Aggressive angiomyxoma of the female genital tract: a clinicopathologic and immunohistochemical study of 12 cases.

Aggressive angiomyxoma (AAM) is a distinctive neoplasm seen in the female genital tract. We present the clinicopathological findings of 12 female patients with AAM. Immunohistochemical analysis for vimentin, desmin, smooth-muscle actin (SMA), muscle-specific actin (MSA), S-100, CD44, estrogen receptor (ER), and progesterone receptor (PR) was performed. Mean patient age was 39 years (range 20-77 years). Eight tumors arose in the vulva, two in the suburethral area, and two in the perirectal area. Three were pedunculated (two vulvar and one suburethral). Perineal tumors were locally excised, with limited removal of adjacent tissue or tissue surrounding the pedicle base of pedunculated tumors. Perirectal tumors were removed by wide excision. Tumors ranged 2.8-40.0 cm in size. Eleven patients were followed-up (mean 19 months). Recurrence occurred in one patient 48 months after tumor resection from perirectum and abdomen. Immunohistochemistry showed tumor positivity for vimentin (11/11), desmin (8/11), CD44 (8/11), ER (10/12), PR (11/12), and SMA (3/11). MSA and S-100 were negative. In summary, AAM in the perineum especially pedunculated tumors may possibly require only local excision for definitive treatment. Furthermore, the majority of AAM have CD44 expression.

Alpha2-macroglobulin polymorphisms in Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is the second most common cause of dementia in the elderly after Alzheimer's disease (AD). The apolipoprotein E gene (APOE) is a major risk factor, but can only account for approximately 50% of AD cases. Whole genome scanning in late-onset AD families has suggested that a locus on chromosome 12 may contribute significantly to disease development. Recently the alpha2-macroglobulin gene (A2M) on chromosome 12 has been suggested as a candidate locus for AD. We therefore determined the influence of two polymorphisms in A2M, a pentanucleotide deletion 5' to the bait domain exon, and a valine to isoleucine polymorphism in the thiolester site of the protein, in AD and DLB cohorts. No evidence was observed for an association between the thiolester or deletion polymorphisms and AD or DLB alone or when accounting for the APOE epsilon4 allele. We did, however, identify a non-significant excess of deletion homozygotes in the AD and DLB groups. This genotype accounted for 4% of disease cases but was absent in the control population. Given that the A2M deletion polymorphism is non-functional, the chromosome 12 AD/DLB locus may be situated elsewhere and not with these A2M polymorphisms.

Intraoperative transvesical cystoscopy for urogynecologic procedures.

Intraoperative cystoscopy is a useful adjunct to surgical procedures that may compromise the integrity of the lower urinary tract. Ureteral injury and the placement of intravesical sutures are risks, especially at teaching facilities, during operations such as retropubic urethropexy, paravaginal repair, or even simple hysterectomy. The conventional use of transurethral cystoscopy during open surgical cases may require repositioning of the patient if not previously placed in Allen stirrups. Alternative practices of bladder examination include placement of a standard cystoscope via an intentional cystotomy through the dome of the bladder. The authors have implemented the direct insertion of a 2 mm microlaparoscope through the bladder dome to verify an intact lower urinary system and found this method to be both efficacious and safe. Visualization is not compromised by the slightly smaller visual field compared to the standard 0 degrees or 30 degrees cystoscope. The perspective of the bladder neck region may be more easily oriented from the superior viewing angle. The authors prefer transvesical cystoscopy with the microlaparoscope for its ease of use, compared to their experience of performing a small cystotomy or routine transurethral cystoscopy.

