Long-term steroid treatment: a potential risk factor for uterine rupture during pregnancy?

AIM: Uterine rupture during pregnancy is a rare but life threatening event in Obstetrics, with potentially catastrophic consequences for both the fetus and the mother. There are few published case reports that investigate the possible association between long-term steroid treatment and uterine rupture during the antenatal period. CASE REPORT: A 33-year-old G2P1 woman with obstetrical history of one previous transverse low-segment caesarean section presented at the 30th week of gestation with severe abdominal pain which started spontaneously one hour before. She had medical history of pemphigus under long-term treatment with prednisolone. Clinical examination showed acute abdomen while the fetus developed heart rate decelerations. Emergency caesarean section via Pfannenstiel incision under general anaesthesia was performed. Uterine rupture was recognised with localization not at the scar of the previous caesarean section but at the left posterolateral site of the uterine fundus. A healthy premature male infant with an excellent Apgar score and weight of 1510 gr. was delivered by a low-segment caesarean section. Surgical repair of the site of the rupture with isolated sutures followed. There was no need for hysterectomy as hemorrhage was controlled and hemodynamic stability of the woman was restored. DISCUSSION: Uterine rupture should be included in the differential diagnosis by all obstetricians not only during labour but in acute abdominal pain during the antenatal period as well.

Surgical management of complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia in a woman with rare genitourinary anomalies: unicornuate uterus with rudimentary horn, ipsilateral ectopic ovary and pelvic kidney.

AIM: According to the so far published literature, only one case of endometrial cancer in a patient with unicornuate uterus has been reported. This is a case report study, presenting a rare case of complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia in a woman with unicornuate uterus and multiple genitourinary anomalies. CASE REPORT: A 43-year old G1P1 woman presented with episodes of menometrorrhagia and anemia. She had previous surgical history of laparoscopy due to infertility, in which she was diagnosed with unicornuate uterus with a rudimentary left uterine horn and ipsilateral ectopic ovary in the anatomic place of the left kidney. Dilatation and curettage was performed. Histology showed complex atypical endometrial hyperplasia. The patient underwent total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, in an extremely interesting operation due to the multiple genitourinary anomalies. The uterus with a 6-centimeter uterine myoma and the adnexae were removed en block. Great effort was put into dissecting the left fallopian tube which arised from the cervix and via the rudimentary horn led to the left ectopic ovary that was located at the left kidneys' anatomic space. The patient recovered well and final histology was negative for malignancy. DISCUSSION: All necessary imaging examinations have to be scheduled prior to surgical intervention in order to give valuable anatomic information in cases of women diagnosed with Mullerian abnormalities.

Bilateral primary ovarian non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and fertility preservation: 5-year follow-up.

AIM: Primary ovarian non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is a very rare disease. Median age at diagnosis is estimated at 42 years, something that leads to fertility preservation issues in many cases. This was a case report study, presenting a rare case of bilateral primary ovarian non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. CASE REPORT: A 38-year old nulliparous woman, underwent exploratory laparotomy because of bilateral ovarian masses. Left salpingooophorectomy, partial omentectomy and excision of an ovarian mass of the right ovary was performed. Great effort in order to preserve healthy ovarian tissue of the right ovary as well as the right fallopian tube was given, due to fertility reasons. Final histology showed bilateral diffuse large B-cell primary ovarian non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Postoperatively, the patient underwent chemotherapy with the CHOP regimen in combination with rituximab. Five years after initial diagnosis, the patient remains well with normal menstrual cycle, without evidence of recurrence. DISCUSSION: Fertility preservation issues in some cases of rare gynecological malignancies could be managed via minimally invasive oncological approach.

Ovarian cancer diagnosed during pregnancy: clinicopathological characteristics and management.

The aim of this study was to discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas in cases of pregnant women with adnexal masses, reporting an interesting case with synchronous literature review. The patient, a gravida 2, para 1, 37 year-old woman was diagnosed with a large unilateral adnexal lesion during a scheduled third trimester ultrasound assessment. A large papillary papule with a network of blood vessels showing decreased resistance in blood flow was noticed as well. Surgical intervention revealed ascitic fluid and a large cystic mass arising from the right ovary. Cesarean section and right salpingooophorectomy, including the mass, were performed. Frozen section biopsy was positive for malignancy. Total hysterectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy, total omentectomy, biopsies from the pelvic peritoneum, pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy and appendicectomy followed. Histology showed mucinous ovarian adenocarcinoma Grade I Stage Ic according to FIGO classification. Surgical intervention, in cases of persisting adnexal lesions, is often necessary, even during pregnancy.

Iatrogenic liver trauma managed with mesh-wrapping and ligation of portal vein branch: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Liver trauma is a critical condition that requires swift multidisciplinary approach. In complex hepatic injuries perihepatic packing is an established life-saving procedure. The aim of this study is to evaluate and highlight the value of absorbable mesh wrapping of the injured liver, combined with ipsilateral ligation of portal vein branch. CASE PRESENTATION: An 82-year-old patient underwent an open cholocystectomy, for gallbladder empyema. The second postoperative day he was re-operated on due to active hemorrhage. The bleeding was controlled by suturing the bed of the gallbladder fossa. During this maneuver a portal vein branch was torn resulting in a rapidly expanding subcapsular liver hematoma which led to the formation of two deep lacerations on the liver parenchyma. This life-threatening condition was treated by wrapping an absorbable mesh around the right liver lobe and subsequently ligating the right portal vein branch extrahepaticaly. CONCLUSION: Mesh wrapping of the fragmented liver with absorbable mesh constitutes a safe and effective method, in treating grade IV and V liver injuries, especially when combined with ipsilateral ligation of the bleeding vessel.