Chromosomal Abnormality of Spontaneous Abortus in Relation to Transvaginal Ultrasonographic Finding / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical value of human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid(HPV DNA) testing by polymerase chain reaction(PCR), specifically to examine whether HPV testing could identify the women with Pap smears read as mostly atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance(ASCUS) or more. METHODS: HPV DNA testing by PCR for 3 high-risk cancer associated genotypes(HPV 16, 18, 33), repeat Pap smears and colposcopically directed punch biopsies were performed concurrently on 169 women referred for cervical cancer screening test with a previous Pap smear read as ASCUS or more. RESULTS: HPV DNA testing positivity was significantly associated with abnormal cytology and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL) and squamous cell carcinoma(SCC) in histology(P=0.034). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value(PPV), negative predictive value(NPV) of Pap smear and HPV testing for identifying 38 cases of histologically confirmed HSIL and carcinoma by different triage protocols(HPV positive or HSIL or SCC) among 169 women were 65.8%(25/38), 85.5%(112/131), 56.8%(25/44) and 89.6%(112/125), respectively. Also sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were varied by ages and more higher in older. CONCLUSION: HPV DNA testing by PCR appears to offer an effective means by which women whose cervical Pap smears have been read as ASCUS or more could be triaged for colposcopically directed biopsy. The sensitivity for HSIL could be maintained in high and specificity markedly improved by HPV genotypes 16, 18, 33.

The Clinical Significance of Cervical ASCUS(Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance) and Its Relationship with Eating Habits in Asymptommatic Women / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: To determine a guideline on the cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS and to develope the relationship between cervical ASCUS and the eating habits in asymptomatic women. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 222 women with a cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS favoring either reactive change or squamous intraepithelial lesion(SIL) were evaluated by repeated Pap smear and colposcopy directed biopsy respectively. At the same time, eating habits of them were obtained by the questionnaire. RESULTS: Among the 157 women who had a cervical cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS favoring reactive change, 133 women(84.7%) were normal by repeated smear and/or cervical tissue biopsy. Twenty four(15.3%) of 157 women had squamous intraepithelial lesion. Among the 65 women who had a cervical cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS favoring SIL, 26(40%)were normal by repeated smear and/or cervical tissue biopsy. Thirty nine(60%) of 65 women had SIL. The confirmed SIL group showed the eatig habits of increased intake of processed food(6.67%).The other reactive group was lower(2.56%). CONCLUSION: A cytologic diagnosis of ASCUS favoring reactive change was associated with a very low risk of haboring SIL. But the woman whose initial smear showed ASCUS favoring SIL was associated with a relatively high risk of harboring SIL(p<0.001). Therefore, the woman whose smear showed ASCUS favoring SIL requires further active management even in the presence of a normal repeated pap smear. The ASCUS group favoring SIL showed the habits of increased dietary intake of processed food(P<0.05). Further study with large number of patients seems warranted.

The Normal Values of Optic Disc Parameters According to the Optic Disc Size

We analysed the optic nerve head of 151 normal eyes with 8 confocal scanning laser ophthalmoscope (TopSSTM, Laser Diagnostic Technologies, Inc.), and obtained the normal values of each parameters. As the optic disc size increases, the cup shape, effective area, 1/2 depth area, C/D ratio, neuroretinal rim area, volume above, volume below, and 1/2 depth volume also increase. Therefore we obtained the normal values of these parameters according to the optic disc size. The entire subjects were divided into four groups according to the disc area, each group of 1. 5mm2-2.0mm2, 2.0mm2-2.5mm2, 2.5mm2-3.0mm2, and 3.0mm2-3.5mm2`, respectively. The normal values of other parameters such as contour variation, rnean contour depth, average depth, maximum depth, average slope, and maximum slope which are not affected by optic disc size were obtained without grouping. This may minimize the error in evaluating the optic disc parameters and may be useful in the early detection of glaucomatous optic disc changes.

The Clinical Significance of Increased Serum CA 125 in Asymptomatic Women / 대한부인종양콜포스코피학회잡지

OBJECTIVES: Our study was to determine the usefulness of CA 125 screening for asymptomatic female subjects. Though CA 125 has been used as a useful marker for the detection of ovarian cancer, its efficacy to detect early ovarian cancer in asymptomatic women has not been established. STUDY DESIGN: From April 1995 to December 1997, a total of 13,038 subjects who visited our Center for Health Promotion were screened. Serum CA 125 level was measured by a radioimmunoassay kit (Centocor, USA). In most cases transvaginal ultrasound was done at the same time. The specificity, sensitivity and positive predictive value were obtained on the basis of normal CA 125 range between 2.4~36.3 U/ml. RESULT: 1) Two cases of ovarian cancer were detected out of 13,038 subjects screened. One ovarian cancer patient showed 1,625 U/ml of CA 125 level, on the other hand, the other level patient showed 27 U/ml. 2) Therefore, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value were 50%, 97.3%, and 0.3%, respectively. Since 346 cases out of 13,038 screened subjects showed false positive results on the basis of the upper limit of normal CA 125 level set at 36.3 U/ml,the false positivity was 2.6%. 3) The CA 125 levels in false positive cases ranged from 36.3 U/ml to 352.8 U/ml with the mean value of 66.19+/-51.47 (S.D.). 4) The clinical features of the false positive cases included uterine myoma including adenomoysis (150), benign ovarian cyst (19), cervicitis (6), tuberculosis (3), pregnancy (2), and each one case of breast cancer, mammary cyst, endometritis, lung cancer, liver cirrhosis, pancreatic cancer, cervical cancer, renal cyst, uterine anomaly, and post TAH state. In the remainder of false positive 156 cases, no abnormal findings were observed. Among 258 pateints who underwent combined tests of CA 125 and transvaginal ultrasound, the sensitivity of ovarian cancer was 100%. 5) The false positive rate was lower in the older age group (>50) than in the younger group (<50). CONCLUSION: The prevalance of ovarian cancer in our study was 0.0153% (15.3 per 100,000 population) which is comparable to the rate of 15.8 per 100,000 population reported by the Korean Medical Insurance Corporation. Although the CA 125 test by itself shows a low positive predictive value, its clinical usefulness as a screening test can be enhanced dramatically by the combined use of transvaginal ultrasound examination, especially in postmenopausal women.

The diagnostic value of ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in breast masses

Real-time ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy in 137 solid breast masses was performed. Sonographic findings were categorized into three group and aspirates were categorized into three cytologic groups. The cytologic result was reported benign masses (cytologic group 1) in 71 cases (52%), malignant masses (cytologic group 2 and 3) in 44 cases (32%) and insufficient specimens in 22 cases (16%). Insufficient specimens were treated as benign masses. Excisional biopsy in 44 malignant masses and 3 benigh masses according to cytologic results, clinical findings and follow up study was performed. The result was reported 41 malignant masses and 6 benign masses. Based on cytologic criteria, sensitivity for detection of malignancy was 93% and specificity was 94%. In conclusion, the high specificity provided by ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration biopsy could markedly reduce unnecessary surgical excisions for benign masses and it should be routinely performed, since it can give physical and emotional benefits to patients and lead to earlier and cost effective diagnosis of breast cancer.