During evaluation of follow-up curettage of endometrial hyperplasia after progesterone treatment, we have noticed that the foci of squamous or morular metaplasia are persistent or even markedly increased after the hyperplastic glands have all disappeared. These observations have led us to study the histological changes of squamous or morular metaplasia in the hyperplastic endometrium after progesterone treatment and to examine the changes of estrogen receptors(ER) and progesterone receptors(PR) to find out, if there is any pathogenetic role of progesterone administration on the squamous or morular metaplasia. Squamous or morular metaplasia was associated in 21 cases (13.5 %) out of 156 endometrial hyperplasia during the study periods and all of them were associated with complex hyperplasia, but not associated with simple hyperplasia. At follow-up curettage after progesterone treatment, squamous metaplasia newly appeared in 3 cases(20 %), markedly increased in 4 cases(26.7%), persisted in 4 cases(26.7%) and decreased in 4 cases(26.7%), even after hyperplastic glands have all disappeared or were markedly decreased. On immunohistochemical staining, metaplastic foci showed ER- and PR- in 13 cases (87 %) in contrast to the surrounding endometrium and the remaining 2 cases showed minimal ER+ and PR+ confined to several nuclei. Intensity or staining pattern of ER and PR in metaplastic foci were not changed with progesterone treatment. In the background endometrium, intensity of glandular ER+ and PR + was higher than that of the stroma at the initial curettage, however, progesterone treatment predominantly down-regulated glandular ER+ more than stromal ER+. Increment or persistence of squamous metaplasia along the progesterone treatment seemingly would implicate hormonal influences as playing a significant role in the formation of squamous or morular metaplasia and the absence of cellular receptors for these hormones in the metaplastic foci may suggest qualitative changes in the receptors.

Lentigo maligna, a precancerous tumor arising from abnormal melanocytes, is a chronic, slowly progressive, pigmented lesion with a range of colors from pale tan to black and an irregular shape, The commonest location of lentigo maligna is the face during the sixth and seventh decades of life. Less frequently, the lesion occurs on an extrafacial area such as the hand or lower leg. In the late stage, lentigo maligna transforms into invasive malignant melanoma. A 50-year-old male patient had a well-defined, black pigmented patch on the right sole for 30 years. The histopathologic examination revealed numerous vacuolated melanocytes clusters at the dermo-epidermal junction with invasion of the epidermis. There was no evidence of dermal invasion by atypical melanocytes.
Epidermis ; Hand ; Humans ; Hutchinson's Melanotic Freckle* ; Leg ; Lentigo* ; Male ; Melanocytes ; Melanoma ; Middle Aged ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

No abstract available.
Adrenalectomy* ; Multiple Endocrine Neoplasia* ; Pheochromocytoma*

Gestational trophoblastic disease associated with the tubal pregnancy is uncommon, and the incidence has been described as 1/5000 tubal pregnancy. We have experienced a case of metastatic gestational trophoblastic disease(GTD) in the lung occuring with complete hydatidiform mole arising in tubal pregnancy. The patient was a 39-year-old, G4P2A2L2 woman with amenorrhea for 5 weeks. Ectopic pregnancy in the right fallopian tube was suspected on transvaginal ultrasonogram. A right adnexectomy was performed. The fallopian tube was markedly dilated and ruptured. The right ovary and a round hematoma had adhered to the external surface of the fallopian tube. On gross examination, no molar tissue was identified. On microscopic examination, the lumen of the dilated fallopian tube was filled with blood clots admixed with several chorionic villi showing hydropic swelling and marked proliferation of atypical trophoblasts. Proliferating syncytio-and cytotrophoblasts invaded the wall of the blood vessels of the fallopian tube and sheets of trophoblasts and some villi were identified in the lumen of blood vessels. Multiple pulmonary nodules thought to be metastatic nodules were identified in the chest X-ray and serum beta-HCG had increased 2 weeks later. This case indicates that a careful pathological examination in the ectopic pregnancy is mandatory, because tubal GTD is not clinically distinguishable from ordinary tubal pregnancy.
Pregnancy ; Female ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis

PURPOSE: Recent studies suggest that the symptomatic improvement in benign prostatic hyperplasia significantly related with transition zone volume (TZV). The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical significance of TZV and transition zone index (TZI) in changes of prostate volume (PV) and clinical parameters following finasteride therapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 140 patients over 50 years of age with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia were treated with finasteride (5mg/d) for 12 months and underwent transrectal ultrasound evaluation of PV and TZV prior to initiating therapy and after 12 months. Patients were grouped according to the results of PV (> OR =40ml or <40ml), TZI (> OR =0.45 or <0.45) and PSA level (> OR =2.5 or <2.5). The responders was determined as improvement in peak flow rate more than 3mL/sec. RESULTS: PV decreased by 14.11% in patients with TZI less than 0.45, while the decrease was 19.25% for men with TZI greater than 0.45 (p<0.01). In addition, PV was significantly decreased by 16.72% in patients with PV less than 40cc and TZI greater than 0.45 (p<0.01). PV decreased by 17.37% in patients with PSA less than 2.5, while the decrease was 18.92% in men with PSA greater than 2.5. In responders, only TZI was significantly different among PSA, PV and TZI (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment effect of finasteride on symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia patients was increased in proportion to enlarged PV, increased TZI, increased PSA. TZI was a useful proxy for predicting clinical outcomes in initiating finasteride therapy on benign prostatic hyperplasia.
Finasteride* ; Humans ; Male ; Prostate ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Proxy ; Ultrasonography

