Torsion of Normal Adnexa in a 31-year-old Woman: A Case Report and Literature Review.

It is known that a large ovarian cyst will likely cause torsion. However, normal adnexal torsion is rare and occurs in premenarchal girls in most cases. This is a case of a reproductive woman. A 31-year-old woman suffering from acute abdominal pain in the lower and right side consulted her gynecologist. The next day she had a computed tomography performed and was suspected of ovarian torsion. She did not have fever, nausea, or leukocytosis, but her abdominal pain persisted. Diagnostic laparoscopy was performed and showed torsion of the right fallopian tube, which was swollen and looked like a hydrosalpinx with a normal ovary. We did detorsion and excision of the right tube. However, pathological findings showed that the right tube was not a hydrosalpinx but was swollen due to blood stasis. We determined that this case was torsion of normal adnexa. In such cases, diagnostic laparoscopy is very effective.

Hyperemesis gravidarum in Eastern Asian population.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical features of hyperemesis gravidarum in Eastern Asian women. METHOD: Retrospective cohort study was conducted based on delivery records. Hyperemesis gravidarum was defined as a pregnancy with severe nausea and vomiting necessitating hospitalization with a body weight loss of over 5% from pre-pregnancy weight with ketonuria. The onset is at 10 weeks of gestation or less. Maternal and neonatal variables were compared. RESULT: There were 3,350 singleton deliveries in the study period. All subjects were Eastern Asian women. Hyperemesis gravidarum was observed in 119 cases (3.6%). Hyperemesis gravidarum subjects had a smaller pre-pregnancy body weight (50.5 +/- 0.64 kg vs. 51.8 +/- 0.16 kg, p = 0.046) and a smaller pre-pregnancy body mass index compared to non-hyperemetic subjects (20.2 +/- 0.21 kg/m2 vs. 20.8 +/- 0.06 kg/m2, p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: The Eastern Asian population had a significantly higher incidence of hyperemesis gravidarum. Small pre-pregnancy body habitus increased the risk of hyperemesis gravidarum.

Rare hydrosalpinx in a sexually inactive adolescent successfully treated with laparoscopy.

The majority of cases of symptomatic hydrosalpinx needing treatment are caused by sexually transmitted diseases. However, here, we present a rare case of a hydrosalpinx occurring in a sexually-inactive adolescent girl successfully treated with laparoscopy. A 17-year-old girl presenting with lower abdominai symptoms had a surgical history for an inguinal hernia at infancy. Transabdominal ultrasonography revealed a multicystic lesion in the pelvis, and magnetic resonance imaging suggested hydrosalpinx. Due to the abdominal pain and a suspicion of torsion, laparoscopic surgery was performed. After aspiration and resection of a cystic tumor, we confirmed that the left ovary was normal and that the tumor involved the left fallopian tube, which was twisted at the isthmus. Although relatively rare in postmenarchal sexually inactive adolescents, clinicians and surgeons must still consider hydrosalpinx as a possible diagnosis when encountering an adolescent patient with lower abdominal pain.

Gemella morbillorum bacteremia following total laparoscopic hysterectomy for uterine corpus cancer.

Gemella morbillorum, a Gram-positive coccus facultative anaerobe, is part of the normal flora of the mucous membranes of the oropharynx, upper respiratory, gastrointestinal, and female genital tracts. However, this species can also cause serious infection. We herein report on a case of bacteremia, accompanied by peritonitis and pleuritis, in a 46-year-old immunocompetent female following a total laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. The case was successfully treated with antibacterial and antifungal agents.

Prognostic significance of p53 mutation in suboptimally resected advanced ovarian carcinoma treated with the combination chemotherapy of paclitaxel and carboplatin.

The prognostic significance of p53 mutation, microsattelite instability and DNA mismatch protein hMLH1 expression in suboptimally resected advanced ovarian carcinoma treated with the combination chemotherapy of paclitaxel and carboplatin was evaluated. The overall combination chemotherapy response rate and the complete remission rate were significantly higher among patients with mutant p53 tumors than those with wild-type p53 tumors (35/42 (83%) vs. 32/58 (55%); P=0.003 and 18/42 (43%) vs. 16/58 (28%); P=0.03, respectively). This tendency apparently existed in non-serous carcinoma, but not in serous carcinoma. Univariate analysis showed that the risk of death due to disease and risk of progression was significantly lower among patients with p53 mutation (P=0.0357 and 0.0281, respectively). However, the presence of microsattelite instability or loss of hMLH1 expression was not associated with either the clinical response or prognosis. Determining p53 mutational status can be useful in predicting therapeutic response to drugs in ovarian carcinoma, especially in non-serous tumors.

