[Surprise in abrasion diagnostics]. / Überraschung in der Abradatdiagnostik.

Typical localizations of gynecological squamous cell carcinomas are the cervix, vulva and vagina and are therefore not uncommonly diagnosed in curettages. A differentiation from reactive hyperplastic alterations with a possible invasiveness in samples taken from the surface of the special type of well-differentiated verrucous squamous cell carcinoma can be difficult. This pitfall of such a tumor is presented in the case described here with corresponding diagnostic difficulties.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Patients with Breast Cancer: Comparison of Peritumoral and Periareolar Injection.

Introduction: Intradermal periareolar injection technique for sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) may offer an advantage by including multifocal breast cancer as an additional indication. In May 2008 we changed our standard procedure from peritumoral (PT) to periareolar (PA) injection. We compared the results for corresponding periods before and after the change in procedure. Material and Method: A total of 117 patients (pts.) were investigated the year after we changed our technique; a total of 152 pts were investigated in the reference period 2007. We investigated the identification rates for sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) identified scintigraphically and surgically as well as the rates of metastatic involvement (LN). Results: After PT injection, scintigraphic detection of SLN failed in 5/152 pts., and in a further 10 pts. SLN was not found at surgery. In 7 of 15 pts. in whom SLN was not detected, histology demonstrated nodal involvement. Metastases were found in the SLN of 28 of 137 pts. with successful detection of SLN; no other lymph nodes were affected in 21 of these pts. (75.0 % of pts. with positive SLN detection). With PA injection at least one SLN could always be detected using scintigraphy; only 2/117 SLN could not be found intraoperatively. Metastasis was found in SLN in 34/115 pts.; in 19/34 pts., metastatic involvement was limited to the SLN with no other lymph nodes involved (55.9 % of pts. with positive detection of SLN). Discussion: The detection rate for SLN was significantly higher using PA injection (98.3 % vs. 90.1 %). As axillary dissection was not done in SLN-negative patients, rates of false-negative detection cannot be determined. PA injection not only results in better detection rates, it also offers the advantage that the technique can be performed correctly regardless of tumour localisation.

Successful jejunal nutrition therapy in a pregnant patient with apallic syndrome.

A 41-year-old woman was admitted in the 8th pregnancy week as a consequence of a left-sided media infarction. After alloprothetic aortic valve replacement, she had discontinued deliberately the mandatory anticoagulation treatment. Following an initial clinical stabilisation, a second insult with right-sided media total infarction occurred 3 weeks after admission. In the further course, she developed an apallic syndrome and required respirator therapy. The initial enteral nutrition therapy via naso-gastric tube, was continued via percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG). Due to recurrent vomiting from the 24th pregnancy week, the PEG was changed into a PEG with jejunal position of the tube (JET-PEG). Via this access and simultaneous body impedance analysis (BIA) control, the further nutrition therapy could be continued uneventfully. In the 27th pregnancy week, the patient gave birth to a female newborn (birth weight: 820 g) by Caesarean section in pre-eclampsia. The foetal development was in accordance with the gestational period and uncomplicated in the further course. The mother could be released into ambulatory care where the above nutrition therapy was continued. Reports on a successful nutrition therapy of pregnant comatose patients are rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case where JET-PEG and monitoring by repeated BIA measurement were used for the control of the enteral nutrition.

