Sparganosis is a parasitic infection caused by the plerocercoid larvae of diphyllobothroid tapeworms belonging to the genus Spirometra, as first described by Manson in 1882. The infection is transmitted by ingestion of contaminated water, frogs, and snakes, and contact between a second intermediate host and an open wound or mucus membranes. Humans are accidental hosts in the life cycle, but dogs, cats, and other mammals are definitive hosts. Once a human becomes infected, the plerocercoid larvae migrate to a subcutaneous location, where they typically develop into a painful nodule. We misdiagnosed vulva sparganosis as a Bartholin's gland abscess. The patient was a green consumer, so she may have been infected by consuming health foods. Sparganosis should be considered as a cause of soft tissue masses especially among patients who have ingested health foods.
Abscess ; Animals ; Cats ; Cestoda ; Dogs ; Eating ; Food, Organic ; Humans ; Life Cycle Stages ; Mammals ; Membranes ; Mucus ; Snakes ; Sparganosis ; Sparganum ; Spirometra ; Vulva

The foreign bodies in vagina cause intense inflammation. Genital complaints in patients could indicate the presence of a vaginal foreign object. Vaginal bleeding and blood-stained, foul-smelling discharge are considered to be the main clinical manifestations of vaginal foreign bodies, and toilet tissue reported as the most commonly found foreign body. The insertion of foreign bodies into the vagina is not uncommon but presentation as lower abdominal pain in an gynaecological clinic is rare. The causes of insertion are sexual stimulation, sexual abuse, accident of post-surgery and most cases find a solution after vaginal speculum examination. We describe a case of foreign body in the vagina of a patient presenting with chronic lower abdominal pain but undetectable and unrecognized in general examination.
Abdominal Pain ; Foreign Bodies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Sex Offenses ; Surgical Instruments ; Uterine Hemorrhage ; Vagina ; Young Adult

Clear cell tumor of borderline malignancy has been reported to account for 5 to 8% of all clear cell neoplasms, and <1% of borderline malignancies of the ovary. Borderline clear cell fibroadenoma with or without microinvasion mostly occurs in women with middle age, and the presenting symptoms associated with this tumor are non-specific. The clinico-pathologic features of borderline clear cell fibroadenoma are not well known because of its rarity. Furthermore, there is no consensus for treating the disease. Thus, we report a case of borderline clear cell fibroadenoma presenting as ovarian fibroadenoma with a review of literature.
Consensus ; Female ; Fibroadenoma ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Naphazoline ; Ovary

Spontaneous uterine rupture is a rare occurrence, but a catastrophic obstetric complication, associated with high rates of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Clinicians should make a prompt diagnosis and management in patients presenting with acute abdominal pain, hypovolemic shock, and fetal compromise. We present a case of spontaneous complete rupture of uterus during early labor in term pregnancy after laparoscopic radiofrequency myolysis.
Abdominal Pain ; Humans ; Pregnancy ; Rupture ; Shock ; Uterine Rupture ; Uterus

Pelvic organ prolapse complicating pregnancy is a rare clinical condition and its incidence is one in 10,000~15,000 deliveries. It is associated with multiparity, low socioeconomic status, inadequate perinatal care, maternal malnutrition, previous abdominal surgery, and weakness of pelvic muscular and connective tissue. It can cause cervical dystocia, which leads to cervical laceration, uterine rupture, maternal and fetal death. We experienced a case, first in Korea, of cervical swelling that developed during labor, prolapsed beyond the vaginal introitus and thus obstructed the birth canal. The patient underwent cesarean section and subsequently received MgSO4 topical therapy and resulted in complete resolution. We report this case with a brief review of literature.
Cesarean Section ; Connective Tissue ; Dystocia ; Female ; Fetal Death ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lacerations ; Magnesium Sulfate ; Malnutrition ; Parity ; Parturition ; Pelvic Organ Prolapse ; Perinatal Care ; Pregnancy ; Social Class ; Uterine Rupture

