Use of tumor markers to distinguish endometriosis-related ovarian neoplasms from ovarian endometrioma.

OBJECTIVE: Only few studies have focused on tumor markers used in the preoperative diagnosis of endometriosis-related ovarian neoplasms, and previous studies have only assessed serum CA125 levels. This study investigated the significance of preoperative tumor markers and clinical characteristics in distinguishing endometriosis-related ovarian neoplasms from ovarian endometrioma. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted on 283 women who were diagnosed with confirmed pathology with endometriosis-related ovarian neoplasms (n=21) and ovarian endometrioma (n=262) at a single institution from April 2008 to April 2018. The serum CA125, CA19-9, carcinoembryogenic antigen (CEA), sialyl Lewis-x antigen (SLX), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, age, tumor size, and the presence of mural nodule of the patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Patients with endometriosis-related ovarian neoplasms were more likely to be older (48 (range, 26-81) vs 39 (range, 22-68) years, P<0.001), have higher levels of CA19-9 (42 vs 19 U/mL, P=0.013), CEA (1.3 vs 0.84 ng/mL, P=0.007), SLX (41 vs 33 U/mL, P=0.050), and LDH (189 vs 166 U/mL, P<0.001) and larger tumor size (79 vs 55 mm, P=0.001), and present with mural nodule (85.7 vs 4.5 %, P<0.001) than those with ovarian endometrioma. The CA125 levels did not significantly differ between the two groups. The area under the curve for each factor was as follows: CA19-9 level, 0.672 (95% CI 0.52 to 0.83; P=0.013); CEA level, 0.725 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.87; P=0.007); SLX level, 0.670 (95% CI 0.53 to 0.84; P=0.050); LDH level, 0.800 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.90; P<0.001); age, 0.775 (95% CI 0.65 to 0.90; P<0.001); and tumor size, 0.709 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.86; P=0.001). Age was a better marker than CA19-9, CEA, and SLX levels according to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. The optimal cut-off values for age and tumor size were 47 years and 80 mm, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The assessment of serum CA19-9, CEA, SLX, and LDH levels may be a useful tool in the preoperative evaluation to differentiate between endometriosis-related ovarian neoplasms and ovarian endometrioma.

Improving the Accuracy of Diagnosing Placenta Previa on Transvaginal Ultrasound by Distinguishing between the Uterine Isthmus and Cervix: A Prospective Multicenter Observational Study.

OBJECTIVE: To clarify whether distinguishing between the uterine isthmus and cervix can improve the accuracy of diagnosing placenta previa at term. METHODS: A multicenter prospective observational study was conducted among pregnant women with suspected placenta previa at 20-24 weeks' gestation. Subjects were divided into the open isthmus group and closed isthmus group. The accuracy of diagnosing placenta previa at term was compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: We screened 9,341 patients, and 53 (0.6%) met the inclusion criteria. Nineteen cases with an open isthmus and 34 with a closed isthmus were followed. The accuracy for diagnosing placenta previa or a low-lying placenta at term was 94.7% in the open isthmus group and 26.5% in the closed isthmus group (p < 0.001). Elective or emergency Cesarean section was required in 100% of cases in the open isthmus group and 20.6% in the closed isthmus group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: A high prediction rate of placenta previa was obtained by using transvaginal ultrasound at 20-24 weeks' gestation after the isthmus opened by carefully distinguishing between the cervix and isthmus.

Uterine cervical edema following cerclage.

We present a case of large uterine cervical edema following cerclage during pregnancy.

Role of a Fetal Ultrasound Clinic in Promoting Multidisciplinary and Inter-Facility Perinatal Care.

BACKGROUND: With the increasing rate of high-risk pregnancies, there is an increased need for early evaluation of at-risk fetuses. Fetal ultrasound imaging has become a pivotal part of this evaluation. METHODS: To evaluate the role played by a fetal ultrasound clinic in promoting comprehensive perinatal care of patients with high-risk pregnancies, we retrospectively analyzed the indications and findings of fetal scans and the outcomes of the examined fetuses collected over the past 7 years (2014-2020) by our institute, which is reorganized as a perinatal medical center. RESULTS: During the study period, we conducted 345 fetal scans in high-risk pregnancy cases. Of these, 158 cases (46%) were referrals from other institutes. Eighty-nine neonates were admitted to our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) after being evaluated, of which 10 neonates underwent surgery during their NICU stays. Thirty-nine pregnant women were referred to other tertiary care hospitals mainly due to fetal diagnoses with complex cardiac anomalies. Fourteen cases resulted in intrauterine fetal death or artificial abortion. CONCLUSIONS: Fetal ultrasound clinics have established their role in facilitating sophisticated regional perinatal care via multidisciplinary and inter-facility cooperation for high-risk pregnancy cases. In addition, providing psychological support and counseling for pregnant women whose fetuses are diagnosed with severe congenital anomalies should not be neglected.