Acute exacerbation of chronic maxillary sinusitis during therapy with nafarelin nasal spray.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a case of acute exacerbation of chronic bilateral maxillary sinusitis during therapy with nafarelin nasal spray for chronic pelvic pain and suspected adenomyosis uteri in a patient of 34 years. DESIGN: Case report. INTERVENTIONS: In the follicular stage of the cycle a diagnostic laparoscopy was carried out because of unexplained pelvic pain for 2 years with biopsy of the pelvic peritoneum and of the uterine fundus was done, revealing no pathology. One and a half years ago the patient already had a diagnostic laparoscopy for the same reason without pathological findings. Vaginal ultrasound showed minor signs of adenomyosis uteri (irregular structure of the myometrium with small cysts). One week after the operation, a therapy with nafarelin nasal spray was initiated in order to induce a hypoestrogenic state. Fourteen days later the therapy had to be stopped because of acute exacerbation of chronic maxillary sinusitis and Caldwell Luc operation and turbinoplastic was performed. OUTCOME: Resolution of the acute maxillary sinusitis after operative intervention and termination of the above-mentioned medication, resolution of pelvic pain after therapy with leuprolide after 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first report of an acute exacerbation of a chronic maxillary sinusitis during the administration of nafarelin nasal spray. Gynecologists prescribing nasal sprays should ask their patients about symptoms of chronic sinusitis. Patients with a history of sinusitis should visit an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist before initiating therapy with nasal sprays; alternatively, drugs with a different formulation should be used for down-regulation of the ovarian function in order to avoid this complication.

A randomised controlled trial of delayed cord clamping in very low birth weight preterm infants.

UNLABELLED: This study was carried out to assess the feasibility of late cord clamping of 45 s in preterm infants delivered mainly by caesarean section and the effects on postpartal adaptation and anaemia of prematurity. Prior to delivery, 40 infants of < 33 gestational weeks were randomised to either 20 s or 45 s of late cord clamping. After the first shoulder was delivered, oxytocin was given intravenously to the mother in order to enhance placento-fetal transfusion while the infant was held below the level of the placenta. The 20 infants in group 1 (20 s) had a mean birth weight of 1070 g and a mean gestational age of 29 + 4/7 weeks versus 1190 g and 30 weeks in group 2 (45 s). On day 42 of life there were ten infants without transfusions in group 2 versus three in group 1 (P < 0.05). Out of the 20 infants in group 1, 19 and 15/19 in group 2 were delivered by caesarean section. There were no significant differences in Apgar scores, temperature on admission, heart rate, blood pressure and requirements for artificial ventilation. CONCLUSION: Delayed cord clamping of 45 s is feasible and safe in preterm infants below 33 weeks of gestation. It is possible to perform the procedure at caesarean section deliveries and it should be performed whenever possible. It reduces the need for packed red cell transfusions during the first 6 weeks of life.

[Ambulatory versus inpatient laparoscopy: decision aids for choice of management]. / Ambulante versus stationäre Laparoskopie: Beratungshilfen zur Versorgungswahl.

319 Patients are retrospectively competed, which underwent an inpatient or outpatient gynecological laparoscopy in 1992. Equality exists for martial status, education degree, nationality, anesthesiological risk and social structure. Outpatients are older, more rarely private assured, more often abdominal preoperated, have more children and live closer to the providing clinic. The satisfaction with the chosen medical care was outpatiently higher than inpatiently (97% vs 86%). In this context hesitation of security, quality of care and involvement at home are important. The inpatient group is characterized by patients with infertility, endometriosis and extrauterine gravidity, distance to employment and intensity of troubles have been important for the decision of medical providing. Outpatients were less anxious, sterilization and adhesions were main diagnoses. Here decisive factors for the choice of medical care have been care requiring relatives and financial aspects. By mean of these characteristics predictors are diverted for both kinds of care for being help to the advising doctor.

[Lupus vulgaris as the etiology of tuberculous mastitis]. / Lupus vulgaris als Ursache einer tuberkulösen Mastitis.

We report the rare case of granulomatous tuberculous mastitis based on lupus vulgaris in a 73-year-old female patient. The most important diagnostic procedure was the detection of mycobacterial DNA-sequences in paraffin-embedded tissues using the polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR). A combined antituberculous therapy lead to complete remission within 14 months after the diagnosis was established. The incidence of tuberculous mastitis among surgically treated lesions of the breast is less than 0.025 percent. Because of the frequent localisation of this disease in the upper outer quadrant of the breast and suspicious findings in mammography, tuberculous mastitis is one, even if rare, differential diagnosis for breast cancer.

