scars), hypertrichosis, premalignant lesions, and vascular lesions (hemangiomas and malformations). The various disorders which can effectively be treated with lasers are reviewed.

Background: The atypical course of cervical arteries can be reason for vascular complications including stroke and persistent neurological deficits in surgery in the cervical region., Methods: Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging including angiographic procedures such as contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography are suitable to detect atypical course of cervical arteries., Results: The two cases demonstrate rare variants of atypical course of cervical arteries detected by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging including contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography. The knowledge of these variants is important for planning of surgical intervention., Conclusions: Modern imaging techniques such as computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging including contrast enhanced magnetic resonance angiography should be used for detection of suspected variants in the course of cervical arteries. The relevant structures and the abnormalities can be clearly defined.

Background and Objective: Ultrasound-(US-) guided Nd:YAG laser therapy has been reported to be promising among different other options for treatment of hemangiomas and vascular malformations. The concept of CDI-guided interstitial laser therapy is therefore a further development based on the above mentioned therapeutic regime., Patients and Methods: We examined 55 patients suffering from vascular lesions of different localization and extent pre-, intra-, and post-operatively using color-Doppler imaging (CDI). All vascular lesions were classified due to their vascularization pattern. As accurate diagnosis was imperative we decided on possible laser treatment depending on the CDI-classification., Results: Intra-operative use of CDI rendered possible fiber-guidance by sonographic navigation and therefore precise treatment of aberrant vessels and well-perfused tumor areas. In 34 cases (62%) we observed complete, in 21 cases (38%) partial regression of vascular lesions. CDI allowed post-operative proof of diminution of tumor vascularization in all cases., Conclusions: CDI-guided interstitial Nd:YAG laser therapy is a minimally-invasive technique which allows replacement of conventional surgical procedures while achieving good cosmetic and functional results.CDI broadens the therapeutic possibilities in contrast to the former therapeutic concept of US-guided laser therapy due to pre-, intra and post-operative utilization of this imaging technique while significantly diminishing the intra-operative risk for the patient.

LASER THERAPY: Since the introduction of laser therapy for treatment of hemangiomas and vascular malformations, primary surgical therapy has gradually lost importance. Particularly hemangiomas, but also venous malformations and lymphangiomas, are nowadays primarily treated by different types of lasers. Especially the Nd:YAG laser with a percutaneous or transcutaneous application technique often leads to satisfying results., Surgical Therapy: Surgical therapy is mostly used secondarily in late childhood or in adults after several laser applications for excision of residual scars or other corrective procedures. Despite these improvements in laser therapy, there is still an indication for primary surgical treatment in subcutaneous vascular malformations and in rapidly growing hemangiomas after unsuccessful laser therapy. Even in large vascular anomalies, safe excision with only a little blood loss is possible if the tumors are encapsulated., Case Reports: In this paper we want to point out the necessity of primary surgery in three children in whom complications such as loss of sight, facial nerve palsy, and a lethal outcome due to massive hemorrhage in a cystic lymphangioma could be avoided.

Kasabach-Merritt-syndrome is rare coagulation disorder with consumption coagulopathy caused by vascular malformations. We report the case of a 44-year-old woman with repeated severe bleeding complications after small and medium sized operations with normal results in the tests of plasmatic coagulation. After discovery of a giant hemangioma of the liver the diagnosis was established. Activation of coagulation was stopped preoperatively by i.v.-heparinization and curative treatment by right-sided hemihepatectomy followed.

A giant hemangioma of the tongue was resected in a 16-year-old otherwise healthy young man (ASA I). Despite a total blood loss of 4,300 ml, corresponding to 105% of the patients intravascular blood volume, no allogeneic red blood cells had to be transfused intraoperatively. Besides minimization of intraoperative blood loss with preoperative alcohol injections into the tumor, ligation of large tumor-perfusing arteries, application of fibrin glue, skillful surgical technique, positioning of the surgical field above the level of the heart, controlled hypotension and maintenance of normothermia, acute normovolemic hemodilution (augmented by preoperative administration of recombinant human erythropoetin - rhEpo) and autotransfusion of lost blood were used for recovery of autologous blood. Under the protection of hyperoxia, a decrease of the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration to 4.2 g/dl was bridged by extreme normovolemic hemodilution. No signs of immanent or manifest tissue hypoxia were encountered. Retransfusion of autologous red blood cells was only started when surgical control of bleeding was achieved. Additionally a total of 4 units of fresh frozen plasma were infused for stabilization of plasma coagulation. After a 9-hour surgical duration, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit, normotensive (with low-dose infusion of norepinephrin) and normothermic with a Hb concentration of 5.6 g/dl. In the face of an increasing lactacidosis 2 units of packed red blood cells were transfused on post surgical day 1.