Rare Primary Adenocarcinoma of the Broad Ligament: Report of Two Cases and a Literature Review.

Malignant primary tumors arising in the uterine broad ligament are extremely rare, and only 26 cases have been reported to date. We describe 2 new cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the broad ligament, and we review the previous literature on such rare tumors. In Case 1, a 71-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of increased yellow vaginal discharge and lower abdominal pain during bowel movement. Transvaginal sonography revealed a 6.5 cm mass located on the dorsum of the uterus and a 7.0 cm mass (with cystic and solid parts) near the right adnexa. We postoperatively diagnosed the mass as a high-grade serous carcinoma of the broad ligament (pT3cNXM0). The patient is currently receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin. In Case 2, during a complete medical checkup a 43-year-old woman was found to have a pelvic mass indicative of leiomyoma. Transvaginal sonography revealed a 3.8 cm mass located on the dorsum of the uterus. Following surgery, we diagnosed the mass as a clear cell adenocarcinoma of the broad ligament (pT2bN1M0). This patient is also now receiving adjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel and carboplatin.

Clinical Significance of Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance among Patients Undergoing Cervical Conization.

BACKGROUND: Atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) feature a wide variety of cervical cells, including benign and malignant examples. The management of ASCUS is complicated. Guidelines for office gynecology in Japan recommend performing a high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) test as a rule. The guidelines also recommend repeat cervical cytology after 6 and 12 months, or immediate colposcopy. The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of ASCUS. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2012 and December 2014, a total of 162 patients underwent cervical conization for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3), carcinoma in situ, squamous cell carcinoma, microinvasive squamous cell carcinoma, and adenocarcinoma in situ at our hospital. The results of cervical cytology prior to conization, the pathology after conization, and high-risk HPV testing were obtained from clinical records and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: Based on cervical cytology, 31 (19.1%) of 162 patients were primarily diagnosed with ASCUS. Among these, 25 (80.6%) were positive for high-risk HPV, and the test results of the remaining 6 patients (19.4%) were uncertain. In the final pathological diagnosis after conization, 27 (87.1%) and 4 patients (12.9%) were diagnosed with CIN3 and carcinoma in situ, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Although ASCUS is known as a low-risk abnormal cervical cytology, approximately 20% of patients who underwent cervical conization had ASCUS. The relationship between the cervical cytology of ASCUS and the final pathological results for CIN3 or invasive carcinoma should be investigated statistically. In cases of ASCUS, we recommend HPV tests or colposcopic examination rather than cytological follow-up, because of the risk of missing CIN3 or more advanced disease.

Etiology of Ascites and Pleural Effusion Associated with Ovarian Tumors: Literature Review and Case Reports of Three Ovarian Tumors Presenting with Massive Ascites, but without Peritoneal Dissemination.

Borderline ovarian tumors are benign but relatively large tumors that are often initially mistaken as ovarian cancers. We report three cases of stage I borderline ovarian tumors having massive ascites that we (preoperatively) suspected of being advanced ovarian cancer. The three patients (35, 47, and 73 years old) reported feeling fullness of the abdomen before consulting their gynecologist. By CT scan, they were diagnosed with a pelvic tumor accompanied by massive ascites, the diameters of which were 11, 20, and 11 cm, respectively. Postsurgical pathology showed all were stage I borderline ovarian tumors without dissemination; two were mucinous and one was serous. The amount of ascites was 6,300, 2,600, and 3,600 mL, respectively, and was serous in all. Cytodiagnosis of the ascites found that one was positive for tumor cells and two were negative. After resection of the mass, the ascites disappeared in all three cases. No pleural effusion was present at any time. The literature is reviewed concerning ascites and pleural effusions linked to ovarian tumors, and a supposition is forwarded of why pleural effusion presents sporadically in these cases.