[Pregnancy in patients with transposition of great vessels corrected by the Mustard procedure. Report of a case and review of reported cases]. / Schwangerschaft bei Patientinnen mit nach Mustard korrigierter Transposition der grossen Arterien. Ein Fallbericht und Ubersicht der bisher veröffentlichten Kasuistiken.

BACKGROUND: In patients after atrial switch operation (Mustard or Senning procedure) for transposition of the great arteries (TGA), the anatomic right (anterior) ventricle works as the systemic ventricle. Although this is associated with an increased rate of congestive heart failure, the prognosis for long-term survival is good. Therefore a large proportion of these patients has reached their reproductive years and consult cardiologists and obstetricians because they plan a pregnancy or are already pregnant. Because of the substantial hemodynamic changes and the increase in cardiac output during pregnancy, potential risk factors and complications have to be considered. PATIENTS: Initiated by the presentation of a pregnant patient with TGA after surgery in our hospital, we analyzed the information referenced in MEDLINE. Including our patient, there were reports on 27 patients after the Mustard procedure with a total of 39 pregnancies. FETAL OUTCOME: Three abortions occurred during the first trimenon, another one was electively induced because of maternal cardiac deterioration. One late abortion occurred in the 23rd week of pregnancy. 35 babies (one twinpair) were born healthy without cardiovascular anomalies. MATERIAL OUTCOME: No maternal deaths occurred. Eight women developed clinical signs of systemic (= right) heart failure including all three patients with former complex TGA. Four of these patients recovered after delivery, four showed persistent reduction of physical abilities or signs of heart failure. Further complications were supraventricular tachycardias (five patients) and a high incidence of hypertension and pre-eclampsia (22% of patients). CONCLUSION: Overall, the outcome for mothers after Mustard procedure for TGA and their children is good, but there is need for intensive and specialized follow-up.

Medical treatment of symptomatic endometriosis.

The concept of endometriosis and strategies for its treatment are reviewed. Treatment is mainly endocrine-based, using progestogens, danazol and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonists. Such treatment is complex, and therapy strategies have to be tailored to the individual; the choice of treatment, therefore, depends on the metabolic and side-effects of each compound.

A randomized, comparative trial of triptorelin depot (D-Trp6-LHRH) and danazol in the treatment of endometriosis.

To compare treatment efficacy and safety parameters a total of 55 premenopausal women with histologically proven endometriosis (stage II-IV) were randomized to receive the LHRH-analogue depot triptorelin (n = 30) or the steroid danazol (n = 25) for a total of 24 weeks. Immediately after cessation of the endocrine therapy a second-look operation was performed. Four as well as 24 weeks after the end of treatment patients were seen for re-evaluation of clinical symptoms and safety parameters. Estradiol suppression was significantly more pronounced with triptorelin, while the free androgenic index rose with danazol. Both substances were equally effective in reducing endometriotic implants (58% and 51%, respectively). Dysmenorrhea was absent at the end of medical therapy in both treatment groups. Dyspareunia and pelvic pain decreased at least by 50%. Red blood count, thrombocytes, liver enzymes and the atherogenic index rose with danazol, while the urinary calcium/creatinine ratio showed a marked elevation with triptorelin. Adverse effects were mainly due to the hypoestrogenism of the LHRH analogue and the androgenic/anabolic properties of the steroid. Triptorelin and danazol are equally effective in treating endometriosis. Therefore, choice of treatment should be based on the patient's medical history and the pharmacological profile of each substance.

[Treatment of endometriosis with the GnRH agonist buserelin (Suprecur): a multicenter study]. / Behandlung von Endometriose mit dem GnRH-Agonisten Buserelin (Suprecur): Eine multizentrische Studie.