Diagnostic considerations in coexisting bladder and urethral leiomyomata. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Leiomyomata of the lower urinary tract in women are rare. Coexisting urethral and bladder leiomyomata have never been reported before. CASE: A 45-year-old woman, gravida 6, para 5, abortus 1, presented with a one-year history of increasing frequency, nocturia and hesitancy of up to 10-15 minutes at times. An intravenous pyelogram showed an extrinsic mass at the bladder neck. Urethrocystoscopy revealed a regular bulge at the level of the bladder neck on the right side without involvement of the bladder mucosa. Ultrasound showed a 5 x 4.7 x 4-cm mass of heterogeneous echogenicity, posterior to the bladder and anterior to the lower uterine area, with a normal-appearing uterus. The patient underwent surgery for vaginal excision of the tumor. Two separate masses were found at surgery. One small, firm, solid, 2-cm mass was found on the posterior proximal aspect of the urethra, and a larger, soft, 3 x 3-cm mass was found on the posterior lower aspect of the bladder. The masses clearly arose from the urethra and bladder, respectively. Rapid frozen section revealed smooth muscle cells consistent with leiomyomata. Both leiomyomata were entirely resected. CONCLUSION: Lower urinary tract leiomyomata should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of an anterior vaginal mass in premenopausal women.

Early secondary repair of third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations after outpatient wound preparation.

Research has shown the feasibility of early secondary repair of third- and fourth-degree perineal laceration dehiscence after a short period of inpatient wound preparation; therefore, we evaluated the feasibility of early closure after outpatient wound preparation. In this case series, 23 patients underwent early repair of third- or fourth-degree perineal laceration after outpatient wound preparation. Twenty-one patients (91%) had a fourth-degree dehiscence, whereas two (9%) had a third-degree dehiscence. We repaired the defects after 4-10 days (mean 7) of outpatient debridement and wound preparation. All repairs were successful (95% confidence interval 85-100%), and no subsequent breakdowns occurred. One patient developed a small rectal-perineal fistula which, after irrigation, closed spontaneously within 3 months. Early repair of third- or fourth-degree dehiscence after outpatient wound debridement and preparation is both practical and effective. Forcing patients to wait the traditional 3-4 months before repairing such defects may be both cruel and unnecessary.

Preservation of ovarian tissue in adnexal torsion with fluorescein.

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to assess the ability of fluorescein to intraoperatively detect viable fallopian and ovarian tissues involved in adnexal torsion. STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study was performed at Los Angeles County+University of Southern California Women's Hospital. Participants were female patients 18 to 45 years old with adnexal torsion confirmed at exploratory celiotomy. Five milliliters of 10% fluorescein were injected intravenously, and the involved untwisted adnexa was observed under ultraviolet light. Nonfluorescent tissue was resected and histologically evaluated. RESULTS: Eleven patients were entered into the study. Mean age was 25 years (range 15 to 42). Eight patients (72%) had preservation of involved ovarian tissue. No complications were associated with this procedure. Only three patients (28%) underwent oophorectomy. CONCLUSION: The use of intravenous fluorescein appears to be a valuable adjunct in the management of adnexal torsion. Application of this technique in reproductive-aged patients resulted in a three-quarter reduction in oophorectomy procedures.

The Ball-Burch procedure for stress incontinence with low urethral pressure.

Up to a 50% failure rate may be expected when genuine stress incontinence with low urethral pressure is treated with routine urethropexy. A combination of Ball and Burch procedures has been suggested as an acceptable alternative to a sling procedure for the condition. In this study, 18 women undergoing a Burch procedure and 48 undergoing a Ball-Burch procedure were available for follow-up urodynamic evaluation. The one-year objective failure rate of the Burch procedure was 38%, and that of the Ball-Burch procedure was 10%, for a statistically significant difference (P less than .05). The Ball-Burch procedure appears to be an effective means of curing women of genuine stress incontinence with low urethral pressure.

Low urethral pressure and stress urinary incontinence in women: risk factor for failed retropubic surgical procedure.

Nineteen women with stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and low urethral pressure were compared with 106 patients with SUI and normal urethral pressure. All underwent either a revised Pereyra procedure or Burch retropubic urethropexy, and all had detailed clinical and urodynamic evaluations before their operation and one year postoperatively. Surgical procedures effectively stabilized the bladder base and enabled adequate abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra in both groups of women. In spite of these urodynamic findings, the failure rate in women with stress urinary incontinence and low urethral pressure was significantly higher compared with women with good urethral pressure (50% vs 23% for the Pereyra procedure and 33% vs 12% for the Burch procedure [p less than 0.05]), indicating an etiology for their incontinence other than poor support to the urethrovesical junction; therefore, the need for another approach to cure stress incontinence.

Prostaglandins for enhancing detrusor function after surgery for stress incontinence in women.

