No abstract available.
Extraembryonic Membranes* ; Placenta*

New Cervicography, a Pap smear adjunct test, is an innovative cervical cancer surveillance system. It is a relatively new technique in which a photograph of the cervix is obtained without the aid of colposcope after application of 5% acetic acid. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of New Cervicography in diagnosis of cervical cancer. Pap smear and cervicogram data were obtained from 143 patients who visited the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chungnam National University Hospital from September 1996 to May 1997. Histologic specimens were obtained from patients in whom abnormalities were detected by either Pap smear or cervicogram. Specimens were taken either by colposcopically directed biopsy or large loop excision af the transformation zone. (continue)
Acetic Acid ; Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Colposcopes ; Diagnosis* ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Obstetrics ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVES: Objective: Cellular immortality is believed to be a critical step in tumorigenesis. As an important component of the telomere maintenance mechanism, the activation of the enzyme telomerase is tightly associated with cellular immortality and cancer. However, little is known about the status of telomerase during human cervical cancer development. To assess the role of telomerase in the development of malignant transformation of the uterine cervix, this investigation was performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Telomerase activity was measured by telomeric repeat amplification protocol(TRAP) assay in 8 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia(CIN) and 24 cervical cancers. The tissue adjacent to the lesions from the same patients was also examined for the presence of telomerase activity. RESULTS: Thirty one of the 32(96.9%) lesions were positive for telomerase activity. In the CIN patients, four of the 8(50.0%) lesions showed moderately to strongly positive activities. In the cervical cancer Ia lesions, five of the 9(55.6%), and beyond the stage Ib lesions, fourteen of the 15(93.3%) showed moderately to strongly positive activities. There was a positive correlation between the grade of the lesion and the telomerase activity(P=0.023). Patient's gravida and telomerase activity also had a positive correlation(P=0.022). CONCLUSION: Relatively weak telomerase activity was detected in the low grade cervical lesion and strong activity was detected in the high grade lesion. There was a progressive increase of telomerase activity in association with an increased degree of cervical lesion. Patient's gravida also had an association with telomerase activity. These results suggest that the expression of telomerase activity may play a crucial role in cervical carcinogenesis.
Carcinogenesis ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia* ; Cervix Uteri ; Female ; Humans ; Telomerase* ; Telomere ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Our aim was to identify histologic changes in cervical carcinoma tumor cells due to chemotherapy,by electron microscopic examination. Cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil were used between March 1, 1994 and February 28, 1995 on a total of 16 patients. The treatment schedule consisted of 75 mg/m2 cisplatin via iv with hyperhydration on Day 1, in combination with 1000 mg/m2 5-fluorouracil via continuous iv on Day 1 to 5. The treatment was repeated every 4 weeks with a maxinum of 3 courses. Ultrastructurally, chemotherapy induced apoptosis,indicated by condensation of nucleus and cytoplasm,fragmentation of nuclei, and apoptotic bodies. Due to repeat chemotherapy, increased levels of desmosomes were noted and parts of tumor nests were replaced by mature squamous cells. Tumor nests were reduced in size, mitochondria exhibited swelling, the endoplasmic reticulum was dilated, and infiltration of inflammatory cells increased after chemotherapy. These results suggest that chemotherapy induces apoptosis and injury to the cytoplasm and nuclei of tumor cells. However, the exact selection mechanism of the biochemical pathway of cell death is not fuUy understood. Further study of the molecular biologic actions of cell death after chemotherapy is warranted.
Apoptosis ; Appointments and Schedules ; Cell Death ; Cisplatin ; Cytoplasm ; Desmosomes ; Drug Therapy* ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Mitochondrial Size

