Clinical evaluation of women with PMB. Is it always necessary an endometrial biopsy to be performed? A review of the literature.

Background: Endometrial carcinoma is the most distressing cause of abnormal vaginal bleeding. The intention of clinical management in the case of postmenopausal bleeding is to achieve an accurate diagnosis without overinvestigation.

Method: We studied the available literature on the diagnostic evaluation of postmenopausal women with vaginal bleeding, accentuating the most important aspects on this topic: the accuracy of sonography and endometrial biopsy in predicting endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma.

Prenatal assessment of arthrogryposis. A review of the literature.

Arthrogryposis Multiplex Congenital (AMC) is a group of muscular, neurologic and connective tissue disorders, characterized by multiple severe joint contractures and decreased mobility. The incidence of this condition is 1/3000 births while the etiology is variable. Prenatal assessment of arthrogryposis has focused primarily on diminished fetal movement and the presence of joint contractures or skeletal deformities.

The role of lymphadenectomy in uterine leiomyosarcoma: review of the literature and recommendations for the standard surgical procedure.

Uterine sarcomas are rare and aggressive gynaecologic malignancies with poor prognosis, arising from myometrial or endometrial tissue. These rare cancers can be aggressive, and account for a greatly disproportionate amount of deaths from uterine cancers. The histological uterine sarcomas classification includes carcinosarcomas (malignant mesodermal mixed tumors), accounting for 40% of cases, leiomyosarcomas (40%) and endometrial stromal sarcomas (10-15%).

Diagnosis and laparoscopic management of a rudimentary uterine horn in a teenage girl, presenting with haematometra and severe endometriosis: our experience and review of literature.

A unicornuate uterus is a rare congenital malformation of the female genital tract, which appears in about 1/1000 women and is characterized by significant anatomic variability. In the most common type, a noncommunicating rudimentary horn coexists with the unicornuate uterus. The diagnosis of this anomaly is usually delayed, as it remains asymptomatic until adolescence and its initial symptoms are atypical.

Smoking and AMH levels in women with normal reproductive history.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of age and smoking on the AMH levels in normal cycling healthy women with normal reproductive history.

Materials And Methods: In 137 women, blood samples were taken on day 3 of a spontaneous cycle. Serum FSH, LH, E2, progesterone and AMH were measured in all blood samples.

Assessment of the feasibility of bipolar coagulation use to reduce hemorrhage in myomectomy performed by minilaparotomy.

The major problem with myomectomy is excessive bleeding from increased uterine blood supply, and this can be a life-threatening condition and prolong postoperative stay. The aim of our study was to evaluate our experience in symptomatic myoma excision with bipolar electrode by mini-laparotomy; we compared 67 procedures with bipolar electrode, in normal saline as distension fluid, to 42 cases performed with unipolar electrode. All participants were pre-menopausal women who had symptomatic myomas View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The contribution of hysteroscopy to the detection malignancy in symptomatic postmenopausal women.

Hysteroscopic evaluation of endometrial cavity is widely used in cases of abnormal uterine bleeding. The aim of the present study is to compare the hysteroscopic and histological findings in women suffering from postmenopausal bleeding. Between 1990 and 2009, 425 women aged 47-83 years were included in the study.

The contribution of laparoscopy to the diagnosis of adnexal masses in young and premenopausal women.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the contribution of laparoscopy to the diagnosis of adnexal masses in young and premenopausal women, in whom surgery was deemed necessary, between the years 2002-2008. A total of 130 young and premenopausal women scheduled for surgery for an adnexal mass with a diameter of 5-10 cm underwent transvaginal ultrasound (US) examination prior to surgery. Laparoscopic management was successfully completed for 118 of the 130 patients in this study; however, 12 required conversion of laparoscopy to laparotomy due to endometriosis with extensive bowel adhesions, or suspected ovarian malignancy and peritoneal implants.

Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and pregnancy.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major angiogenic factor and prime regulator of endothelial cell proliferation. During pregnancy, VEGF is essential for the proliferation of trophoblasts, the development of embryonic vasculature and the growth of maternal and fetal blood cells in utero. In cases of pre-eclampsia and in some circumstances of preterm labor-raised umbilical cord serum, VEGF levels might be correlated with the clinical development of the above pathological disorders.

A retrospective analysis of twenty-eight borderline ovarian tumours in adolescent girls.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the clinical reproductive outcome and the rate of recurrence of low malignant ovarian tumors in adolescent girls after conservative surgical treatment by laparoscopy or laparotomy. We report 28 cases of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs), that were surgically treated from 1990 to 2006 at the Obstetrical and Gynecological Department of Democritus University in Greece and the Aschaffenburg Teaching Hospital in Germany. All patient information was obtained by reviewing hospital records.

Acute abdomen as initial presentation of gestational choriocarcinoma.

Choriocarcinoma is the most malignant tumor of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia. Choriocarcinoma presenting as postpartum hemorrhage and spontaneous uterine perforation with intra-abdominal hemorrhage is very rare. We present a 29-year-old woman with spontaneous uterine rupture due to choriocarcinoma following a live birth pregnancy.