A phase III multicentre study was carried out with the GnRH agonist buserelin (Suprecur) at five university institutions (Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Essen, Kiel, Tübingen, Münster and Erlangen) to evaluate the effect of Buserelin (3 x 300 micrograms daily intranasal) on endometriosis for a period of 6 months. Endometriosis was verified by light microscopy in all cases. The data of 430 patients could be evaluated. The extent of the endometriotic lesions was studied before the start and at the end of therapy. The mean age of the patients was 30 +/- 5 years. For 300 patients (66.4%) sterility was a main problem. Previous treatment for endometriosis consisted of operation in 20.5%, treatment with danazol in 16.8% and treatment with gestagens in 11.6% of the patients. Under treatment FSH changed from 11.0 +/- 31.4 mIU/ml to 7.0 +/- 5.6 mIU/ml at the end of therapy; LH from 11.1 +/- 12.9 mIU/ml to 7.4 +/- 7.3 mIU/ml; estradiol from 113.9 +/- 89.0 to 35.9 +/- 60.3 pg/ml and progesterone from 7.2 +/- 11.2 ng/ml to 0.8 +/- 1.4 ng/ml. The effect on endometriosis was judged according to the revised American Fertility Society score (rAFS 1985). The changes of the rAFS-score stages were as follows (before/after therapy): Stage 0: 0%/42.8%; stage I: 43.5%/38.5%; stage II: 31.1%/11.2%; stage III: 18.1%/2.2%; stage IV: 6.3%/0.2%. The total mean AFS-stage changed from 1.9 to 0.7. The frequency of clinical symptoms improved (before/after therapy): dysmenorrhoea 65.0%/11.2%; pelvic pain 48.2%/14.1%; pain at the time of gynaelogical examination 40.0%/9.7%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Estrogen and progesterone receptor content of enucleated uterine myomata after luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone. Analogue depot therapy.

We wanted to correlate the degree of myoma shrinkage after luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-analogue depot therapy to the estrogen and progesterone receptor content of the enucleated fibroids. Twenty premenopausal, regularly menstruating women wishing to preserve their childbearing capacity were treated for three to six months with 3.75 mg of leuprorelin acetate depot subcutaneously. Four weeks after the last injection, all fibroids were enucleated and investigated immunohistochemically by using monoclonal (rat) antibodies to human estrogen and progesterone receptors. The localization and distribution of nuclear staining was visualized through a light microscope and scored semiquantitatively by multiplying the staining intensity with the percentage of positive cells. Although LHRH-analogue depot therapy led to almost the same degree of ovarian suppression in all of the women, extent of myoma shrinkage varied from 0% to 87%. On the other hand the extent of myoma regression correlated significantly to the estrogen receptor content of the enucleated fibroid, while diminution of myoma size seemed to be independent of the progesterone receptor. This indicates an association between myoma shrinkage and the estrogen receptor status of the enucleated fibroid. It remains to be proved that pretreatment receptor analysis may predict the myomata that are sensitive to endocrine treatment.

Inflammatory reaction in endometriotic tissue: an immunohistochemical study.

A panel of monoclonal antibodies specific for macrophage subtypes appearing in early (27E10), down-regulatory (RM3/1) and late (25F9) stages of inflammation had been applied to 20 endometriotic implants of 14 women. Of those patients 9 were in the follicular phase of the cycle, two on danazol, one on LHRH-analogue (buserelin) and another two on oral contraceptives. Beside the macrophage subsets, antibodies against T4, T8 lymphocytes as well as proliferating cells (EN7/44 and Ki67) were examined. In all specimens immunologically competent cells could be detected to a varying degree and within the same implant different stages of inflammation were discernible. Endometriosis presented with signs of early inflammation indicated by 27E10+ macrophages and CD4+ lymphocytes (15 specimens) and with down-regulatory, late inflammatory reactions as shown by RM3/1+, 25F9+ macrophages and CD8+ lymphocytes (19 biopsies). Additionally, in 14 specimens cells of the EN7/44+ and Ki67+ type was detected. These preliminary results showed no significant correlation to either extension of endometriotic implants or adhesions or concomitant therapy and clearly indicate, that there is an immunological dynamic process within the lesion itself in addition to that one of the peritoneal fluid.

