Most people develop several moles (nevi) throughout adulthood. Moles can be found anywhere on the body, usually in sun-exposed areas, and are usually brown, smooth, and slightly raised. In most cases, a nevus is benign and doesn't require treatment. Rarely, they turn into melanoma or other skin cancers. A nevus that changes shape, grows bigger, or darkens should be evaluated for removal.

The condition is caused by a blockage in the lymphatic system, part of the immune and circulatory systems. Lymphedema is most commonly caused by lymph node removal or damage due to cancer treatment. The main symptom is swelling in an arm or leg that may be accompanied by pain or discomfort. Exercise, wrapping, massage, and compression can help.

A new study from Mayo Clinic finds the use of the drug therapy etanercept ineffective in treating alcoholic hepatitis, an acute inflammation of the liver caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. Alcoholic hepatitis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Severe alcohol-related liver disease carries a poor prognosis. Several research studies have worked to find a successful treatment for alcoholic hepatitis, but no consensus has been reached on the most effective treatment regimen.

Menorrhagia is the medical term for menstrual periods with abnormally heavy or prolonged bleeding. Although heavy menstrual bleeding is a common concern, most women don't experience blood loss severe enough to be defined as menorrhagia.

Uterine polyps, also called endometrial polyps, are usually small, bulb-shaped masses of endometrial tissue attached to the uterus by a stalk. They are soft, as opposed to uterine fibroids, which can grow much bigger and are made of hard muscle.

Heavy period blood can be especially alarming if it contains clots. In most cases, though, red, brown, or even black menstrual blood clots are normal—just bits of the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) that are shed during menstruation.

A cervical biopsy is a procedure that is sometimes done on women during an exam called a colposcopy to remove cervical tissue for examination. It is also called a punch biopsy. It is usually performed when a Pap smear result is either inconclusive or abnormal and a doctor wants to screen further for any cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer.

This video demonstrates how a broken nose is fixed using only local anesthesia and without sedation. Of course, this can also be performed while asleep.

This animation demonstrates how a unilateral complete cleft lip repair is performed. This video is meant for educational purposes for patients and families. There are many ways to fix a complete cleft lip, but the technique shown here is the most common known as the Millard Rotation Advancement Repair.

Dental Abscess Drainage and Extraction

Ganglion Cyst Drainage

his patient had spilled boiling water on his lower leg a couple days before. This isn't complicated but the teaching points should focus on draining the large blistered areas and attempting to maintain moisture as long as we can so the skin doesn't contract down on itself.