Colonization of mammary cancers by melanocytes with heavy pigmentation of cancer cells by melanin can occur very rarely. It is not certain which mechanism operates to achieve this transfer. However, the melanocytes might inject melanin through their dendritic processes or alternatively, the cancer cells phagocytose the terminal parts of the dendritic processes with subsequent dispersal of the contained melanin contained melanin granules. We report a case of infiltrating ductal carcinoma of breast with melanocyte colonization and pigmentation in a 59-year old female.
Female ; Humans

The spine fracture of osteoporotic patients is considered as meaningful since it occurs prior to other life-threatening fractures (for example; fracture of proximal of femur). The purpose of this study were to analyze the relationship between BMD and spine fracture in patients who complained of back pain without any obvious trauma history. We studied the cases of one hundred thirty patients above an age of sixty years, whose visited the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Kosin University Medical Center, from March 1995 to April 1996. Both simple X-ray and Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA) were checked in old patients. The following results were obtained. 1. The BMD of spine fracture group with the osteoporosis (mean; -3.66 standard deviation (SD)) was significantly lower than the nonfracture group (mean; -2.38 standard deviation (SD)) (P = 0.0000). 2. According that the BMD Z-score is decreased, the proportion of spine fracture is increased significantly (above-1.0SD; 16.67%, -1.0SD~ -2.0SD; 16.67%, -2.0SD~ -3.0SD; 37.83%, - 3.0SD~ 4.0SD; 51.61%, below -4.0SD; 61.54% (P = 0.000)). 3. The probability of developing the spine fracture based on above -2.0 standard deviation (SD) was 2.8 times in -2.0SD~ -3.0SD (P = 0.044), 5.3 times in -3.0SD~ -4.0SD (P = 0.004), and 7.9 times below -4.0SD (P = 0.001). We recommended more intensive treatment to the osteoporotic patients below -2.0 SD in BMD Z- score.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Academic Medical Centers ; Back Pain ; Humans ; Middle Aged* ; Osteoporosis ; Spine*

PSTT has been established as a separate entity distinct from choriocarcinoma since 1983, because of its different morphological features, biologic behavior and response to chemotherapy. Most cases of PSTT have indolent clinical courses, but there have been several reports showing malignant behavior resulted in death of the patient. We report a case of PSTT showing vaginal metastatis. In biopsy specimen, it was difficult to make differential diagnosis from squamous cell carcinoma of uterine cervix due to uniform and mononuclear cytologic characteristics. Immunohistochemical stains for hPL and hCG were not typical for either PSTT or choriocarcinoma. We suggest that poorly differentiated PSTT may synthesize the lesser amount of hPL than typical PSTT and it may behave more aggressively.
Diagnosis, Differential ; Biopsy

We report a case of spinal subdural abscess spreading from a epidural abscess. A 70-year-old man was hospitalized for a mild fever, chill and severe back pain. Neurological examination on admission revealed back pain with numbness, sensory deficiency on left lower extremity and without bowel or bladder dysfunction. Lumbar magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) showed pyogenic spondylitis on L1, 2, 3 with epidural abscess. A patient was treated by empiric antibiotic therapy for 6 weeks. Six weeks later, follow-up MRI showed that the pyogenic spondylitis with epidural abscess had decreased, but a cylinder like subdural abscess after arachnoiditis. After surgery, the majority of the initial symptoms were relieved except a mild both lower extremities numbness.
Abscess* ; Aged ; Arachnoid ; Arachnoiditis ; Back Pain ; Epidural Abscess* ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Spondylitis ; Urinary Bladder

PURPOSE: Prostate volume has been poorly correlated with various parameters used to assess benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), including symptom score, total prostate volume, peak flow rate and postvoid residual urine. The purpose of this study is to determine if measurement of the volume and the index of transition zone of the prostate correlated well with other clinical parameters in predicting the degree of obstruction. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 121 men with lower urinary tract symptoms were prospectively evaluated using international prostate symptom score, transrectal ultrasonography, and urodynamic investigation with pressure-flow studies for BPH. Bladder outlet obstruction was defined as the maximal detrusor pressure was greater than 40cmH2O at peak flow and peak flow rate was less than 10ml/sec. Patients were then divided into obstructive and non-obstructive groups. Correlations were evaluated among the total prostatic volume (TPV), transition zone volume (TZV), transition zone index (TZI=TZV/TPV) and other clinical and urodynamically obstructive parameters. RESULTS: Age, IPSS, peak flow rate and PVR were not significantly different between obstructive (n=69) and non-obstructive (n=52) groups. Among the transrectal sonographic parameters, TZV and TZI correlated better with urodynamically obstructive parameters such as detrusor pressure at peak flow rate (r=0.551, 0.544), Abrams Griffiths number (r=0.576, 0.506) and linear passive urethral resistance relation (r=0.560, 0.580) than with TPV. There were no correlations between clinical and volume parameters. All the volume parameters of the prostate were larger in obstructive than in non- obstructive group. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with BPH symptoms, TZV and TZI correlates better with urodynamically obstructive parameters than did the total prostate volume. TZV or TZI may serve as more useful method for evaluating obstruction.
Humans ; Hyperplasia* ; Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Hyperplasia ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Bladder Neck Obstruction* ; Urinary Bladder* ; Urodynamics