[Ureteric and bladder involvement of deep pelvic endometriosis. Value of multidisciplinary surgical management]. / Atteinte urétérale et vésicale de l'endométriose pelvienne profonde. Interet de la prise en charge chirurgicale multidisciplinaire.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the clinical features, staging by medical imaging, treatment strategy and results of surgical management of deep pelvic endometriosis with bladder and/or ureteric involvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen cases of ureteric and/or bladder deep pelvic endometriosis (DPE) were treated in our centre between 1996 and 2004. Preoperative data (clinical symptoms, MR imaging), intraoperative data (resection and urinary tract diversion procedures, associated procedures on the genital and gastrointestinal tracts), and postoperative data (histological results, complications, anatomical follow-up by imaging and functional assessment) were reviewed. RESULTS: Urinary symptoms were present in 55% of cases, genital symptoms were present in 83% of cases and gastrointestinal symptoms were present in 46% of cases. A combination of gynaecological and gastrointestinal lesions was demonstrated on imaging in 82% of cases. The mean postoperative follow-up was 16 months (range: 6-36 months). Six patients presented anterior vesical endometriosis. In these cases, the sensitivity and specificity of MRI were 100%. Six partial cystectomies were performed. All corresponded to endometriotic lesions on histological examination. No cases of recurrence of vesical endometriosis were observed. Posterior endometriosis with ureteric involvement was observed in 13 patients (including one with vesical endometriosis). The ureteric lesion was asymptomatic in 8 out of 13 cases (61%). The diagnostic sensitivity of MRI was 92% for posterior nodules, identifying 4 lateral parametrial nodules and 8 median retrocervical nodules. Ureterohydronephrosis was observed in 3 patients with lateral parametrial nodules and 8 patients with median retrocervical nodules, and was bilateral for 3 patients, i.e. 14 dilated renal units. Surgical management consisted of 2 ureteric resections with end-to-end anastomosis, 3 psoas bladder reimplantations, and 9 ureterolyses (8 patients). Two out of 13 patients (15%) with ureteric lesions treated by ureterolysis developed recurrence of the ureteric stricture with upper tract dilatation related to recurrence of the lateral nodule. In 14 patients, genital and/or gastrointestinal resections were associated with the urinary tract procedure. CONCLUSION: Preoperative evaluation of all DPE lesions is based on MRI with reconstruction images of the ureter in the presence of urinary tract lesions. Systematic ureteric stenting prior to surgical dissection of the pelvic wall is recommended in patients with posterior nodules and in the case of partial cystectomy for anterior nodules when the ureteric meati are adjacent to the lesion. Ureteric reimplantation onto a psoas hitch bladder must be performed when the DPE lesions are extensive and partly resected or invade the ureteric wall. The frequency of associated lesions (urinary, gynaecological gastrointestinal) justifies a multidisciplinary surgical approach.

Role of fetal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in the prenatal diagnosis of migration disorders.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the contribution and limitations of fetal ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for the diagnosis and management of migration disorders. METHODS: Over a 5-year period, 14 fetuses with pathological migration disorders, without an infectious context, were taken care of in our centre. All underwent US; nine underwent MRI as well. Sonographic and MRI data were compared with neuropathological data. RESULTS: The diagnosis of gyral disorders was obtained by US in 1/14 cases; other cerebral abnormalities were found suggesting neuronal disorder in the remainder. Cerebral MRI suggested gyral abnormality in eight of the nine cases. CONCLUSIONS: US performance is increasing. MRI appears to be a promising method for the diagnosis of fetal migration disorders, giving better results than US. It may be recommended in cases of abnormal cerebral US findings or familial clinical history. However, interpretation of MRI can be tricky and the resulting diagnosis occurs late within the pregnancy.

Management of interstitial pregnancy using selective uterine artery embolization.

BACKGROUND: Interstitial pregnancy is a rare and dangerous form of ectopic pregnancy which is treated by surgery, medical treatment, or both. Management options are not standardized. Currently, conservative nonsurgical treatment seems to be an alternative method in case of interstitial pregnancy. CASE: A right interstitial pregnancy was diagnosed in a 28-year-old woman. She was successfully treated by 2 courses of systemic methotrexate (1 mg/kg) 24 hours apart followed by selective uterine artery embolization. The postembolization course was uneventful, and no rupture occurred. Ten weeks after embolization, human chorionic gonadotropin level was negative. CONCLUSION: Uterine embolization associated with methotrexate can be used successfully in treating selected cases of early interstitial pregnancy. We hypothesize that this procedure combined with methotrexate could reduce hemorrhagic risk.