The presence of amniotic fluid sludge in pregnant women with a short cervix: an independent risk of preterm delivery.

Objective: To examine whether the presence of amniotic fluid sludge (AFS) could increase the risk of preterm delivery in women with a cervical length (CL) of less than 25 mm.Materials and methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of 110 women who were 14-30 weeks pregnant with a singleton gestation and a CL of less than 25 mm. The primary outcomes were defined as preterm delivery before 34 weeks and preterm delivery before 37 weeks. The secondary outcome was defined as preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) prior to preterm delivery. Risk factors for preterm delivery were defined as AFS, subchorionic hematoma (SCH), history of preterm delivery, CL of less than 20 mm, and CL of less than 15 mm. A univariate analysis was performed to assess the primary and secondary outcomes according to the presence or absence of each risk factor. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the parameters, using a significance of p < .05 on the univariate analysis to examine whether they were independent risk factors.Results: A significantly increased risk of preterm delivery was found in the group of women with AFS who actually did deliver prior to 34 weeks (p < .001; odds ratio [OR] 6.44; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.51-16.5), prior to 37 weeks (p = .001; OR 4.46; 95% CI 1.76-11.3), and who had PPROM (p < .001; OR 4.96; 95% CI 2.00-12.3). A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed in the women with AFS who experienced preterm delivery before 34 weeks, in the women with a CL less than 20 mm, and in the women with a CL less than 15 mm. The results showed that AFS was an independent risk factor for preterm delivery before 34 weeks (p = .001; OR 5.86; 95% CI 2.11-16.3).Conclusion: The presence of AFS was an independent risk factor for preterm delivery before 34 weeks in women with a CL less than 25 mm.

Significance of cervical gland area in predicting preterm birth for patients with threatened preterm delivery: comparison with cervical length and fetal fibronectin.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Absent cervical gland area (CGA) has been considered a predictor of preterm delivery (PTD) for women at low risk. Predictive efficacy was analyzed in women at high risk for PTD and compared with cervical length (CL) <20 mm and fetal fibronectin (fFN) in cervicovaginal secretions. METHODS: Case notes were reviewed for 108 subjects with gestation of 22-33 weeks who had been admitted to hospital with threatened PTD. The uterine cervix was observed by vaginal sonography and fFN was sampled on admission. Relationships between findings and outcome of PTD at <34 weeks' gestation were analyzed. RESULTS: Delivery at <34 weeks' gestation occurred in 14.8% of patients. Absent CGA (68.8%), short CL (75.0%), short CL without CGA (62.5%) and positive fFN (62.5%) were more frequent in these patients than in patients undelivered at <34 weeks' gestation (p < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis identified positive fFN and short CL with absent CGA as independent predictors for PTD (p < 0.0001). The mean interval from admission to delivery was 2.9 weeks in cases with fFN and both sonographic findings, compared to 9.3 weeks in cases with fFN but both sonographic finding (p = 0.0005). CONCLUSION: Short CL with absent CGA represents an independent predictor for PTD, as does fFN.

Efficacy of Hormonal Therapies for Decreasing Uterine Volume in Patients with Adenomyosis.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of hormonal therapies for inhibiting an increase in uterine volume in patients with adenomyosis. DESIGN: This was retrospective cohort study. SETTING: This study was conducted at Nippon Medical School Musashikosugi Hospital. PATIENTS: A total of 28 women diagnosed with adenomyosis using magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: After providing informed consent, patients were treated with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa group), a low-dose estrogen and progestin combination (LEP group), or dienogest (DNG group) for ≥16 weeks. Uterine volume was assessed using the formula for an ovoid; uterine volumes before and after 16 weeks of treatment were compared. A <5% increase in uterine volume at 16 weeks was considered to reflect inhibition of uterine volume increase and efficacy of the medication. We compared the efficacy rate among the groups. RESULTS: In the GnRHa group, a significant reduction in uterine volume was noted, from 307.4 ± 230.1 to 177.9 ± 142.1 cm3 (P < 0.001). In the LEP and the DNG groups, there was no significant change (LEP: 226.7 ± 116.6 cm3 pre-treatment and 230.5 ± 128.6 cm3 post-treatment, P = 0.85; DNG: 232.6 ± 117.8 cm3 pre-treatment and 262.1 ± 136.8 cm3 post-treatment, P = 0.37). The number of responders (efficacy rate) in the GnRHa group, LEP group, and DNG group was 25/26 (96.2%), 7/15 (46.7%), and 6/11 (54.5%), respectively. The efficacy rate of GnRHa therapy was significantly higher than that of LEP or DNG therapy (P < 0.001 and P = 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSION: We conclude that the efficacy of GnRHa in reducing uterine volume should be considered when prescribing hormone therapy for adenomyosis.

