A clinicopathologic study of 153 cases of complete hydatidiform mole (1980-1990): histologic grade lacks prognostic significance.

Although the significance of histologic grading in hydatidiform mole has previously been investigated, most studies evaluated patients treated before 1975. Since 1975, many advances have been made in the understanding and treatment of hydatidiform mole, including the division of molar pregnancy into complete and partial hydatidiform mole. We retrospectively studied 153 cases of complete hydatidiform mole diagnosed and treated at the Brigham and Women's Hospital between 1980-1990 to determine the current prognostic significance of histologic grading in this disease. The histologic grade (based on the criteria of Hertig and Sheldon) was compared with the subsequent clinical course, including the rates of spontaneous remission, persistent gestational trophoblastic tumor, metastatic disease, "high-risk" metastatic disease, chemotherapy resistance, and survival. The histologic grade of the original complete hydatidiform mole did not correlate significantly with any index of clinical outcome evaluated.

Subsequent pregnancy experience in patients with gestational trophoblastic disease. New England Trophoblastic Disease Center, 1965-1992.

We reviewed the subsequent pregnancy outcome in patients with partial mole, complete mole and persistent gestational trophoblastic tumor treated at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center from June 1, 1965, to December 31, 1992. Such patients can be assured that they can anticipate a normal future reproductive outcome. However, when a patient has had a molar pregnancy, she is at increased risk (1%) of developing molar disease in a subsequent conception.

[A new approach to the axilla: functional axillary lymphadenectomy and padding]. / Une nouvelle approche du creux axillaire: lymphadénectomie axillaire fonctionnelle et capitonnage.

Axillary lymph node dissection, which is now mandatory in the conservative breast cancer surgery and classically involves Berg's two lower levels, is burdened with numerous complications. In 1988 and 1989, two technical modifications were introduced and are described here: padding of the axilla as preventive treatment of postoperative lymphocele and, more recently, functional axillary lymphadenectomy (FAL) in which the medial cutaneous nerve of the arm, the two perforating intercostal nerves and above all the lateral thoracic pedicle (external mammary artery and vein) are spared. These two technical innovations, more respectful of anatomy, are aimed at reducing the morbidity of conservative breast cancer at a time when detection enables breast cancers to be treated at an increasingly early stage, which results in a increase of negative axillary dissections. The postoperative period is simplified (no drainage, immediate mobilization), and the hospital stay is reduced to 2 days. Complementary treatments can thus be started early on, without any functional or cosmetic damage while the number of lymph nodes removes remains the same as in the conventional axillary dissection technique. The authors describe the operative procedures and analyse the 100 cases of conservative breast cancer they have treated with padding and FAL. These two technical modifications are now systematically used by them in the management of breast cancers.

[Does perineal muscle testing provide information on the quality of the urethral sphincter in women?]. / Le testing des muscles périnéaux renseigne-t-il sur la qualité des sphincters urétraux de la femme?

A prospective study was carried out on 100 women presenting with urinary incontinence with the intent of determining whether a relationship could be found between the quality of the perineal musculature, as assessed by testing the levatores, and that of the urethral sphincters, as assessed by a study of the urethral pressure profile, thereby defining the respective importance of each of these tests. The mean maximum closing pressure values were compared for three groups whose testing was scored good, fair or nil. Evidence of a positive relationship existing between the levatores testing and the maximum closing pressure against rest (p less than 0.05) and stress (holding-back) (p less than 0.01) urethral pressure profiles was brought forth. However, this relationship does not allow to extrapolate the testing results to the sphinters. In practice, at the individual patient level, one may be satisfied by merely testing the pelvic musculature in case of reeducational treatment of incontinence. Nevertheless, whenever surgery is indicated, objective assessment of the urethral sphincters by ways of an urethral pressure profile study is mandatory.

Association between magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc in umbilical cord plasma and erythrocytes, and the gestational age and growth variables of full-term newborns.

We determined reference values in umbilical cord plasma and erythrocytes for magnesium, total calcium, phosphorus, copper, and zinc, and then calculated correlations and stepwise-regression equations in 66 white full-term newborn infants (35 boys, 31 girls). Only infants meeting certain optimal criteria and benefiting from excellent maternal conditions and uncomplicated pregnancies were included. There were no significant sex-related differences at birth among the variables studied. Gestational age was positively correlated with erythrocyte zinc (P less than 0.001), and plasma calcium was positively correlated with erythrocyte copper (P less than 0.001). Plasma copper proved to be the most significant variable in the stepwise-regression equation for birth height as the dependent variable. The most significant regressors accounting for birth weight were erythrocyte zinc followed by plasma zinc.

[Cancer of the ovary and medically assisted reproduction]. / Cancer de l'ovaire et procréation médicalement assistée.

Case reports and epidemiologic studies have recently indicated a possible link between ovarian stimulation, ovarian cancer and ovarian tumours. We sent a questionnaire to 116 French IVF centers to determine whether ovarian cancer had occurred in women treated during the last 10 years. The 19 cases of ovarian cancer reported have since been studied more thoroughly in a follow up questionnaire. Six can now be excluded, and the 13 remaining cases are compared. Five of these patients had fewer than 4 stimulation cycles here. Imputability was considered probable for 2 patients, possible for 5 patients, improbable for 3 and highly improbable for 3. Histologically, 6 (46%) cases involved borderline lesions. These results indicate that there is no need to change medical practice, but we are convinced that prospective epidemiologic research should be carried out immediately.