Primary ovarian pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy, and the prevalence rate is reported to be between 1/7,000 and 1/40,000 pregnancies. Ovarian pegnancy occurs within the ovary and on the corpus luteum, usually with rupture and massive bleeding. It is frequently misdiagnosed as a ruptured corpus luteum and the differentiation may be made only by micoroscopic examination of a tissue specimen. We have experienced four cases of ovarian pegnancy, which are presented with a brief review in the literature.
Corpus Luteum ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Prevalence ; Rupture

Ovarian pregnancy is comparatively rare form of ectopic pregnancy. Although earlier diagnosis is now possible due to the availability of quantitative beta-hCG measurement and the development of transvaginal ultrasonograghy, it is mostly difficult to diagnosis before surgery, and frequently misdiagnosed as a ruptured corpus luteum accompanied with massive hemoperitoneum. Definite diagnosis is made only by cytopathologic examination of tissue specimen. The treatment of ovarian pregnancy has been operative management including oophorectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy and ovarian wedge resection. But recently conservative management using laparoscopic technique has become the preferred treatment. We have experienced a case of primary ovarian pregnancy and reviewed it briefly.
Corpus Luteum ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Ovariectomy ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

Ovarian pregnancy is a rare form of ectopic pregnancy that is often difficult to diagnose. The diagnostic criteria were described in 1878 by Spiegelberg, which comprise that the pregnancy is in the ovary and does not involve the tube. Ovarian pregnancy occurs in the corpus luteum, and is usually accompanied with the rupture of the ovary and massive hemoperitoneum. It presents as a hemorrhagic ovary and frequently misdiagnosed as a ruptured corpus luteum. We have experienced a case of ovarian pregnancy and reviewed it briefly.
Corpus Luteum ; Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Rupture

Primary ovarian pregnancy is rare form of ectopic pregnancy. It can be diagnosed if the only implantation occurs in the ovary. The clinical diagnosis of ovarian pregnancy is difficult. Owing to the availability of sensitive assays for human chorionic gonadotropin and the development of transvaginal ultrasonography, early diagnosis of an ectopic pregnancy has been made more feasible. But clinical and even intraoperative diagnosis of ovarian pregnancy is still difficult and only microscopic examination of tissue specimen can confirm the diagnosis. Misdiagnosis is common because it can be confused with a ruptured corpus luteum. Laparoscopic wedge resection is treatment of choice. The authors present a case of ovarian pregnancy with a brief review of the literatures.
Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Corpus Luteum ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study is to investigate the expression of CDK (Cyclin dependent kinase) inhibitor, p57(kip2) in human ovarian corpus luteum, benign and malignant ovarian tumors. METHODS: 46 women undergoing laparoscopic surgery or laparotomy for ovarian tumors were enrolled. Total 46 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of corpus luteum, benign and malignant ovarian tumors were stained by immunohistochemistry for expression of p57(kip2). RESULTS: p57(kip2) was stained in theca cell of growing follicle but not induced in human corpus luteum. There was the expression of p57(kip2) in mature teratoma, immature teratoma and endometrioma but not in epithelial ovarian tumors. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that p57(kip2) expression may be not important in luteinization of the ovary and seemed not to play a role in development of epithelial ovarian tumors. However, it may involve pathogenesis of mature teratoma, immature teratoma and endometrioma.
Corpus Luteum ; Endometriosis ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Lutein ; Luteinization ; Ovary ; Teratoma ; Theca Cells

Primary ovarian ectopic pregnancy has remained a rare event. It is difficult preoperatively to diagnose and differentiate ovarian pregnancy from hemorrhagic ovarian cyst and tubal ectopic pregnancy. However, improved diagnosis of acute hemoperitoneum of ovarian origin may reveal a higher incidence than reported earlier. The diagnostic criteria were described in 1878 by Spiegelberg, which comprise that the pregnancy is in the ovary and does not involve the tube. Ovarian pregnancy occurs within the ovary and on the corpus luteum, usually with rupture of the ovary and a massive hemoperitoneum. We report a relatively intact primary ovarian pregnancy with a brief review of the literatures.
Corpus Luteum ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hemoperitoneum ; Incidence ; Ovarian Cysts ; Ovary ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic* ; Rupture