Experience with leuprorelin acetate depot in the treatment of fibroids: a German multicentre study.

Between October 1988 and October 1990 in a noncomparative multicentre study, 114 patients were treated for uterine fibroids with the gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonist, leuprorelin acetate depot. The mean age of the women was 33 years and 55.3% of them had a history of infertility. After confirmation of the diagnosis by ultrasound and/or operation, treatment began between day 1 and 3 of the cycle with leuprorelin acetate depot 3.75 mg subcutaneously. Therapy was carried out for a total of 6 months with one injection every 4 weeks. Treatment was paralleled by measurements of endocrine and metabolic parameters, estimation of myoma and uterine size by ultrasound and self-reporting of the patients of drug-related complaints. Four of the 114 women did not complete the whole treatment, two of them because of general side effects, one because of carcinophobia and unsatisfactory regression of the myoma and the last one for unspecified reasons. During treatment, a mean reduction of the uterine volume of about 67% was observed, in conjunction with shrinkage of the myoma in 92.1% of cases (mean decrease of 56% of the fibroids) with a large interindividual difference. Maximal diminution of uterine and fibroid size had been nearly completely reached within the first 12 weeks of therapy. After 4 weeks of the Gn-RH agonist depot most of the patients had achieved postmenopausal status, which continued throughout the remaining 20 weeks of treatment. In accordance with this finding, the majority of general side effects was due to the hypo-oestrogenic endocrine status. Liver and lipid metabolism was almost unaffected, although increasing calcium and alkaline phosphatase serum levels as well as an increased urinary calcium/creatinine ratio demonstrated an increased metabolic turnover of the bone. Haemoglobin concentrations, however, increased in those cases with fibroid-related anaemia. Thus the slow-release form of leuprorelin acetate is an adjunct to myomectomy especially in those women in whom family planning is not yet completed.

[Value of the tumor markers CA 125, Ca 19-9, CA 15-3 and CEA in endometriosis]. / Aussagekraft der Tumormarker CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3 und CEA bei Endometriose.

CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3 and CEA were measured in 42 patients with histologically verified endometriosis, who had been treated for six months by the LHRH-analogue buserelin (900 mcg/d intranasally). Before therapy, for all of the markers tested the sensitivity was as follows: CA 125 49%, CA 19-9 19%, CA 15-3 19% and CEA 0%. Pretherapeutically the correlation coefficient between CA 125 and the AFS stages was r = 0.40, indicating no significant relation. Following therapy the correlation between the tested glycoproteins and the AFS stages was less indicative. Only CA 125 showed a significant decrease during treatment (p less than 0.05), which paralleled the therapeutic hypo-oestrogenism. According to our results measurement of CA 125, CA 19-9, CA 15-3 and CEA is not sufficient to replace surgical procedures of monitoring endometriosis. The significant reduction of CA 125 apparently represents loss of ovarian function rather than regression of the disease.

[Incidence of side effects of a 3-stage preparation administered to 10,034 women]. / Nebenwirkungsinzidenz eines Dreistufenpräparates unter der Anwendung bei 10.034 Frauen.

In an open multicentre study, 10,034 women received a low-dose three-phase combination of levonorgestrel and ethinylestradiol for oral hormonal contraception. Duration of this treatment was three months. During this time, incidence of side effects were documented by reports of the patients or in reply to questions of the treating gynaecologists. Data has been analysed with special regard to smoking, obesity and increase of blood pressure. Upon inquiry, 38.1% of women had complaints before and 28.5% after treatment with this oral contraceptive, whereby in 16.9% of patients, complaints were noted for the first time. The observed side effects were more pronounced in smokers than in non-smokers, in obese women more than in those with normal weight, and more pronounced in patients with increased blood pressure compared to normal controls. Cycles became regular, whereas the number of spottings increased. Dysmenorrhoea disappeared almost completely. In the same time interval, genital infections were less prominent. During treatment, 26 patients (0.26%) became pregnant. It is concluded, that this triphasic combination with its varying ratios of ethinylestradiol and levonorgestrel is an effective and well tolerated oral contraceptive. It is shown, that the incidence of side effects is affected by additional risk factors.