Sixty-nine women with a clinically and urodynamically proven diagnosis of genuine stress incontinence underwent urethropexy in the form of the revised Pereyra procedure (n = 28) or Burch colposuspension (n = 41). Postoperatively the patients were assigned randomly to one of three study groups. Group 1 received a daily saline injection to the bladder (control group, n = 24), group 2 received daily intravesical injections of 250 mg of prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) (n =23), and group 3 received a daily 10-mg PGE2 (PGE2) vaginal suppository (n = 22). The patients' suprapubic catheter was removed once the postvoiding residual urine volume was less than or equal to 50 mL. Both PGE2 and PGF2 significantly reduced the length of time required for postoperative bladder drainage after both the Burch and Pereyra procedures as compared to that in the control group (P less than .05). Hospital stay and bacteriuria were reduced as well in women receiving postoperative prostaglandins as compared to the control group. Clinically there were no differences between PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. Both produced no side effects, were well tolerated by the patients and were effective in reducing both the number of days required for bladder catheterization and the incidence of significant bacteriuria when administered after the surgical procedures.

Detrusor instability. Is the bladder the cause or the effect?

Seventy-two patients had a clinical and urodynamic diagnosis of detrusor instability. All were given four weeks of anticholinergics (oxybutinin, 5 mg three times a day) and had their evaluation repeated. Forty-one patients (57%) responded favorably to the anticholinergics, and 31 (43%) did not. The 31 discontinued the anticholinergics and were placed on sympathomimetics (phenylpropanlamine, 25 mg two times a day) for another four weeks before repeating their evaluation. Based on urethrocystometry, two groups were identified: group I (n = 44) had bladder contraction that preceded any urethral pressure change, and group II (n = 28) had urethral relaxation that preceded bladder contraction. Most women in group I (38 or the 44 [86%]) responded favorably to anticholinergics. Most women in group II failed to respond to anticholinergics, while more than two-thirds of them (19 of 28 [68%]) responded favorably to sympathomimetics (P less than .001). Our results suggest that bladder contraction that precedes any urethral pressure change represents detrusor pathology as opposed to bladder contraction that follows urethral relaxation: it probably represents urethral pathology.

Primary stress urinary incontinence and pelvic relaxation: prospective randomized comparison of three different operations.

There were 289 women with clinical and urodynamic diagnosis of primary stress urinary incontinence, stable bladder, and pelvic relaxation who underwent a single-stage surgical procedure because of incontinence and pelvic relaxation. Patients underwent one of three surgical procedures because of stress incontinence--anterior colporrhaphy, revised Pereyra procedure, or Burch retropubic urethropexy. Decisions with regard to the type of bladder neck suspension and the surgeon were made randomly with a randomization table. Each patient had a complete clinical and urodynamic evaluation before surgery and at 3 and 12 months after surgery. Cure rate as defined by strict clinical and urodynamic criteria was not significantly different among the three groups at the 3-month postsurgical evaluations; however, at the 12-month postsurgical evaluations, the cure rate among women who underwent Burch urethropexy (n = 101) was significantly higher than that of either Pereyra or anterior colporrhaphy (cure rates were 87%, 70%, and 69%, respectively; p less than 0.01). The Burch urethropexy was more effective than the Pereyra procedure or anterior colporrhaphy in the stabilization of the bladder base and resulted in a significantly better cure rate in women with primary stress urinary incontinence and pelvic relaxation.

Comparison of three different surgical procedures for genuine stress incontinence: prospective randomized study.

One hundred seven consecutive patients with clinical and urodynamic findings of genuine stress incontinence not previously treated were prospectively allocated in a randomized manner to one of three surgical procedures: anterior colporrhaphy, revised Pereyra procedure, or Burch retropubic urethropexy. Randomization included the surgical procedure and choice of surgeon (one of the three authors). Clinical and urodynamic evaluations were repeated at 3 months and 1 year after surgery. Differences in cure rates among the three procedures at the 3-month postoperative evaluation were insignificant (82%, 84%, and 92% for the anterior colporrhaphy, Pereyra, and Burch respectively) but became statistically significant at the 1 year postoperative evaluation (cure rates of 65%, 72%, and 91% for the anterior colporrhaphy, Pereyra, and Burch respectively, p less than 0.05). In our hands the Burch procedure stabilized the urethrovesical junction and prevented its descent during straining (evaluated by a postoperative Q-tip test) more effectively than either the Pereyra or anterior colporrhaphy. No procedure resulted in severe postoperative voiding difficulties. The present prospective randomized study demonstrates that in our hands the abdominal retropubic operation for genuine stress incontinence in patients not previously operated on results in a higher cure rate when compared with anterior colporrhaphy or Pereyra procedure.

