Extraorbital giant cell angiofibroma

A number of intriguing fibrovascular mesenchymal proliferations with benign or low grade malignant potential have recently been described. Giant cell angiofibroma was introduced as an entity by Dei Tos et al. in 1995 and initially considered to be a lesion of the orbit. We describe an extraorbital example, indicating that giant cell angiofibroma is not confined to the orbit. Immunologically, giant cell angiofibroma is positive for CD 34, bcl-2 and vimentin, and negative for epithelial and muscle markers, and S-100. The tumor shares several morphological and immunological properties with giant cell fibroblastoma and solitary fibrous tumor, yet it features a histology sufficiently characteristic to allow its categorization as a separate entity. The recommended treatment is complete but conservative excision. Metastases have not been reported.

[Dog bites in the sledge-dog districts of Greenland]

Serious attacks on humans by dogs occur every year in Greenland. As prophylactic measures, cutting of dogs canine teeth and chaining of sledge dogs have been compulsory for many years. The significance of cutting of canine teeth and municipal regulations concerning keeping the sledge dogs in Greenland was evaluated in a retrospective study of the death certificates and the nosocomial reports. A total of twenty-two dog bite-related fatalities from 1967 through 1989 and 23 hospitalized patients following dog attacks from 1986 through 1988 in a population of 15,000 inhabitants and 29,000 dogs was studied. In only two of the killed and four of the hospitalized persons, reports of intact canine teeth as demonstrated by the typical lesions were available. However, the severe cut-out wounds in 14 survivors and twenty fatalities with great loss of tissue indicated intact canine teeth of the dogs. Unchained dogs were most frequently involved, but at least four fatalities and one severely injured person were caused by chained dogs. 87% (39/45) of the victims were under ten years of age, so future intervention should primarily involve this group despite a declining mortality rate since the mid-seventies. Small children should be escorted by adults out-of-doors and first aid education of laymen ought to have a higher priority because half of the killed children were still alive, on arrival in hospital. Infants and toddlers should be carried in an amaat, a special rucksack well known in the Eskimo culture and still used in Eskimo Canada, or alternatively rucksacks mounted on a tubular frame of aluminium.

Combination of rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament and spiroid fracture of the thumb. Case report

A combination of rupture of the ulnar collateral ligament in the first metacarpophalangeal joint and a concomitant spiroid fracture of the proximal phalanx in the thumb is described. Suture of the ligament was performed ten weeks posttraumatically, and a good result was achieved.