What is a radical neck dissection? when is it done?

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What is a radical neck dissection? The surgeon removes a block of tissue from the collarbone to the jaw and from the front to the back of the neck. The large muscle on the side of the neck that is used for rotating, flexing or extending the neck is also taken out, along with the major vein on the side of the neck. Sometimes, a less drastic operation, called a supraomohyoid neck dissection is done. This takes out only the lymph nodes, the tissue surrounding the nodes and a muscle at the front of the neck. Another technique, called a functional neck dissection, saves the muscles of the neck, taking out only the lymph nodes and tissues surrounding them.
What kind of incision is made with a radical neck dissection? The incision depends upon what the surgery is for. It can run from below the ear to the collarbone. Everything in the front of the neck on one side or on both sides may be removed. This may include the lymph nodes, blood vessels, nerves, and the salivary gland under the jawbone.

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What causes increased acid in stomach?

An increased stomach acid production can result from nervousness, tension, rage or fear. Brain activity can stimulate the nerves that control acid production. Acid formation is also increased with smoking and the consumption of alcohol. Ulcer patients who insist on smoking and drinking literally pour increased amounts of acid on the internal wounds. Part of the symptoms of a hangover result from stomach irritation that produces congestion or even small ulcers.

There is also a large group of people who don't seem to worry inordinately and are abstainers but who also get ulcers. We obviously don't know all the answers.

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Where does Melanoma most often metastasize?

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What is malignant melanoma? Malignant melanoma is a less common form of skin cancer. When diagnosed early, it is easily cured. But if it is not found soon enough, it can be very difficult to treat. It is dangerous because, unlike the other skin cancers, it mestastasizes early and spreads quickly. It is one of the more uncontrollable cancers. The cell involved is the melanocyte, the cell which produces melanin, the dark protective pigment of the skin.
What is the difference between an ordinary mole and melanoma? An ordinary mole is evenly colored, and either brown, tan or black. It may be flat or raised. It is round or oval and its edges are sharply defined. An ordinary mole is usually less than 6 millimeters in diameter about the size of a pencil eraser. Ordinary moles may be present at birth. Sometimes several appear at the same time, usually on areas of the skin which have been exposed to the sun. Once the mole develops, it usually stays the same size, shape and color for many years.…
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Ejaculation and sexual life problems after prostate surgery

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Yes. After prostatectomy, the ability to ejaculate through the penis is lost. What happens is that ejaculation occurs but it is directed backward into the bladder, rather than forward through the urethra. The semen remains in the bladder until urination, and is carried out via that route. The man who ejaculates in this manner has the very same sensations during sex that he had before except that there is no discharge through the penis.
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How to know if your ankle is broken? How is a broken ankle treated?

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Fractures of the AnkleHow do ankle fractures occur? Ankle fractures are caused by a forceful and excessive twisting of the ankle, either in or out. The twist comes from stumbling, catching the foot in a crevice, or falling, in which the weight of the body is unevenly distributed. Many skiers suffer fractured ankles, and some of the best treatments have been evolved by surgeons practicing near ski slopes. The stress and strain factors in the ankle are so uniform that the pattern of the injury, dislocation and deformity is specific. Many varieties of ankle fractures are grouped together under the name of Pott's fracture.

What shall I do, Doctor? I'm at a gas station phone and my wife just fell down and twisted her ankle. 

If it is painful and she can't walk, it may be a fracture. Don't manipulate it, don't pull it. Just wrap a towel or pillow around it and take her to a hospital for an X ray. It is best if she does not walk. You can carry her in a chair.
How does an an…
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How painful is a bone marrow transplant for the donor

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What is a bone marrow transplant?  Bone marrow transplantation is an approach used over the past 10 years for the treatment of acute leukemia and lymphoma. It is a complex procedure and should be undertaken only by physicians with the experience and resources needed to get the best results.
When is a bone marrow transplant used?  It may be used in some cases of several types of diseases aplastic anemia (when patients do not have enough red cells to carry oxygen, enough white cells to fight bacteria, or enough platelets to help clotting), in some types of acute and chronic leukemia, for some lymphomas, for severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome, and for certain inherited blood disorders such as thalassemia. A bone marrow transplant replaces a patient's abnormal or diseased marrow with healthy marrow from a donor.
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What is the symptoms of a head concussion? Is concussion a brain injury?

