The Journal of craniofacial surgery
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Sturge-Weber syndrome (SWS), Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS), and Parkes-Weber syndrome (PWS) represent a wide range of congenital vascular abnormality syndromes. Although many of the diagnostic criteria overlap for these syndromes, there are important differences among these diseases that carry important prognostic and therapeutic implications. This review attempts to clearly distinguish among SWS, KTS, and PWS, although loosely categorizing them as a family of congenital vascular disorders. A review of literature reveals that a variety of diagnostic tools exist that can help differentiate between the syndromes and assess risk for certain complications, which may help tailor various treatment modalities for a particular patient.
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Different reconstruction techniques of the anterior and middle skull base as consequence of a defect after surgical treatment of neoplastic pathologies are described in the literature. The aim of the present study is to present our experience regarding the use of microvascular free flaps for reconstruction of the anterior or middle skull base after large defects caused by removal of malignant neoplasms. From 2000 to 2004, in the Department of Maxillo-Facial Surgery of the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and "Tor Vergata," 13 surgical procedures for reconstruction of anterior and middle skull base defects by free flaps were performed in 11 patients. ⋯ The mean operation time was 85 hours; patients were hospitalized for a mean period of 14 days. The method of choice for the reconstruction of anterior or middle skull base defect should be based upon careful evaluation of the single case and, particularly, the localization and entity of the residual defect. For defects that require large amounts of soft tissue, the latissimus dorsi free flap and the rectus abdominis free flap are the best appropriate choices for reconstructive procedures for anterior and middle skull base tumors.