Assessment of current follow-up for complete molar pregnancies: A single centre review.

BACKGROUND: Current guidelines recommend that resolution of a complete molar pregnancy (CMP) can only be confirmed once a negative ß-human chorionic gonadotropin (ß-hCG) has been maintained for six months following uterine surgical evacuation. However, multiple studies have found that the risk of developing gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) once a negative ß-hCG had been obtained is negligible, which suggests that a shorter follow-up may be reasonable. AIM: To determine the trend in ß-hCG following diagnosis of a CMP and the incidence of GTN, in a single unit. MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients presenting to the tertiary hospital, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Early Pregnancy Assessment Service (RPAH EPAS), with a histopathological diagnosis of a CMP between 2010 and 2017 were included. Data collected included age, parity, ß-hCG at diagnosis, subsequent ß-hCG levels, incidence of GTN and treatment required. RESULTS: Sixty-seven patients were diagnosed with CMP between January 2010 and July 2017 through RPAH EPAS. The mean age of women diagnosed with a CMP was 33 years. None of the 40 patients who spontaneously achieved a negative ß-hCG and completed their six months follow-up had a subsequent rise in ß-hCG. The median number of days from surgical evacuation to normalisation of ß-hCG was 55.5 days. Sixteen out of 67 patients who had a CMP required further management for persistent GTN. None of these patients achieved a negative ß-hCG prior to further management. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration could be made to decreasing the period of ß-hCG monitoring for women who achieve a spontaneous negative ß-hCG following surgical evacuation of a CMP.

Metastatic small cell lung cancer presenting as acute appendicitis: a case report.

We present a case of extensive stage small cell lung cancer presenting as perforated appendicitis secondary to an appendiceal metastasis. This is a rare presentation with only six reported cases in the literature. Surgeons must be aware of unusual causes for perforated appendicitis as in our case the prognosis can be dire. A 60-year-old man presented with an acute abdomen and septic shock. Urgent laparotomy and a subtotal colectomy were performed. Further imaging suggested the malignancy was secondary to a primary lung cancer. Histopathology demonstrated a ruptured small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the appendix with thyroid transcription factor 1 positive immunohistochemistry. Unfortunately, the patient deteriorated due to respiratory compromise and was palliated day six postoperatively. Surgeons should consider a broad differential diagnosis for the cause of acute perforated appendicitis as this can rarely be due to a secondary metastatic deposit from a widespread malignant process.

Infection and fetal loss in the mid-second trimester of pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION: Chorioamnionitis is a common cause of second trimester pregnancy loss, usually due to ascending infection. This study investigates the prevalence and bacteriology of chorioamnionitis in cases of spontaneous pregnancy loss in previable gestations (16-22 weeks). METHODS: Fetal losses between 16- and 22-week gestation were identified from the institutional database over a three-year period. Cases with an autopsy were identified, pathology reports reviewed, and maternal features noted (clinical symptoms, blood count and vaginal culture results). Second trimester medical termination for fetal abnormality during the same time period served as controls for the confounding influence of labour. RESULTS: A total of 101 cases of spontaneous non-anomalous non-macerated fetal losses and 103 control cases of induced loss for fetal anomaly were identified. Median gestation of cases was 19 weeks (interquartile range (IQR) 17, 21) and of controls was 20 weeks (IQR 19, 21). Maternal white cell count was higher in cases (median 13.6 IQR 10.8, 16.6) than in controls (9.9 IQR 7.6, 11.5) (P < 0.01). Seventy-eight (77.2%) of 101 cases and no controls had histological chorioamnionitis. A fetal reaction was identified in 48.7% of cases with chorioamnionitis, and the frequency of fetal reaction increased as gestation advanced (5.3% at 16-week gestation vs 33.3% at 22-week gestation). In cases with chorioamnionitis 36/76 (47.4%) were culture positive, whereas 4/25 (16%) without chorioamnionitis were culture positive. CONCLUSION: In otherwise normal fetuses, chorioamnionitis is a common finding in mid-trimester pregnancy loss. Routine culture methods have a low sensitivity for isolation of the causative micro-organisms. This inflammatory process seems to predate the onset of labour and appears a primary mechanism in the aetiology of such losses.