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic surgery of ectopic pregnancy. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was performed on six patients who underwent transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic management of ectopic pregnancies. RESULTS: The median age of 6 cases was 33.5 years (range, 32 to 36), and the median body mass index was 20.6 kg/m2 (range, 16.5 to 28.7). The median largest diameter of G-sac was 4.8 cm (range, 3.0 to 5.4). Intracorporeal rupture and hemoperitoneum were accompanied in all cases. The median time needed for the surgery was 77.5 minutes (range, 59 to 95). The median estimated blood loss was 40 mL (range, 20 to 50). The median postoperative hospital day was 2 days (range, 1 to 3). There were no complications on postoperative course and follow-up. CONCLUSION: Transumbilical single-port access laparoscopic surgery for ectopic pregnancy was feasible and safe. This approach might be reasonable alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery using 3 or 4 port in the management of ectopic pregnancy.
Body Mass Index ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture

OBJECTIVE: Adenomatoid tumors of female genital tracts are benign lesions derived from mesothelium, occurring most commonly during the reproductive years. The aim of this study was to evaluate the overall incidence of adenomatoid tumors in Korean women and to analyze the clinical characteristics. METHODS: One hundred and ninety five patients with adenomatoid tumors were found in a retrospective medical records review of pathologic reports for 44,984 benign uterine diseases at Cheil General Hospital, from January 1995 to April 2009. RESULTS: The overall incidence rate was 0.42% of all benign uterine disease. Among them, 149 patients received hysterectomy, and 46 patients received uterine conservative surgery. Main symptoms of the patients were pain (25.1%), bleeding (30.2%), and palpable mass (18.5%). Most common associated pathologies were leiomyoma (46.6%), adenomyosis (25.1%) and endometriosis (13.1%). Most of the diagnosis was made postoperatively. Among 46 patients with conservative treatment, 13 patients showed successful pregnancy outcome. No recurrence occurred during the follow up period. CONCLUSION: Adenomatoid tumors are associated with fibroids and tend to mimic them clinically, making pre-operative diagnosis difficult. The recurrence is rare even after conservative operation. Our data about this benign neoplasm may be helpful for counseling patients after operations.
Adenomatoid Tumor ; Adenomyosis ; Counseling ; Endometriosis ; Epithelium ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hydrazines ; Hysterectomy ; Incidence ; Leiomyoma ; Medical Records ; Mesothelioma ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Outcome ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Uterine Diseases