Leiomyosarcomas are only rarely found in routine cardiac surgery. For the patient they hold, however, a very high-risk potential as only an early diagnosis, and immediate surgical therapy leads to long-term survival. Awareness, timely diagnosis, and immediate radical surgical therapy is imperative. This report describes the case of a 21-year old male with a strong suspicion of leiomyosarcoma of the pulmonary artery. Due to his clinical symptoms, the patient was transferred to operation immediately after completion of all diagnostic measurements. Postoperatively the diagnosis of a leiomyosarcoma proved to be false; instead a rare fibro-histologic tumor was found. Even in the case of a suspected leiomyosarcoma, rapid and radical surgical therapy is imperative due to the poor prognosis of leiomyosarcoma.

Aim: Littoral cell angioma is a rare benign tumour of vascular proliferation unique to the spleen. Definitive sonographic patterns are yet unknown and are described in this paper., Method: We report about 2 patients with histologically confirmed Littoral cell angioma. The sonographic features of these and 5 additional cases in the literature are presented., Results: Littoral cell angioma is characterized by splenomegaly (6 out of 7 cases) with small nodular hyperechoic focal lesions (6 out of 7 cases). A solitary hyperechoic tumour (1 out of 7 cases) is a rare event., Conclusion: Littoral cell angioma is a recently discovered tumour and should be included in the differential diagnosis of a hyperechoic splenic tumour.

The rare case of a 3.5 month-old infant diagnosed with a endobronchial haemangioma is presented and discussed against a background of reference literary material. A main-bronchus sleeve resection with end-to-end anastomosis was performed without reduction of lung parenchyma. No complications were documented during the period of observation. The results of repeated bronchoscopy showed the post-operative period to be of a non-problematic nature.

Background: Clinical and radiological differentiation between subacute or chronic sinusitis and differential pathologies such as malignoma, inverted papilloma or mycosis can be very difficult. In some cases the CT- or MRI-scan shows a unilateral opacification of the paranasal sinuses. Which histological results can be found in patients with persisting sinusitis related problems and a unilateral opacification of the paranasal sinuses in the CT- or MRI-scan? There are only a few publications on this topic., Patients: In a prospective study between June 1998 and November 1999 all patients who underwent surgery in our Department for subacute or chronic sinusitis problems were included into our study group if they had a unilateral opacification of the paranasal sinuses. Thereafter, the same neuroradiologist verified the unilateral radiological findings on CT or MRI, unaware of the clinical and histological findings. Cases with a pre-existing histological examination, previous operation or injury to the paranasal system were excluded from this study. Data on clinical symptoms, radiological and histological findings were analysed., Results: 43 cases with unilateral opacified paranasal sinuses were diagnosed by means of CT or MRI. These were comprised of 24 males and 19 females with an average age of 43.6 years (range 6 to 88 years). The major findings of our study were as follows: Firstly unilateral opacification of the paranasal sinuses is often (19/43 cases or 43%) associated with diseases othe than simple chronic sinusitis (8 inverted papilloma, 5 malignoma, 3 mycoses and one brown tumor, one osteoidosteoma and one haemangioma). Secondly the incidence of significant pathology other than simple chronic sinusitis rises strikingly with increasing age of the patient. For instance pathologies other than simple chronic sinusitis were found in 14% (1/7) of cases in the under 16 years group, 27% (6/22) of cases in the 16-60 years group and in 86% (10/12) of cases in the over 60 years group. Concerning clinical signs of our patients with unilateral sinus opacity 7 of 11 patients (63%) with epistaxis and 3/5 with diplopia had histological findings other than simple chronic sinusitis. In contrast unilateral rhinorrhea, unilateral nasal congestion and cephalgia were not of predictive value., Conclusion: Unilateral opacification of paranasal sinuses in the CT or MRI is--especially at a higher age--an indice for a neoplasm or mycotic sinusitis and therefore an early histological diagnosis or operative treatment is always suggested.