Role of ultrasound in urinary incontinence evaluation.

Transrectal ultrasound was used to assess anatomic support of the urethrovesical junction (UVJ) in continent and stress incontinent women. UVJ drop on straining of less than 1 cm as assessed by transrectal ultrasound correlated well with good support to the UVJ. Drop of UVJ of more than 1 cm on straining correlated with poor support to bladder neck and stress urinary incontinence. The transrectal technique is quick and easy to perform and interpret.

Negative Q-tip test as a risk factor for failed incontinence surgery in women.

Fifteen women with a clinical and urodynamic diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence had a negative Q-tip test (greater than or equal to 30 degrees Q-tip angle change on straining). All 15 had retropubic surgical procedures for stress incontinence in the form of a revised Pereyra procedure (n = 6) or Burch retropubic urethropexy (n = 9). Five of the nine patients undergoing the Burch procedure (55%) and three of the six undergoing the Peyreya procedure (50%) failed the procedure, for an overall failure rate of 53%. This rate was five times higher than that among women with stress urinary incontinence and a positive Q-tip test who underwent the same procedures (P less than .01). We conclude that women with stress urinary incontinence and no anatomic defect in the support of the urethrovesical junction should not undergo retropubic procedures because of their high failure rate. Other occlusive procedures, such as sling operations, should be considered for this group.

Proposed management of low urethral pressure type of genuine stress urinary incontinence.

One hundred and twenty-one patients with genuine stress urinary incontinence underwent urodynamic examination before and after Burch colposuspension. They were divided into two groups, one with preoperative urethral pressure of 20 cm water or less (n = 17), and the other with urethral pressure greater than 20 cm water (n = 104). Success rates at 12 months were significantly lower in women with low urethral pressure as compared with those with normal urethral pressure (65 vs. 88%; p less than 0.01). Starting in January 1987, all patients with low urethral pressure preoperatively underwent a surgical procedure which combined the techniques of the Ball and Burch procedures. Short-term cure rate (at 3 months postoperative follow-up) in women with low urethral pressure was 83% as opposed to 70% with the Burch urethropexy (p less than 0.05).

Transrectal ultrasound versus cystography in the evaluation of anatomical stress urinary incontinence.

Thirty-two female patients with clinical and urodynamic findings of genuine stress urinary incontinence were evaluated before and 6 months after surgery for stress urinary incontinence. Twenty-nine control patients had identical evaluations before and 6 months after surgery which did not involve the urethrovesical junction. Twenty-four patients with primary bladder instability had similar evaluations and served as a second control group. Anatomical landmarks indicating support to the urethrovesical junction were evaluated by the position of the urethra at the most dependent point in the bladder on straining and the urethral descent on straining to beneath the posterior ramus of the symphysis pubis on bead chain cystography. The urethrovesical junction drop on straining was evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography. Cystographic and ultrasonographic tests for the position of the urethrovesical junction at the most dependent position in the bladder during straining were very sensitive in women with stress urinary incontinence (94 and 87% respectively) but much less specific (45 and 48% respectively). When evaluating anatomical support to the urethrovesical junction and its descent on straining, these tests were both highly sensitive (97 and 94% respectively) and specific (76 and 96% respectively) in women with genuine stress urinary incontinence. Simple clinical tests for support of the urethrovesical junction, such as the Q tip test, are non-specific in patients with stress urinary incontinence. Transrectal ultrasonography is a simple and quick out-patient procedure. The availability of ultrasound equipment in most clinics and the high sensitivity and specificity of the test make it an attractive and cost-effective alternative to X-ray cystography in the pre-operative evaluation of anatomical support to the urethrovesical junction.

