Małgorzata Gajewska

Comparison of endometrial biopsy and postoperative hysterectomy specimen findings in patients with atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial cancer

OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to assess the concordance between the preoperative endometrial sampling and microscopic examination of the hysterectomy specimens in patients surgically treated for atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS We analysed a group of 204 patients, of whom 160 (78.43%) underwent surgical treatment for cancer of the corpus uteri and 44 (21.57%) for atypical endometrial hyperplasia. The preoperative diagnosis was based on the histological examination of endocervical and endometrial samples obtained by fractional curettage and it was compared to the histological findings at hysterectomy. The comparison was made for the basic diagnosis, the histological type of the cancer and the grade of tumour differentiation. RESULTS When the histological types of cancer diagnosed in endometrial curettage and hysterectomy specimens were com-pared, the concordance was observed in 134/160 patients (83.75%). The highest concordance was found for endometrioid carcinoma (127/148 patients, 85.81%). The grade of tumour differentiation was accurate in 69.31% of patients. The highest concordance was for moderately differentiated carcinomas. Of 44 patients who underwent surgical treatment for atypical endometrial hyperplasia, the preoperative diagnosis was confirmed by the postoperative histopathological examination in 21 patients (47.73%). In 15 patients (34.09%) endometrial cancer was diagnosed at hysterectomy. CONCLUSIONS In endometrial cancer our findings demonstrate a high level of concordance between the histological diagnosis on endometrial curettage and at hysterectomy. Own observations have confirmed that over 30% of patients undergoing surgical treatment for atypical endometrial hyperplasia have concurrent endometrial cancer which is determined by surgery.

Critical analysis of cases of endometrial carcinoma of the uterine corpus incidentally diagnosed after incomplete surgery for other indications. Three case reports and a review of the literature

Incidental diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma after the operation for presumed benign disease is rare. At present, there are no recognized guidelines on optimal management of uterine malignancy diagnosed after incomplete surgery for other indications and the reported experience is limited. Although the risk of histological diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma in the uterus removed for pre-operatively diagnosed benign disease is very low, one should always bear in mind that it may indeed occur. Omission of certain diagnostic procedures prior to hysterectomy may result in incidental finding of a malignancy at or after surgery, even when preoperative imaging studies reveal benign disease. Many centres develop their own strategies, although in most cases the adnexa and cervix are removed and thorough exploration of the abdominal cavity is performed. Also, in view of the technical difficulties involved in removing the uterus and adnexa via the vagina and a potential high risk of cancer either developing in the cervical stump or disseminated from inadvertently morcellated uterine fragments, one should carefully consider the potential benefits and risks of supracervical hysterectomy. We present three patients with endometrial carcinoma diagnosed after hysterectomy, who subsequently underwent completion surgery. A review of the literature follows, which presents opinions from international centres.

Incidence of proapoptotic proteins p53 and p21 in epithelial ovarian tumors

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the expression of proapoptotic proteins p53 and p21 in cystadenomas, borderline tumors and ovarian cancers. The correlation between proapoptotic proteins and selected parameters of ovarian tumors was also assessed. MATERIAL AND METHODS The study group consisted of 66 patients operated on because of epithelial ovarian tumor The study group was further divided into three subgroups: cystadenomas, borderline tumors and ovarian cancers. RESULTS The average value of p53 was the highest in the ovarian cancer group (50.12 +/- 39.52), whereas average value for p21 was the highest in patients with borderline tumors (24.41 +/- 24.43). There was a negative correlation between tumor stage and parameters of p21(+++), p21(++), p271 (+) but no correlation was found between the expression of p53, p21 and histological type of ovarian cancer. CONCLUSION The assessment of p53 and p21 can be expensive, but it proves to be a useful tool in difficult cases. Positive reaction to p53 can be noted in both, benign and malignant ovarian tumors, but in case of cancer its intensity is notably stronger.

[Laboratory diagnosis of genital herpes--direct immunofluorescence method].

OBJECTIVES Aim of the study was to determine clinical usefulness of direct immunofluorescence method in the laboratory diagnosis of genital herpes in women. MATERIAL AND METHODS Overall 187 anogenital swabs were collected from 120 women. Using a dacron-tipped applicator 83 swabs were collected from women suspected of genital herpes and 104 from patients with no signs of genital infection. All samples were tested using cell culture (Vero cell line) and then direct immunofluorescence method (DIF) for the identification of antigens of herpes simplex viruses: HSV-1 and HSV-2. RESULTS Characteristic cytopathic effect (CPE), indicative of alphaherpesvirus infection, was observed in 43.4% of cultures with clinical specimens collected from women with suspected genital herpes and in 29.8% of cultures of clinical specimens taken from patients with no clinical symptoms of genital herpes. Herpes simplex viruses were determined in 73 samples by direct immunofluorescence method after amplification of the virus in cell culture. The DIF test confirmed the diagnosis based on the microscopic CPE observation in 85%. In 15% of samples (taken from pregnant women without clinical signs of infection) we reported positive immunofluorescence in the absence of CPE. The frequency of antigen detection was statistically significantly higher in samples that were positive by culture study (chi-square test with Yatess correction, p < 0.01). This method proved to be highly sensitive (97%) in women with clinically suspected infection. High negative predictive value (99%) proves the clinical utility of the DIF in these group of patients. In asymptomatic infections, viral antigens were detected most frequently in the swabs from the cervical canal, and in cases of suspected genital herpes in swabs taken from the vestibule of the vagina and the vulva. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the frequency of detection of Herpes Simplex Virus antigens in specimens from different parts of the genital tract in both groups of women (chi-square test, p > 0.05). In our study HHV-1 was the main causative agent of genital herpes. CONCLUSIONS The growing worldwide prevalence of genital herpes, challenges with the clinical diagnosis, and availability of effective antiviral therapy are the main reasons for a growing interest in rapid, proper laboratory diagnosis of infected patients. Optimal testing diagnostic algorithm depends on patient population, clinical circumstances and availability. Our results indicated that combination of laboratory tests may help to establish the diagnosis if genital herpes is suspected but there are no typical signs.