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Head Injuries The brain is man's most vital possession. Recent details about organ transplants have centered on the definition of death. These discussions have emphasized that, even though the heart may continue to beat, the individual is considered dead if there is no brain activity.

Nature provides a thick scalp and skull to protect the brain and further encloses it in envelopes called the meninges. Some injuries to the head may be trivial, others may be fatal.

The surgeon who is called upon to evaluate the patient with a head injury tackles the problem from within out. Damage to the brain and its envelope is most important; injury to the skull is of concern in only some instances. Bleeding from the scalp is the most apparent manifestation of injury but is the least important. Survival and the late effects of a head injury depend on the extent of the injury to the brain and not to its coverings. The best possible supportive medical crre is provided to those who will recover spon…
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What are the most important side effects of taking female hormones?

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Would the doctor prescribe estrogen if my ovaries were removed because of cancer?  No. If there is any sign of a cancerous condition, estrogen would probably not be prescribed. 
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How is a broken or cracked rib treated?

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Chest Injuries The chest consists of the bony thorax and the organs that lie within it. The thorax comprises twelve ribs on each side of the chest, each of which attaches to the bony spine in the back and to the chest bone (sternum) in front. Each chest cavity has a smooth delicate lining (pleura) within which the lung rhythmically expands and deflates.

The diaphragm is the dome shaped muscle that seals off the lower end of the chest from the abdomen. Its upand down motion provides the bellows action for the expansion of the lungs that fills them with air. The function of the lungs is to provide ventilation. Air is moved in to provide oxygen, and carbon dioxide is moved out as a waste product.
The heart is in its own envelope in the center of the chest, behind the breastbone. The heart functions solely as a pump. It circulates the blood into the lung for oxygenation and delivers oxygenated blood to the entire body. The chest also harbors the large blood vessels and the breathing and s…
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What is the difference between a radical mastectomy and modified radical mastectomy?

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In the radical mastectomy (also known as the Halsted mastectomy) the doctor removes the breast tissue, the lymph nodes under the armpit, and the muscle under the breast. The modified radical, which most surgeons are now using, removes the breast tissue and the lymph nodes, but the muscle is left intact. The advantage of the modified radical is that it is cosmetically more attractive and does not handicap the motion of the arm. Studies indicate that the survival rate for the two operations is the same.
Is the choice of what surgical procedure I will have up to me or up to the doctor? Of course your doctor is responsible for the surgery. But he cannot perform any operation unless you give your signed consent to have it done. You should have your doctor give you his complete explanation of what he recommends as his bestjudgment and ask him all the questions that concern you about the operation. Do not sign anything until you are certain you understand what you are signing. It is your righ…
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The most important difference between Hodgkin's disease and non-hodgkin's lymphoma

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Common Hand Injuries: Treatment for swollen hand due to injury

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Hand Injuries Most of us earn our living with our hands. The goal of the treatment of hand injuries is maximum preservation of function. In terms of possible permanent disability, there is no minor surgery in this area. The magnitude of the problem is apparent in the frequency with which it appears in the statistics of the Workmen's Compensation Board and insurance companies.

The best treatment is prevention. One must be constantly alert to the possibility of punctures, door slams, burns, pressure injuries, and the perverse potential of certain mechanical tools. Failing this, early treatment to prevent infection is best. There are relatively clearly defined methods of managing various types of injury. The patient can describe the site of the injury by indicating its relation to the various creases in the palm or to the knuckles and nails on the back of the hand. Physicians can treat all hand and finger injuries under some form of nerve blocking anesthesia, so the patient feels abs…
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