Use of fetal cardiotocographic monitor in the evaluation of urinary incontinence.

Thirty-five women (mean age 52 years, mean parity 3) were evaluated consecutively for urinary incontinence. Stability of the bladder was evaluated by standing provocative water urethrocystometry, using a microtip pressure transducer and a multichannel electrophysiologic recorder. Cystometry was repeated immediately after emptying of the bladder. Second cystometry (standing provocative) was performed using a fetal cardiotocographic monitor for pressure recording. The simple cystometry (using the cardiotocograph technique) was very sensitive when evaluating women with a stable bladder (n = 25) and less sensitive when detecting bladder instability (n = 10). We conclude that the use of this simple technique is a viable option if urodynamic equipment is unavailable. There is no need for further evaluation in patients with findings of a stable bladder, but if bladder instability is detected, further in-depth evaluation is required.

Ultrasonic evaluation of urethrovesical junction in women with stress urinary incontinence.

An ultrasonic evaluation of the bladder base and urethrovesical junction, at rest and during stress, using a transrectal probe, was performed on 24 continent and 67 incontinent patients. Forty-four of the incontinent patients had clinical and urodynamic diagnoses of stress urinary incontinence and 23 patients had detrusor instability incontinence. Thirty-eight of the 44 patients (86%) with urodynamically and urethroscopically proven genuine stress urinary incontinence and a weak urethral sphincter had a urethrovesical junction (UVJ) drop during stress of greater than or equal to 1 cm (mean 1.3 cm +/- 0.6 cm), as demonstrated on transrectal ultrasonic evaluation. All 23 patients with detrusor instability and 22 of the 24 continent (control) patients had UVJ drop on straining of less than 1 cm (mean 0.48 cm +/- 0.23 cm and 0.54 cm +/- 0.29 cm, respectively, p less than 0.05). The sensitivity of ultrasonic evaluation of women with stress urinary incontinence (when 1-cm drop of UVJ is considered as the upper boundary of normal) was 86% and the specificity was 91%. This ultrasound technique is quick, simple, and appears to be accurate. We believe this technique should be considered in the preoperative evaluation of women with stress urinary incontinence.

Predicting postoperative urinary incontinence development in women undergoing operation for genitourinary prolapse.

A total of 67 female patients with pelvic relaxation (cystocele beyond the vaginal orifice) and with no urinary incontinence were clinically and urodynamically evaluated before and after a reconstructive surgical procedure. Of these, 24 patients had a significant decrease in abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra once the cystocele was reduced by vaginal pessary (abdominal pressure transmission ratio to urethra: bladder of less than 1.0). All 24 had a revised Pereyra procedure in addition to the cystocele repair. The other 43 patients had adequate abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra once the cystocele was reduced by vaginal pessary (abdominal pressure transmission ratio to urethra: bladder of greater than or equal to 1.0). These 43 patients underwent cystocele repair only with no surgical repair to the urethra or urethrovesical junction. Evaluation was repeated at 3 to 6 months after the operation. No patient developed urinary incontinence after operation. All 67 patients had urodynamically good abdominal pressure transmission to the urethra while coughing. Women with significant genitourinary prolapse may be continent in spite of a weak urethral sphincter because of kinking of the poorly supported urethra. Urodynamic testing can identify those women at risk of developing postoperative urinary incontinence so that prophylactic measures can be undertaken.

Role of cystourethrography in the preoperative evaluation of stress urinary incontinence in women.

Thirty-two women with stress urinary incontinence and 27 control continent patients with pelvic relaxation underwent a detailed clinical and urodynamic evaluation of the lower urinary tract. All patients underwent a standard chain urethrocystographic evaluation to detect anatomic pathology of the lower urinary tract. Urethrocystographic study included an evaluation of the posterior and anterior urethral angle, funneling of the proximal urethra on straining, the position of the urethrovesical junction and flattening of the bladder base. No differences were seen in the incidence of radiographic findings in women with pelvic relaxation with or without stress urinary incontinence. All five cystographic criteria were similar in the continent and stress incontinence patients. Static urethrocystography cannot differentiate women with and without stress urinary incontinence from among those with pelvic relaxation and thus should not be relied upon in the evaluation of women with urinary incontinence.