The relationship of placental weight with birth weight.

To assess the relationship between placental weight and birth weight, two hundred forty six pregnant mothers, who were otherwise healthy, were prospectively followed in a city hospital during antenatal period until delivery and immediate post-partum period. Height of mothers was measured initially and weight measured at each visit during the antenatal check-up. Placental weight and birth weight of babies were measured by one of the authors immediately after delivery by a weighing scale. Eighty one percent of the mothers were between the age group of 20-29 years. The BMI of 92% mothers was 18.5 and above. Most of the mothers came both with primigravida (42%) or second gravida (33%) and in 25% cases 3rd or onwards. In 49% cases the placental weight was between 401-500 gm, in 30% cases >500 gm and in 21% cases 400 gm or less. There was delivery of appropriate-birth-weight babies in 85% cases and low-birth-weight babies in 15% cases. It was observed that a very strong correlation existed between placental weight and birth weight (r = 0.391, p<0.001). Even this correlation was stronger in small for gestational age babies. However, there was no correlation between placental weight and APGAR score at one minute. It is concluded that increment of birth weight occurs with increase of placental weight. If placental weight can be measured by ultrasonography in second or early third trimester of pregnancy birth weight is possible to be assessed and appropriate measure can be taken to increase the birth weight.

Verrucous carcinoma of vulva.

Vulval carcinoma is an uncommon disease of old women and may manifest as verrucous carcinoma. Intraepithelial cancer of the vulna of women in their twenties and thirties is increasing. Invasive carcinoma of vulva usually appears long time after intraepithelial neoplasia or chronic irritation. We are presenting one young lady of 21 years who noticed whitening of vulva since her childhood and irregular vulval itching in that area. After nine to ten years she further noticed swelling in that area which used to discharge off an on along with itching. As she got married and had disturbed sexual life, on consulting with a specialist doctor, the lesion was diagnosed as an ulcerated malignant growth. Further investigation revealed the lesion to be as verrucous carcinoma of vulva. This is the first report of such case in our country. Any persistent complaints of vulva like itching, discharge, even ulcer should be taken care of for detection of intraepithelial vulvar cancer.