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to estimate the anti-cancer effects of the major components of the green tea (polyphenols, catechin and EGCG) and the mechanism of EGCG on different cervical cancer cell lines. METHODS: Six cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa, HeLaS3, Caski, SiHa, HT3 and C33A) were treated with 20 microgram/ml green tea polyphenols (GTPs), 50 micrometer catechin and various concentrations of (-)-epigallo- catechin-3-gallate (EGCG). The viabilities were determined by trypan blue exclusion assay, neutral red assay and 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. DNA fragmentation and nuclear condensation were used to see whether EGCG-induced anti-proliferation effect was due to apoptosis. RESULTS: Both GTPs, catechin and EGCG had growth inhibition effects on cervical cancer cell lines, but EGCG appeared to be the most effective. What's more, the sensitivity of each cell lines to EGCG was different. HT3 cells (HPV negative, mutant type p53) were most sensitive to EGCG (estimate IC50: 10 micrometer). Caski (HPV-16 positive, wild type p53) and HeLaS3 cells (HPV-18 positive, wild type p53) were less sensitive (estimate IC50: 35 and 70 micrometer respectively). EGCG-induced apoptosis can be seen in all the cell lines and it happened as early as 8 hours after EGCG treatment. CONCLUSION: Green tea or EGCG alone will be beneficial to the cervical cancer patients.
Apoptosis* ; Catechin ; Cell Line* ; Chemoprevention ; DNA Fragmentation ; Guanosine Triphosphate ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Neutral Red ; Polyphenols* ; Tea* ; Trypan Blue ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

Cellular schwannoma is a variant of schwannoma, and is diagnosed as malignant tumor in over one fourth of cases because of its cellularity, mitotic activity and the occasional presence of bone destruction. This tumor is a tumor with low malignant potential and usually occurs in peripheral nervous system, mainly in the posterior mediastinum and retroperitoneal space. But pelvic retroperitoneal cellular schwannoma is very rare. Recently, we experienced a case of pelvic retroperitoneal cellular schwannoma in a 42-year-old woman; in reporting the case a brief review of the literature is included.
Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Neurilemmoma* ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Retroperitoneal Space

No abstract available.
Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Parturition* ; Pregnancy* ; Renal Dialysis*

PURPOSE: Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNA) and frozen section (FS) have been extremely valuable tools in the evaluation of thyroid nodules. However, in follicular carcinomas, it is often difficult to distinguish between a benign and a malignant lesion. The aims of this study were to evaluate the characteristic clinicopathologic findings and sensitivities of FNA and FS examination in the diagnosis of follicular carcinomas and to delineate the influence of preoperative and intraoperative clinicopathologic findings and the prognostic factors on the extent of surgery. METHODS: The cases of 33 patients who had undergone thyroid surgery and who had been histologically diagnosed as having follicular thyroid carcinomas were reviewed for age, sex, laboratory findings, FNA findings, frozen-section results, extent of surgery, completion thyroidectomy, and coexistent pathology. RESULTS: There were 28 women and 10 men (2.3:1 ratio) whose ages ranged from 14 to 75 years with a mean of 40.8 years. The mean follow-up was 27.2 months. The most prominent sign was an asymptomatic palpable anterior neck mass, which was present in 29 (87.8%) cases. Fine needle aspiration cytology was performed in 31 patients, revealing a follicular neoplasm in 16 patients (sensitivity=51.6%), an adenomatous goiter in 6 (19.4%), a papillary carcinoma in 5 (16.1%), and an anaplastic carcinoma in 1 (3.2%); the specimens were inadequate in 3 patients (9.7%). Among the 32 patients having an intraoperative frozen sections, only 7 patients (sensitivity=21.2%) were correctly diagnosed as having cancer. The diagnoses were deferred (reported as a follicular neoplasm) in 21 patients (65.6%) and were changed from benign at frozen section to malignant on final diagnosis in 4 patients (12.6%). Among the 21 patients diagnosed as having a follicular neoplasm on frozen section, 10 patients (47.6%) were treated with a subtotal thyroidectomy, 6 patients (28.6%) with a total thyroidectomy taking into consideration the gross findings at operation and prognostic factors such as AGES and AMES to reduce the incidence of a completion thyroidectomy.Only 5 patients (23.8%) underwent a lobectomy followed by a reoperation (a completion thyroidectomy). CONCLUSION: Fine needle aspiration cytology and frozen section results are not good indicators in making the decision regarding the extent of the thyroidectomy. A definitive decision to avoid a completion thyroidectomy should be made during the initial operation based on gross findings, frozen-section results, and prognostic factor such as age, tumor grade, tumor size, and the presence of extracapsular spread or distant metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma, Follicular ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle* ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frozen Sections* ; Goiter ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Neck ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Reoperation ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroidectomy

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to compare laparoscopic surgery with laparotomy for surgical management of ovarian dermoid cysts. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients were managed with laparoscopy and eighty two patients were managed with laparotomy. Two groups were compaired for age, marrital status, parity, tumor size, operation type, previous surgery, operating time, blood loss, pre-, and postoperative hemoglobin change, hospital stay, complications and recurrences. RESULTS: Unilateral slapingo-oophorectomy was the most common type of operation in either group. Between twenty one and thirty was the most common age in either group and para 0 in laparoscopy and para 2 in laparotomy group was the most common. Unilateral ovarian cystectomy was significantly more common for para 0 in laparoscopy group (p=0.035). Number of singles were significantly higher in laparoscopy group (p=0.046). Tumor size was significantly larger in laparotomy group (6.1 vs 7.8 cm). Operating time was shorter for unilateral ovarian cystectomy in laparoscopy group. Blood loss, pre-, and postoperative hemoglobin change, hospital stay was significantly less in laparoscopy group. Febrile morbidity was higher in laparotomy group (p<0.001). However no major complications were noted in either group. CONCLUSION: We conclude that operative laparoscopy has many advantages in the management of ovarian dermoid cysts. However tumor size was a relative limitations for laparoscopy compaired with laparotomy.
Cystectomy ; Dermoid Cyst* ; Female ; Humans ; Laparoscopy* ; Laparotomy* ; Length of Stay ; Parity ; Recurrence

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this investigation was to review the distribution and treatment of gynecologic disease in pediatric and adolescent patients. METHODS: Two hundred forty-four pediatric and adolescent patients were evaluated clinically, who were admitted to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chungnam National University Hospital from Jan. 1989 to Sep. 1999. RESULTS: The most common disorder was ovarian tumors(43.0%) including 78.1% of neoplastic diseases and 21.9% of nonneoplastic diseases, and followed by pregnancy-associated disorders(20.5%), infectious disorders(11.5%), congenital abnormalities(9.8%), traumas(7.4%) and miscellaneous(7.8%). Pregnancy asso ciated disorders include abortion(42%), gestational trophoblastic disease(30.0%), and ectopic pregnancy(28%). Infectious disorders include acute pelvic inflammatory disease(53.6%), hydrosalpinx(21.4%), condyloma accuminata(10.7%) and tuberculous salpingitis(3.5%). Congenital abnormalities include congenital uterine anomalies(41.7%), imperforate hymen(20.8%), male hermaphroditism(12.5%), female hermaphroditism(8.3%), pure gonadal dysgenesis(8.3%) and mixed gonadal dysgenesis(8.3%). Traumas include vulvar laceration (33.3%), vulvar hematoma(33.3%), and vaginal wall laceration(33.3%). CONCLUSION: We analyzed two hundred forty-four pediatric and adolescent patients who were admitted to Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chungnam National University Hospital from Jan. 1989 to Sep. 1999. The most common disorder was ovarian tumors(43.0%) and followed by pregnancy-associated disorders (20.5%), infectious disorders(11.5%), congenital abnormalities(9.8%), traumas(7.4%) and miscellaneous(7.8%).
Adolescent* ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Gonads ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Male ; Obstetrics ; Pediatrics ; Pregnancy ; Trophoblasts