[Residual endometriosis following LHRH analog therapy]. / Residualendometriose nach LHRH-Analogtherapie.

LHRH analogue therapy has proved effective in the treatment of endometriosis. Although in the majority of patients a marked reduction in AFS implant score is observed, in some cases residual endometriotic foci are macroscopically suspected and can be confirmed by histological examination during a second check operation at the end of treatment. In the study presented, 34 patients from 69 showed residual endometriosis after a 6 months' treatment with the LHRH analogue buserelin (900 mcg/d intranasally). According to light microscopical criteria regressive changes were seen in 52% of the implanted patients, nevertheless 29% presented with proliferative elements of the disease. In 19% proliferation and regression were seen in the same biopsy or even in the same gland. Histology did not relate to either the degree of ovarian suppression by LHRH analogue therapy, or to the location of the residual endometriotic foci. These results add another piece of evidence to the fact, that endometriosis presents itself as a heterogenic disorder. In addition, susceptibility to a hormonal ablative therapy rather depends on the degree of dysontogenetic differentiation, than on the completeness of induced ovarian suppression.

LH-RH agonist (buserelin): treatment of endometriosis. Clinical, laparoscopic, endocrine and metabolic evaluation.

To investigate the effects of the LH-RH agonist Buserelin [D-Ser (But)6 des-Gly10-LHRH ethylamide] on endometriosis, 64 patients were treated with 900 micrograms/d Buserelin intranasally over 6 months after histological verification of the disease. As shown by the follow-up operation at the end of treatment, 73% of cases showed regression of implants, whereas adhesions seemed to be unaffected. The uncorrected pregnancy rate of the 45 patients with a history of infertility was 40%, while the overall recurrence rate--confirmed by histological examination--was 9.4%. The endocrine parameters demonstrated a highly significant suppression of estradiol (E2) and a sharp decline of progesterone (Prog), indicating anovulatory cycles. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) was unchanged, while luteinizing hormone (LH) and prolactin (Prl) decreased significantly. The androgenic parameters testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and sex-hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) revealed no relevant changes. Influence on bone metabolism could not be detected by measuring calcitonin and parathyroid hormone fragments (PTH-C and PTH-MM). Negative metabolic effects were absent in terms of hematology, clotting system, liver enzymes, renal parameters and lipid metabolism. Remarkable was a significant increase of high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). Subjective complaints were mostly attributed to the therapy-induced hypoestrogenism. We consider Buserelin to be an effective drug in the treatment of endometriosis, with a low incidence of relevant side effects.

[Effects of danazol therapy in endometriosis on the blood picture and blood coagulation]. / Auswirkungen der Danazol-Therapie bei Endometriose auf Blutbild und Gerinnung.

Over a six-month period, 62 endometriosis patients were given 600 mg per day of the ethisterone derivative danazol. Blood count and coagulation status were checked before and during treatment. There was a significant increase (p less than 0.05) in hemoglobin and hematocrit. There were no changes in RBC, leukocyte count, or thrombocyte count; the mean cellular erythrocyte volume, thrombin time, thromboplastin time, and partial thromboplastin time also remained unchanged, as did factors VII, VIII, X, XII, and alpha-1-antitrypsin. Antithrombin III levels increased, while alpha-2-macroglobulin values decreased. Only the drop in fibrinogen, to pathologic values, and the increase in plasminogen reached significant levels (p less than 0.01). These in part contradictory changes suggest that hypocoagulability occurs under danazol medication; however, its clinical relevance is unclear.