A 15-year report of pathological and benign ovarian tumors in teenagers.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the frequency, clinical aspects and surgical management of ovarian masses in 52 adolescent patients, in whom surgery was deemed necessary, from 1991-2006. We considered age, symptoms, ultrasound investigations, CA 125 levels, family history, operative treatment, surgical complications tumor size, histopathological examinations, pregnancy rate and follow-up. Ovarian lesions in teenagers include a broad array of pathologic diagnoses that have variable and non-specific presenting symptoms.

Irregular dental structures in a benign ovarian cystic teratoma (dermoid cyst): case report.

Mature cystic teratomas, often referred to as dermoid cysts, are the most common germ cell tumors of the ovary in women of reproductive age. The gross pathologic appearance of a dermoid cysts is characteristic. Hair follicles, skin glands, muscle, and other tissues lie within the cyst wall.

Laparoscopic treatment of ovarian dermoid cysts.

Dermoid cysts are the most common germ cell tumors of the ovary in women of reproductive age. We report 67 cases of patients with dermoid cysts (mean age, 31.31 years) originating from the ovary treated from 1994 to 2006 at the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of Aschaffenburg Hospital-Clinic in Germany.

Uterine sarcoma: a report of 57 cases over a 16-year period analysis.

Uterine sarcomas comprese approximately 4-9% of all uterine malignant tumors with a poor prognosis. We report 57 cases of sarcoma originating in the uterus treated from 1990 to 2006 at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Democritus University of Thrace, Greece and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Aschaffenburg Hospital, Germany. The median age of occurrence was 49 years with the commonest symptom being abnormal uterine bleeding.

Misoprostol and first trimester pregnancy termination.

Objective: To investigate the efficacy of vaginal administration of 800 microg misoprostol as a single dose without performing post expulsion systematic curettage in first trimester pregnancy termination.

Method: 113 women, aged 16-44, who requested first trimester pregnancy termination, received 800 microg of vaginal misoprostol. All examined women were divided into two groups depending on gestation age.

Attitudes towards contraception in three different populations.

Objective: To investigate contraceptive behavior of women belonging to three different ethnic and/or socioeconomic populations as well as to evaluate the main sources of information concerning contraception in each population.

Methods: 150 Muslim women living in Germany (group A), 120 Muslim women living in Thrace, Greece (group B) and 140 Christian Orthodox women living in Thrace, Greece were enrolled in the study. Attitudes concerning contraceptive practices were assessed by means of a questionnaire.

TV sonographic assessment in postmenopausal women with bleeding.

The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the usefulness of transvaginal sonography for the detection of endometrial disease in postmenopausal women with bleeding. This study involved 275 postmenopausal women aged 47-81 years (median 62). None of them were on hormone replacement therapy and all had had amenorrhea for more than one year.

TV sonographic assessment in postmenopausal asymptomatic women.

The aim of this study was to evaluate retrospectively the usefulness of transvaginal sonography for the detection of endometrial disease in postmenopausal women without symptoms. The study involved 750 postmenopausal women aged 52-65 (mean 58.5).

Transvaginal sonographic assessment of the cervix and preterm labor.

Objective: The purpose of the study was to assess the accuracy of cervical measurements by transvaginal ultrasonography during the 1st and 2nd trimester in the prediction of preterm labor.

Study Design: Five hundred high-risk pregnant women in preterm labor were studied retrospectively.

Results: A significantly higher percentage rate of preterm delivery was found in women with abnormal cervical length compared to those with normal cervical length (54.

Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: risk factors and epidemiologic analysis.

Objective: To measure the incidence of preeclampsia-eclampsia and its perinatal mortality as they appear in the two major ethnic groups in Thrace: Christian Orthodox and Muslims.

Study Design: Incidence and perinatal mortality of preeclampsia-eclampsia were studied retrospectively on all women managed in our clinic for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy who were delivered of a stillborn or healthy neonate between 1986 and 1999. We also compared the prevalence of certain risk factors of the disease as they appear in the above-mentioned distinct ethnic groups.

Preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Preimplantion genetic diagnosis (PGD) is now used for identification of gene and chromosomal defects in embryos. In this article we describe its use primarily for identification of chromosomal defects in women with recurrent abortions, repeated in vitro fertilization (IVF) failure, and advanced maternal age. In all these situations there is increase in chromosomal defects.

Differentiation of myomas by means of biomagnetic and doppler findings.

Aim: To elucidate the hemodynamics of the uterine artery myomas by use of Doppler ultrasound and biomagnetic measurements.

Method: Twenty-four women were included in the study. Sixteen of them were characterised with large myomas whereas 8 of them with small ones.

Epidemiology of congenital anomalies in different ethnicities.

Purpose Of Investigation: To study the prevalence and the epidemiologic characteristics of major congenital anomalies (MCAs) in two different populations in Thrace-Greece.

Methods: The ethnic origin of all mothers who delivered in our department and the types of MCAs were determined. We compared the frequencies of MCAs between Christians and Muslims.

Correlation between biomagnetic and Doppler findings of the uterine artery in normal and preeclamptic pregnancies.

Objectives: To elucidate the hemodynamics of the uterine artery in normal and abnormal pregnancies by use of Doppler ultrasound and SQUID biomagnetometry.

Method: Two hundred and three women (gestational age 28-42 weeks) were included in the study. Forty-three of them had preeclampsia and/or intrauterine growth restriction and 160 were normal.