Is transvaginal ultrasonography at mid-trimester useful for predicting early spontaneous preterm birth?

Numerous reports have examined the relationship between sonographically determined cervical length and spontaneous preterm birth. Moreover, large screening studies have consistently demonstrated that the shorter the cervical length, the higher the rate of spontaneous preterm delivery. However, the sensitivity and positive predictive value of the cervical length for detecting preterm birth were low. Subsequently, we developed a new sonographic parameter termed "cervical gland area (CGA)". The purpose of this study was to determine whether sonographic cervical findings (shortened cervical length or absence of CGA) at 16 - 19 weeks' gestation could predict spontaneous preterm birth. The absence of CGA as compared to the shortened cervical length showed a higher sensitivity (75.0% vs. 50.0%) and a significantly elevated positive predictive value (54.5% vs. 8.3%) for preterm birth before 32 weeks' gestation. It was concluded that the absence of CGA was a novel and useful sonographic parameter for predicting early spontaneous preterm birth.

Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome due to eclampsia in a woman with a twin pregnancy produced with donated oocytes.

A 35-year-old primigravida with severe ovarian dysfunction underwent in vitro fertilization with oocytes donated by her sister. A twin pregnancy ensued, and she received prenatal care at our hospital. She underwent a cesarean section at 35 weeks' gestation because of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) and breech presentation at the onset of labor. Eclampsia with a generalized seizure occurred 5 hours after the cesarean section, while the patient was receiving medical treatment for disseminated intravascular coagulation secondary to an atonic uterus. Reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) was diagnosed with magnetic resonance imaging the following day. With control of the hypertension and seizures, the condition of the patient was stabilized, and the RPLS resolved several days later. Eclampsia and RPLS associated with pregnancy can be life-threatening and are typically closely related to PIH. Thus, this case illustrates that the risk of PIH is increased in pregnancies produced with donated oocytes.

Detection of the cervical gland area in threatened preterm labor using transvaginal sonography in the assessment of cervical maturation and the outcome of pregnancy.

OBJECTIVES: To detect the cervical gland area in threatened preterm labor, and to determine its detection rate and relationship with cervical maturation and outcome of pregnancy in preterm labor. METHODS: This was a mixed longitudinal and cross-sectional study involving 615 transvaginal scans performed to detect the cervical gland area and measure cervical length in 101 singleton pregnancies with threatened preterm labor. The patients were treated with intravenous administration of ritodrine chloride for regular uterine contractions at 16-35 weeks of gestation. 260 normal singleton pregnancies served as controls. Simultaneously conventional digital examination was used to assess the cervical maturation index. The detection rates of the cervical gland area, measurements of cervical length by sonography, and assessment of the cervical maturation index by digital examination in threatened preterm labor were compared with those of normal singleton pregnancies. In the threatened labor group, the outcome of pregnancy was assessed according to the sonographic absence or presence of the cervical gland area. RESULTS: In the normal pregnancy group, the detection rate of the cervical gland area remained practically constant until the 31st week of pregnancy (97%), but substantially decreased thereafter (70.2% in gestational weeks 32-35). In the threatened preterm labor group, the detection rate of the cervical gland area was constantly lower (44.5%) and the cervical maturation index was higher (4.65 score) than in the normal pregnancy group (83.1% and 1.80 score, respectively). The outcome of pregnancy in the threatened preterm labor group was poorer in the subgroup with the absence of a cervical gland area than in the subgroup with the presence of a cervical gland area (duration of pregnancy 257.0 vs. 271.0 days, birth weight 2,597.2 vs. 2,990.0 g, and admission to delivery interval 38.8 vs. 60.8 days). Highly significant correlations were noted among the detection rates of a cervical gland area and cervical length, cervical maturation index, and outcome of pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates for the first time that the sonographic absence of the cervical gland area reflects cervical maturation and could be considered as a predictor of threatened preterm labor and a sign of poor outcome of pregnancy in this condition.