OBJECTIVE: To understand the physiologic effects and secretion pattern of inhibin A and inhibin B during menstrual cycle and menopausal transition, inhibin A and inhibin B levels were measured. And to detect any changes in expression of inhibins in human ovary with age, we examined immunohistochemical staining of alpha, beta A, and beta B subunits of inhibin in ovarian tissues. This study was also designed to investigate whether or not inhibin is an early marker for menopausal transition. METHODS: Inhibin A and inhibin B levels were measured in 320 samples from normal reproductive women, in 60 from perimenopausal women, and in 20 from menopausal women by ELISA. And we examined the immunohistochemical staining of alpha, beta A, and beta B subunits of inhibin in ovarian tissues of 35 normal reproductive, 20 perimenopausal, and 5 menopausal women, respectively. RESULTS: In the normal reproductive women, inhibin A begins to increase in the late proliferative phase (16.53 +/- 1.57 pg/ml), reaches the peak in the mid-secretory phase (45.85 +/- 2.08 pg/ml), and subsequently decreases. Inhibin B begins to increase in the early proliferative phase (65.40 +/- 4.08 pg/ml), reaches the peak in the ovulatory phase (110.74 +/- 9.83 pg/ml), and thereafter declines rapidly. In the perimenopausal women, mean inhibin A serum concentration was 6.68 +/- 0.53 pg/ml during proliferative phase and 21.78 +/- 3.61 pg/ml during secretory phase, which were significantly lower than that of the same phase in the normal reproductive women (P<0.01). Mean inhibin B serum concentration was 52.16 +/- 7.46 pg/ml during proliferative phase and 22.41 +/- 6.73 pg/ml during secretory phase, which were significantly lower than that of the same phase in the normal reproductive women (P<0.01, P=0.025). In the menopausal women, both inhibin A and inhibin B were not detected. In the normal reproductive women, we observed strong immunostaining for alpha subunit in granulosa cells, theca cells, and corpus luteum. Immunostaining for beta A subunit was observed in corpus luteum, but not in growing follicles. Immunostaining for beta B subunit was observed in primary follicle, granulosa and theca cells of growing follicle, and mature follicle, but less strong than immunostaining for alpha subunit. No staining for beta B subunit was observed in the corpus luteum. In the perimenopausal women, immunostaining for inhibin subunits were observed in the same pattern as that of the normal reproductive women, but weaker. Stronger immunostaining was observed in theca cells than in granulosa cells. In the menopausal women, none of the immunostaining of inhibin subunits were observed. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that inhibin A is associated with the luteal function and inhibin B, the follicular function. The secretion of inhibins decreased rapidly in the perimenopausal transition period and were not detected in the menopausal period. Inhibin A and inhibin B are associated with the follicular maturation and development. It suggests that the inhibin A and inhibin B are good candidates as markers for perimenopausal transition.
Corpus Luteum ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Granulosa Cells ; Humans ; Inhibins* ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovary* ; Theca Cells

Ovarian myoma is a rare mesenchymal tumor, accounting for only 1% of benign ovarian neoplasm. These tumors only originate from smooth muscle on the walls of blood vessels in the cortical stroma, in the corpus luteum and in the ovarian ligaments at the point of attachment to the ovary. Most patients are asymptomatic and the tumors are usually found incidently during operations or at autopsies. Two cases of ovarian myoma experienced in our hospital recently are reported with a brief review of the literatures."
Autopsy ; Blood Vessels ; Corpus Luteum ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyoma* ; Ligaments ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myoma ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Ovary

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the histologic features of the uterus and adnexae extirpated from gender identity disorder (GID) patients that received depot androgen injection. METHODS: We reviewed the histologic findings of the uterus and adnexae removed from sixteen GID patients, who had taken depot androgen injection for 5~168 months. RESULTS: Fourteen patients (87.5%) showed the atrophied epithelium of exocervix and all of 16 patients (100%) showed the atrophy of endometrium. Seven patients (43.7%) showed multiple cystic follicles in the ovarian cortex and 6 patients (37.5%), 3 patients (18.7%) showed corpus albicans and corpus luteum, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous androgen induced atrophy of cervix and endometrium. This effect was more prominent in the endometrium. In addition, PCO-like histologic features were observed in the ovary.
Atrophy ; Cervix Uteri ; Corpus Luteum ; Endometrium ; Epithelium ; Female ; Gender Identity* ; Humans ; Ovary ; Uterus*

Pregnancy maintenance is dependent on the presence of a functional corpusluteum (CL) for a few weeks after implantation. However, the factors responsible for the rescue of the CL during earlypregnancy have not been fully clarified. This study was designed to evaluate whether the change in size of the CL ofearly pregnancy, serum concentration of progesterone, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone,or beta-hCG correlated with the gestational age or were predictive of pregnancyoutcome. We retrospectively analysed thirty-six women between 4~9 weeks' gestation. All women underwent transvaginal ultrasound measurement of the CL size andgestational sac(or crown-rump length). Blood was drawn from each patient on the day of the ultrasound examinationto measure hormone concentration. Fifteen women experienced vaginal bleeding and abdominal pain.Among them, four women were aborted. There was no significant positive correlation between CL size and serumprogesterone, 17alpha-hydroxyprogesterone or beta-hCG both in normal and abnormal pregnancy. A positive correlation was observed between the gestational age and progesterone orbeta-hCG in normal pregnancy, but not in abnormal pregnancy(threatened or spontanousabortion). In conclusion, close correlation between the gestational age and serum concentrationof progesterone or beta-hCG may reflect the normal function of CL. Therefore, abnormal response of CL or abnormal production of beta-hCG cause a disturbancein progesterone secretion leading to the abnormal pregnancy.
Corpus Luteum* ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Pregnancy Maintenance ; Pregnancy* ; Progesterone* ; Retrospective Studies ; Ultrasonography ; Uterine Hemorrhage