Prenatal diagnosis of ring chromosome 6 in a fetus with cerebellar hypoplasia and partial agenesis of corpus callosum: case report and review of the literature.

Ring chromosome 6 (RC6) is a rare constitutional abnormality, with variable material loss, leading to a variable clinical phenotype: minimal physical anomalies and mild psychomotor retardation to severe physical and mental defects. Among the 22 published cases, only five have been prenatally detected. We describe here a RC6 prenatally diagnosed. Ultrasound follow-up showed growth retardation and cerebellar hypoplasia. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed this, but showed a partial corpus callosum agenesis, leading to amniocentesis and revealing the chromosomal abnormality. Imaging features were correlated with autopsy findings.

Revisiting the ovarian volume as a diagnostic criterion for polycystic ovaries.

BACKGROUND: This study revisited the ovarian volume (OV) as a diagnostic criterion for polycystic ovaries (PCO). Indeed, a threshold of 10 cm(3) for the OV, chosen at the polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) international consensus held at Rotterdam in 2003, was to date not based on appropriate studies such as receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. METHODS: This prospective study included 154 women with PCOS, selected by using the former National Institutes of Health criteria, who were compared with 57 women with normal ovarian function. Ultrasound examination was performed between cycle days 2 and 7 with a 7 MHz transvaginal transducer. RESULTS: Mean OV, ovarian area (OA) and follicle number (FN) values were significantly higher in the PCOS group than in controls. The area under the ROC curve (AUC) was >0.9 for all three criteria, indicating a satisfactory diagnostic potency for each. Concerning the OV, setting the threshold at 7 cm(3) offered the best compromise between specificity (91.2%) and sensitivity (67.5%). In comparison, specificity and sensitivity were 98.2 and 45%, respectively, with a threshold at 10 cm(3). Nevertheless, the highest AUC was obtained for FN (0.956) and then for OA (0.941). CONCLUSIONS: OV is a good diagnostic criterion for PCO but, on the basis of the present data, we propose to lower its threshold to 7 cm(3). The FN >12 still appears as the best diagnostic criterion. The OA could be used as a surrogate for OV in difficult situations.

[Dynamic MRI in the preoperative management of genital prolapse. A prospective study]. / Place de I'IRM dynamique dans la prise en charge chirurgicale des prolapsus génitaux. Résultats d'une enquête prospective.

Forty-three patients with genital prolapse prospectively underwent blinded pre and postoperative MRI, with dynamic assessment of each compartment. MRI was significantly more accurate than physical examination for the diagnosis of posterior defects (rectocele, enterocele) but not for anterior defects or uterine prolapse (hysterocele, cystocele). Postoperative MRI confirmed the surgical outcome and also identified risk factors for recurrence. MRI was particularly reliable for recurrent prolapse and vault prolapse. The authors consider that dynamic MRI can advantageously replace colpocystodefecography, as it is rapid and well tolerated. Technical improvements should help to understand the role of muscular and fascia lesions.

Elevated serum level of anti-mullerian hormone in patients with polycystic ovary syndrome: relationship to the ovarian follicle excess and to the follicular arrest.