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to compare the pharmacokinetics of methotrexate (MTX) in unruptured ectopic pregnancy according to the injection route. METHODS: Between May 2005 and August 2009, thirty-five patients of unruptured ectopic pregnancy in Chungbuk National University Hospital were treated medically either by intramuscular (IM) or intraamniotic (IA) injection of MTX according to the presence of fetal heart beat. Serum concentration of MTX was measured by fluorescent immunoassay using the blood samples withdrawn serially after its injection. RESULTS: The peak plasma MTX level was achieved at the 30-minute after injection sample in both groups. The mean peak plasma level of MTX in IM group was significantly higher than that of IA in 60-minute (2.296+/-0.64 umol/L vs 1.535+/-0.31 umol/L; p<0.006), 90-minute (1.9+/-0.51 umol/L vs 1.225+/-0.21 umol/L; p<0.002), and 240-minute (1.443+/-0.33 umol/L vs 1.077+/-0.18 umol/L; p<0.011) samples. The mean pretreatment plasma beta-hCG level was significantly higher in IA group, both tubal pregnancy (48,405+/-37,811.7 IU/L vs 18,452.05+/-19,205.34 IU/L; p<0.007) and cervical pregnancy (94,574.2+/-45,037.1 IU/L vs 42,446+/-34,778.12 IU/L; p<0.037), than those of IM group. But neither plasma MTX level nor pretreatment beta-hCG level were related to the treatment outcome. CONCLUSION: The plasma level of MTX increased rapidly in both IM and IA groups; the peak level reached at 30 minutes, and decreased to less than 1 umol/L after 240 minutes. Moreover, it was higher in IM group than IA group. Nevertheless, IA injection may be useful in patients who had high beta-hCG level or fetal heart beat, which are not usually indicated to medical treatment.
Female ; Fetal Heart ; Humans ; Immunoassay ; Methotrexate ; Plasma ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic ; Pregnancy, Tubal ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To analysis the 10 cases of relaparotomy for intractable hemorrhage after emergency postpartum hysterectomy with massive transfusion. METHODS: Between January 1995 and December 2008, relaparotomies for intractable hemorrhage and unstable vital sign after emergency postpartum hysterectomy with massive transfusion were performed on 10 patients. Medical records were reviewed and detailed to collect clinical data including patients' clinical status, causes of bleeding, duration from hysterectomy to relaparotomy, bleeding sites, procedures for bleeding control, amount of transfusions, complications and prognosis. RESULTS: In relaparotomies, the points of bleeding were identified in all cases and multiple bleeding foci than one bleeding focus were found, and procedures for bleeding control were performed. In 8 cases, the bleeding were controlled successfully and these patients recovered without long term sequales. But in the other 2 cases, although the bleeding controls were successful during relaparotomy and bleeding amount decreased after relaparotomy, but bleeding amount increased the next day and angiographic embolizations were performed. These patients died due to multi-organ failure and continued bleeding. In one of these cases, the endotracheal intubation had been done on arrival at our hospital with postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery at private clinic. In another case, the cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed on arriving at our hospital with intractable bleeding after postpartum subtotal hysterectomy in other hospital. CONCLUSION: In most cases, bleeding controls for intractable bleeding after postpartum hysterectomy were successful during and after relaparotomy in spite of development of dilutional coagulopthy due to massive transfusion, and resulted in rapid recovery and good prognosis. Even though dilutional coagulopthy was developed because of massive transfusion, relaparotomy was safe and effective procedure for management of intractable hemorrhage after emergency postpartum hysterectomy with clotting factor replacement. If personnel and adequate clotting factor replacement are available, relaparotomy should not be delayed for management of intractable hemorrhage and unstable vital sign after emergency postpartum hysterectomy.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Emergencies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Medical Records ; Postpartum Hemorrhage ; Postpartum Period ; Prognosis ; Vital Signs

OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to determine the clinical characteristics and the prognostic factors of neonatal survival in patients with fetal anemia who were treated by intraumbilical venous transfusion (IUT). METHODS: From July 2000 to March 2009, 16 cases of fetal anemia were diagnosed at Asan Medical Center in Seoul, Korea. These patients underwent intraumbilical venous transfusions and were thus included in our study. Doppler measurement of the middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity was performed before and after cordocentesis in all fetuses. RESULTS: The gestational age at the time of the diagnosis of anemia ranged from 21.3 to 33.6 weeks. There was a linear correlation between pre- and post-procedure fetal hemoglobin (Hb,MoM, (x)) and the MCA-PSV (MoM, (y)), i.e., y=0.810-0.229x, r2=0.542, CI 0.316-0.141, p<0.005; and y=1.374-0.391x, r2=0.499, CI 0.584-0.197, p<0.005. The survival was better in patients with severe anemia than those with mild to moderate anemia (p<0.05), and survival was better in patients with anemia of a known cause than those with anemia of an unknown cause (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: In fetuses with anemia, the severity of the anemia before IUT and the change of hemoglobin concentration after IUT, can be estimated noninvasively using Doppler ultrasonography, on the basis of an increase in the peak velocity of systolic blood flow in the middle cerebral artery. Both severity and etiology were meaningful factors for the survival of neonates with fetal anemia who were treated by intraumbilical venous transfusion. Although fetuses have severe anemia, they expected improved survival through IUT. These data are valuable information for use when counseling the parents of an affected fetus.
Anemia ; Blood Transfusion, Intrauterine ; Cordocentesis ; Counseling ; Fetal Hemoglobin ; Fetus ; Gestational Age ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Hydrops Fetalis ; Infant, Newborn ; Korea ; Middle Cerebral Artery ; Parents ; Ultrasonography, Doppler