A phase II study of combination chemotherapy using docetaxel and irinotecan for TC-refractory or TC-resistant ovarian carcinomas (GOGO-OV2 study) and for primary clear or mucinous ovarian carcinomas (GOGO-OV3 Study).

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy of docetaxel and irinotecan for paclitaxel and carboplatin (TC) -refractory or -resistant ovarian carcinomas and for first treatment of primary clear cell and mucinous ovarian carcinomas. STUDY DESIGN: Between 2002 and 2009, we conducted a prospective Phase II study of the efficacy and safety of combination chemotherapy using docetaxel and irinotecan in 62 patients with TC-refractory or -resistant ovarian carcinoma cases (GOGO-OV2) and 15 patients with primary clear cell and mucinous ovarian carcinoma cases (GOGO-OV3). The dose of docetaxel and irinotecan was determined during our previous Phase I study. RESULTS: A docetaxel plus irinotecan regimen provided a 53% response rate, 6 months progression-free survival (PFS), and 12 months overall survival (OS) for primary clear cell and mucinous ovarian carcinomas (similar to TC therapy). The differences of anti-tumor and survival effects between refractory and resistant cases were not statistically significant. The regimen also provided a 15% response rate, 5 months PFS, and 15 months OS for TC-refractory or TC-resistant cases, when used as a second-line chemotherapy. These data are similar to previous reports, however, our study provides the first data exclusively for the cases refractory or resistant to a gold standard TC therapy as a second-line chemotherapy. The regimen was demonstrated to be well tolerable. CONCLUSION: Combination chemotherapy of docetaxel and irinotecan may be a useful option to treat TC-refractory/resistant cases and primary clear cell and mucinous adenocarcinoma cases of ovarian carcinoma.

Improved detection of gastric cancer during screening by additional radiographs as judged necessary by the radiographer.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine whether additional radiographs, as judged necessary by the radiographer, improves cancer detection during gastric cancer screening. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 144 gastric cancer cases among 137 744 individuals who underwent X-ray screening for gastric cancer. Radiographs were obtained by 17 radiographers at a screening center in Japan from April 2004 to March 2008. Additional radiographs were taken based on the radiographer's judgment in cases of suspected cancer. During double-blind reinterpretation of the cancer case radiographs by two radiologists, we determined the number of cancer cases that were detected by standard radiographs alone. We next determined the number of cancer cases detected using both standard radiographs and additional radiographs. RESULTS: Compared to the number of cancer cases detected with standard radiographs alone (120 cases detected, 24 cases undetected), the number of cancer cases detected with both standard and additional radiographs (137 cases detected, 7 cases undetected) significantly increased (17 cases; P < 0.001, McNemar test). CONCLUSION: We found that taking additional radiographs, when judged necessary by the radiographer during radiographic gastric cancer screening, improves cancer detection.

The wide range of clinical manifestations in leprous neuropathy: two case reports.

The present report describes two patients with leprous neuropathy diagnosed in Japan and manifesting with different clinical features. A 78-year-old Japanese man presented with a 3-year history of numbness and weakness affecting the upper and lower extremities. Although he did not have skin eruptions, nerve biopsy revealed acid-fast bacilli. Another patient, a 41-year-old Japanese-Brazilian man, presented with a 1-month history of numbness in the right fourth and fifth fingers and whole-body erythema. These cases highlight the fact that, as a result of worldwide travel and immigration, leprosy should still be considered in the differential diagnosis of neuropathy in developed countries.

Chemotherapy for endometrial carcinoma (GOGO-EM1 study): TEC (paclitaxel, epirubicin, and carboplatin) is an effective remission-induction and adjuvant therapy.