The efficacy of flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser therapy at 585 nm for cutaneous and mixed hemangiomas was assessed in 165 children with 225 separate hemangiomas were treated in 332 sittings over 2.5 years. The patients were divided into three groups: 100 patients with 153 flat cutaneous hemangiomas, 47 patients with 54 mixed cutaneous-subcutaneous hemangiomas and 18 patients with 18 superficial hemangiomas in the involution phase. In the first group of 100 patients with 153 flat cutaneous hemangiomas, 52 (34%) of the lesions showed total lightening. 21 of the 153 lesions showed proliferation of the subcutaneous component, although these lesions were flat at first presentation. Of the 54 mixed hemangiomas, 33 (61%) had continued proliferation of the subcutaneous component. The cutaneous component responded to therapy in 21 (39%) hemangiomas while the subcutaneous component of the mixed hemangiomas remained unchanged. No lesions in this group involuted completely and therapy was discontinued because of a relatively poor response to therapy. 12 (67%) of the 18 patients with superficial hemangiomas in the involution phase had excellent results, and 6 (33%) had good results. We conclude that treatment with the flashlamp-pumped pulsed dye laser is very effective and may be the treatment of choice for selected hemangiomas, especially cutaneous hemangiomas at sites of potential functional impairment (hands or feet, anogenital-region), and on the face. Furthermore, laser therapy should be initiated as early as possible, even in the first days or weeks of life, when the hemangioma is flat, to prevent enlargement, promote involution, or eliminate these vascular lesions.

Vertebral hemangiomas are the most common benign spinal tumors with an incidence range of 10-12%. Approximately 1-2% of the cases develop clinically significant symptoms causing the necessity for treatment. Based on our own results and a review of the literature we discuss the role of radiotherapy in the management of symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas. A total dose of 30.0 Gy given in five weekly fractions of 2.0 Gy has been proven as effective for the primary treatment and postsurgical irradiation for the prevention of a recurrence. In the literature review the results are summarized of 59 reports in the period of 1929-2000 for a total of 327 cases. The analysis of 55 studies reporting results in 210 cases which underwent primary radiotherapy or combinations with other methods of treatment demonstrated that in 54% occurred a complete relief of symptoms (CR), in 32% a partial relief (PR), and 11% were non-responders (NR). The analysis of 21 reports of 63 cases which were treated with radiotherapy as the sole measure of treatment demonstrated that 57% had a complete remission of symptoms (CR), 32% a partial remission (PR), and 11% did not respond to radiotherapy (NR). We conclude that radiation therapy is very effective in the management of symptomatic vertebral hemangiomas. With regard on the delayed effects of the irradiation, cases with an acute compression of the spinal cord should be treated primarily with a surgical procedure and a postsurgical irradiation is recommended to prevent a relapse of symptoms. In order to minimise acute or late toxicity and the risk of radiation-induced neoplasms the total dose should not exceed 30 Gy.

Hemangiomas are the most common soft tissue tumours in childhood, which arise after birth, grow for several months and regress spontaneously. Serious problems can occur with closure of the eye resulting in amblyopia or with psychologica problems due to disfiguring of the face. Therapeutic possibilities are cryo therapy, laser therapy and surgical removal. Cryotherapy can be used for small and flat hemangiomas. Bigger hemangiomas are treated with the Nd-YAG laser. Its effect is an acceleration of involution. Typical residues of hemangiomas must be secondarily corrected surgically. Indications for primary surgical therapy are hemangiomas of the eye lid and in the scalp.

Background: Conventional kinetic perimetry is of especial use in case of advanced scotoma. However, examiner dependency is a major drawback. Purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical feasibility and intraindividual scatter of computer-assisted kinetic perimetry in monitoring advanced visual field defects of various origins., Methods: Examinations were carried out with the Tuebingen Computer Campimeter (background lumincance 10 cd/m2). In an initial session, the localization of the scotoma border is estimated with conventional manual kinetic perimetry. In the subsequent computer assisted kinetic mode, an individually adjusted set of vectors is designed. Each vector crosses the manually assessed visual field defect border almost perpendicularly, starting approximately 3 degrees within the scotoma. Each individual set of vectors can be stored and recalled for follow-up. Stimuli move along these vectors with identical characteristics as in manual kinetic perimetry. Stimulus presentations are repeated six times in a randomized order. Patients' responses are recorded and additionally corrected for mean individual reaction time. A "local kinetic threshold" (mean) and a related parameter for dispersion (standard deviation) are assessed., Results: Four subjects with advanced visual field loss of various origin (retinitis pigmentosa, vigabatrin-associated visual field defect, glaucomatous nerve fibre layer defect, and postgeniculate visual pathway defect) participated in this study. Maximal difference between manual-kinetic and automated kinetic thresholds reaches from 1.7 degrees to 5 degrees. Local scatter (standard deviation) of kinetic threshold, assessed by computer-assisted perimetry, varies between 0.1 degree and 3.0 degrees., Conclusion: Computer assisted kinetic perimetry is a new, useful, examiner-independent, reliable method for effective evaluation and monitoring of advanced visual field loss.

