Endometrial biopsy interpretation. Shortcomings and problems in current gynecologic practice.

The analysis of 345 endometrial biopsies was carried out with special regard to the relation between pathologic findings and presenting symptoms or complaints. Only 52.4% of the biopsies showed microscopic features possibly related to the complaints. Endometrial polyps and chronic endometritis were diagnosed in 21.1 and 9.8%, respectively, of the entire study group. The currently accepted definitions of dysfunctional uterine bleeding raise the question whether endometrial polyps and atypical secretory changes may or may not be included in the syndrome.

Morphological changes in the amniotic epithelium in relation to placental weight and fetal maturity.

A series of 52 placentas from the 36th week of gestation up to post-maturity was studied. The amniotic epithelium was studied with special regard to the morphological signs of maturation known to occur during this period. The results of the dating were compared with the presumed clinical age of the pregnancy and with the placental weight. A good correlation was found in 42.3% of the cases; the clinical age was overscored in 17.3% and underestimated in 40.4% of the subjects. No clear correlation was found between placental weight and histologic dating of the amniotic epithelium. The significance of the lipid laden amnios cells is discussed.

The percentage of granulocyte-like cells in human oviduct epithelium.

The ratio of granulocyte-like cells to epithelial cells was examined in the fimbriae, ampullary, and isthmic regions of oviducts obtained from normal women of reproductive age, from postpartum women, from menopausal women, from women on combined oral contraceptives and from women with adnexal pathology. Only patients on oral contraceptives had a significantly high percentage of granulocyte-like cells as did one patient with acute salpingitis.

Clinicopathologic implications and diagnosis of nongranulomatous nonspecific endometritis.

The analysis of 600 subsequent endometrial biopsies from urban gynecologic outpatient clinics was carried out with special regard to nongranulomatous and nonspecific endometritis. The total incidence of inflammatory changes reached 10.8%; after excluding all postabortion and puerperal endometria 9.4% of the curettings showed endometritis. The relative occurrence of acute, subacute, and chronic disease was respectively 6.2, 30.8, and 63.0%. The etiologic factor remained obscure in 64.7% of all the cases. The influence of inflammatory changes on the hormonally induced modifications of the endometrium are discussed.

Chorionepitheliosis: A rare benign tropholblastic disease.

Chorionepitheliosis, a benign trophoblastic disease, is a rare entity since only 26 cases have been published. The diagnosis was made in two instances and microscopic, biological and clinical data are presented. The lesion must be distinguished from syncytial endometritis, chorioadenoma destruens and choriocarcinoma. The possible histogenesis is discussed.

[Cylindroma of the breast. A histochemical and histogenetic study (author's transl)]. / Le cylindrome mammaire. Etude histochimique et histogénétique

The histochemical study of mucopolysaccharide components of the ground substance of the cylindroma lends force to their epithelial origine. The myoepithelial cell, which is ectodermal in origin, plays an essential role in their secretion. Silver impregnation of normal and dysplastic breast illustrates the secretory function of myoepithelial cells and their possible implication in the histogenesis of cylindroma.