BACKGROUND: TAP chemotherapy (paclitaxel, doxorubicin, and cisplatin) is effective for advanced and recurrent endometrial carcinoma, but has occasional severe toxicity. TEC chemotherapy (paclitaxel, epirubicin, and carboplatin) has been suggested to have less toxicity; however, the optimal dosage has yet to be determined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Phase I/II prospective study for TEC therapy was performed. A retrospective comparison of the prognosis between adjuvant TEC therapy and radiation for completely resected cases with risk factors was also performed. RESULTS: The recommended dose of TEC therapy was determined to be paclitaxel 150 mg/m(2), epirubicin 50 mg/m(2), and carboplatin AUC 4. A TEC regimen at this dose level was shown to be tolerable. The response rate and median overall survival were 74% and 37 months for those with advanced primary disease (Group B) and 50% and 26 months for recurrent tumors (Group C), respectively. A retrospective comparison showed that adjuvant TEC therapy for completely resected stage III cases improved their prognosis when compared to an adjuvant radiation therapy. CONCLUSION: TEC therapy was demonstrated to be a tolerable and effective treatment, not only as a remission-induction therapy for advanced and recurrent endometrial carcinomas but also as the adjuvant therapy.

Maternal urinoma during pregnancy.

Urinoma is peripelvic extravasation of urine seen as the squeal of urinary trauma or stones. Little is known about maternal urinoma during pregnancy. A 27-year-old primigravida presented with gradual worsening right flank pain at 21(5/7) weeks of gestation. She denied any past medicosurgical history. Initial work-up revealed cost-vertebral angle tenderness and mild hydronephrosis by ultrasonography. Her symptom worsened and follow-up ultrasonography was performed 48 h later, which showed worsened hydronephrosis with large perinephric fluid collection. A Double-J stent was placed under cystoscopy. After the placement, the patient's symptoms improved quickly. The stent was removed three weeks later. The patient delivered vaginally at 39 weeks of gestation without complication. Maternal urinoma during pregnancy developed in the right side of the kidney in five of six reported cases (83.3%), and all were seen in the second half of pregnancy. All showed flank pain as the initial presentation. Ultrasonography for diagnosis was used in half of the patients. Fifty percent underwent Double-J stent before delivery and 16.7% after delivery. All cases delivered at term and 33.3% underwent cesarean delivery. Maternal urinoma is an important differential diagnosis for flank pain during pregnancy. Double-J stent placement was the main management. Close monitoring of the symptom with serial ultrasonography may be the key for diagnosis.

Acute motor and sensory neuronopathy associated with small-cell lung cancer: a clinicopathological study.

A 48-year-old Chinese woman developed ascending motor paralysis while visiting Japan, leading to tetraplegia and respiratory failure over 2 weeks. The patient's course was complicated by anoxic encephalopathy. Nerve conduction studies revealed a severely decreased amplitude of compound muscle action potentials and a sural nerve biopsy specimen showed findings consistent with axonal-form Guillain-Barr6 syndrome. An autopsy, excluding the brain, demonstrated small-cell lung cancer that was not detected clinically, axonal-dominant degeneration in the nerve roots and distal peripheral nerves, and the loss of both myelin and axons in the dorsal spinal column. The spinal anterior horn cells were severely decreased and were accompanied by astrocytic reaction in all spinal segments with lymphocytic infiltration. A limited examination of the dorsal root ganglia did not show Nageotte nodules, but the infiltration of T cells was observed. Although the clinical course mimicked axonal-form Guillain-Barré syndrome, the autopsy demonstrated both sensory and motor neuronal involvement, as well as small-cell lung cancer. Although anti-Hu and antiganglioside antibodies were negative in the patient's serum, the para-neoplastic mechanism might have damaged the anterior horn and dorsal root ganglia cells, which subsequently led to secondary axonal degeneration. There has been a report on a case of paraneoplastic subacute motor neuronopathy, but the acute course described here has not been reported before.

Mid-second trimester measurement of fetal nasal bone length in the Japanese population.

AIM: We carried out a preliminary study to compare the nasal bone length (NBL) and biparietal diameter/NBL (BPD/NBL) ratio between the Japanese and white populations. METHODS: Three hundred and fifty nine (359) singleton fetuses of healthy Japanese couples were examined from June 2004 to October 2005. NBL was measured by the strict midsagittal section. The reference range of NBL was established from cross-sectional data between 15 and 25 weeks' gestation. RESULTS: The success rate of obtaining reliable NBL was 93% (333/356). There were 330 fetuses (93%) available for constructing a reference range from the population. The median NBL increased from 3.2 mm at 15 weeks' to 7.6 mm at 25 weeks' gestation. The median of BPD/NBL ratio was 9.01. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that NBL was significantly shorter and BPD/NBL was significantly greater in the Japanese population than those in the white and black populations.