The presentation of vascular and neural malformations in an understandable terminology permits accurate diagnosis, proper treatment, individualized prognosis, and also stimulates studies of pathogenesis. The descriptive classification includes: NF 1 and NF 2; hemangiomas, low- and high-flow vascular malformations, combined malformations, and hypertrophy; and syndromes such as, Parkes Weber, Klippel-Trénaunay, Maffuci's, and multiple dysplasia syndromes. Lymphatic malformations are abnormalities of lymphatic development. The list of treatment includes surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Not all vascular malformations can be successfully treated. Coping with NF is a challenge for both, affected individuals and health care professionals. NF is often associated with a myriad of anomalies that present a lot of problems for plastic surgery. In certain cases watchful waiting seems justified but not in cases of severe problems, giant growth, and local complications.

Background and Objective: Endothelial nuclear atypia is the hallmark of malignant vascular tumors. Pleomorphic nuclei of the muscular vessel wall and the adventitia are manifestations of degenerative phenomena and should not be misinterpreted as signs of malignancy., Patients/methods: Three long-standing solitary superficial vascular tumors (61-year-old woman, 48- and 63-year-old men) were removed by primary excision. Sections were stained according to standard histologic and immunohistologic protocols., Results: Symplastic hemangiomas show the silhouette of a small superficial angioleiomyoma or capillary hemangioma. Characteristic features are multinucleate cells of the muscular vessel wall and the adventitia with pleomorphic nuclei, broad hyalinized vessel walls, and the distinctive lack of endothelial nuclear atypia. Recurrences or metastases were not reported (follow-up of 9, 45 and 90 months)., Conclusions: Symplastic hemangioma is a benign superficial hemangioma with histological features of a pseudomalignancy. The distinctive lack of endothelial nuclear atypia allows distinction from malignant vascular tumors.

The neodymium:yttrium-aluminium-garnet-(Nd:YAG) laser is one of the most versatile and interesting lasers in dermatological laser medicine. Almost no other laser has such a wide spectrum of applications. Depending on wave length (1064 nm, frequency-doubled 532 nm) and mode (continuous, Q-switched, long-pulsed), benign pigmented lesions (tattoos, traumatic tattoos, naevus of Ota, cafe-au-lait-macules, lentigines) and vascular lesions (hemangiomas, portwine stains, essential teleangiectasias, angiomas) can be treated. Additionally this laser has been occasionally used to remove Kaposi sarcomas and epithelial skin tumors.

The venal haemangioma is defined as a benign tumor consisting of veinlike vessels. The preoperative diagnosis and its inherent problems are illustrated using a coincidentally diagnosed monstrous haemangioma tumor of the retroperitonial space in a twenty year old patient. With respect to our patient, X-ray, computer tomography and angiography all failed as diagnostic tools. Only the use of Doppler sonographic flow signals suggested the presence of a haemangioma. The morphology, prognosis and clinical significance of blood vessel tumors are multifaceted. The most important differential diagnoses to the venous haemangioma are the cavernous and the capilliary haemangioma. The venous haemangioma distinguishes itself through the presence of blood vessel walls. Haemangiomas are common benign tumors. In the presence of highly developed muscular components, there exists a transition to angiomyomas and to leiomyomas. Venal haemangiomas are extremely rare in the demonstrated localisation of the retroperitoneal space. Here they can grow to monstrous preportions whilst remaining undetected. Thus the patient is under the potential danger of bleeding to death through trivial injuries. The therapy of choice remains total surgical excision. In situations of unclear clinical results with respect to preoperative diagnosis especially amongst young adults, one should at least consider the possibility of a haemangioma as the root of the problem.

Lasers have been used for about 15 years in the treatment of vascular malformations and haemangiomas in the head and neck area. The physical properties of the neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser system make it particularly suitable for this purpose. We review our first experience with the treatment of vascular malformations using the Nd-YAG-laser. 9 Patients with 10 vascular malformations were treated. A complete remission was achieved with 9 of the 10 vascular malformations and a partial remission with the remaining case. No complications were observed. The neodymium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Nd:YAG) laser therapy has proven itself as simple to use, being highly effective and having a low complication rate.

We report the case of a 37-year-old patient with an epithelioid haemangioma arising from the third segment of the popliteal artery and the tibio-peroneal trunk. As far as we know this is the first description of this tumour originating in an artery of this order. One year after excision of the tumour mass and vascular reconstruction the patient has recovered and shows no evidence of recurrence. Clinical manifestation and morphological characteristics of this rare lesion are described in this article.