The serum level of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), a product from granulosa cells involved in follicle growth, has been shown to correlate tightly with the small antral follicle number (FN) at ultrasonography (U/S) in women who do not have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Because PCOS is associated with a 2- to 3-fold increase in growing FN, we investigated whether an increased AMH serum level correlates to other hormonal and/or U/S features of PCOS. Serum AMH has been assayed in 104 women (59 symptomatic PCOS, 45 controls) between d 2 and 7 after the last either spontaneous or progestin-induced (in PCOS) menstrual period. Mean serum AMH level was markedly increased in the PCOS group (47.1 +/- 22.9 vs. 20.8 +/- 11.6 pmol/liter in controls; P < 0.0001), an increase in the same order of magnitude as the one of the FN in the 2- to 5-mm range at U/S (12.8 +/- 8.3 vs. 4.8 +/- 1.9; P < 0.0001, respectively). The ratio AMH/FN was similar between the two groups (4.8 +/- 3.4 vs. 4.8 +/- 2.9; P = 0.55). By simple regression, both in PCOS and controls, the AMH level was positively related to the 2- to 5-mm FN at U/S (P < 0.0001 and P < 0.03, respectively), but not to the 6- to 9-mm FN, and was negatively correlated to the serum FSH level (P < 0.02 and P < 0.04, respectively). AMH was also positively related to the serum testosterone and androstenedione levels, in PCOS exclusively (P < 0.0005 and <0.002, respectively). No relationship was found between AMH and age, serum estradiol, inhibin B, and LH levels in both groups. After multiple regression only the 2- to 5-mm FN remained significantly related to AMH in PCOS whereas testosterone, androstenedione, and FSH were no longer. In conclusion, the assay of the serum AMH may represent an important breakthrough in the diagnosis and in the understanding of PCOS. Our data suggest that the increase of AMH serum level in PCOS is the consequence of the androgen-induced excess in small antral FN and that each follicle produces a normal amount of AMH. We hypothesize that an increased AMH tone within the cohort could be involved in the follicular arrest of PCOS, by interacting negatively with FSH at the time of selection.

Limited uterine artery embolization with tris-acryl gelatin microspheres for uterine fibroids.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the midterm results of limited embolization of the uterine arteries in the management of symptomatic uterine fibroids and to evaluate the efficacy and safety of limited uterine artery embolization (UAE) with use of calibrated tris-acryl gelatin microspheres in the management of symptomatic uterine fibroids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty women (mean age, 43 years) with symptomatic uterine fibroids underwent bilateral embolization of the uterine arteries with use of calibrated microspheres. Devascularization of the fibroids was achieved and the main uterine artery was left patent in all women. Embolization was offered as an alternative to surgery in all women who had been treated unsuccessfully with medical therapy. RESULTS: All procedures were technically successful. Microspheres 700-900 micro m in diameter were used in 14 women (70%). After a mean follow-up duration of 30.2 months (range, 24-48 mo), all women reported improvement in their symptoms, with 85% reporting complete resolution of menorrhagia at the most recent follow-up. One woman with multiple fibroids required a second embolization procedure because of persisting symptoms at 6 months. She is currently symptom-free after 48 months. In two women with submucosal fibroids, expulsion of necrotic fibroids occurred 2 and 7 months after the procedure, respectively. All women resumed normal menstruation after the procedure. One woman had a successful full-term pregnancy after embolization. CONCLUSION: Early experience with UAE with use of calibrated tris-acryl gelatin microspheres indicates that it is safe and efficacious in controlling menorrhagia.

MR imaging of fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma: diagnosis and assessment.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of MR imaging in the diagnosis and assessment of fetal sacrococcygeal teratoma and to determine if MR imaging provides information not seen on obstetric sonography. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twelve pregnant women were referred for fetal MR imaging of sacrococcygeal teratoma seen at obstetric sonography. The presence, size, content extension, and compressive effects of each mass were determined and correlated with the sonographic findings and with postnatal studies, including surgery and pathology. The extent of each sacrococcygeal teratoma was classified according to the American Association of the Pediatrics Surgery Section (types I-IV). RESULTS: There is a complete agreement of sonographic and MR imaging measurements. The sacrococcygeal teratomas appeared cystic with few septa in three fetuses, markedly septated or even microcystic in eight, and completely solid in one. The sonographic description of the content corresponded well to MR imaging findings in 10 of 12 fetuses. An agreement on the extent of each mass was observed in nine patients, whereas there is a disagreement in three, including in one fetus with an extension of the tumor within the spinal canal recognized only at MR imaging. The MR imaging findings were confirmed by postnatal studies in 10 patients. CONCLUSION: Sacrococcygeal teratomas had characteristic MR imaging appearances that allowed a complete assessment in most fetuses. Because of MR imaging, the prenatal evaluation was changed in some patients and affected counseling of the parents and treatment. MR imaging is a valuable adjunct to obstetric sonography for the prenatal evaluation of sacrococcygeal teratoma.