The clinical significance of serum CA 125, CA 19-9 and eosinophil levels in endometriosis / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of serum CA 125, CA 19-9, and eosinophil as biological markers for the diagnosis and recurrence of endometriosis. METHODS: One hundred seventeen patients who underwent operations for endometriosis between January 2000 and December 2006 at our department were included. A total of 50 reproductive aged women who visited our health care center were the control group. Data on serum level of CA 125, CA 19-9, and eosinophil was collected. Patients symptoms, sonographic findings, stage, treatment, recurrence were also collected. Venous blood sampling was performed 1 month before operation and 1 to 6 months after operation. We analyzed the serum level of CA 125, CA 19-9, and eosinophil according to the endometriosis stage and symptoms. We also analyzed the differences between preoperative and postoperative serum marker levels. RESULTS: The serum level of CA 125 and CA 19-9 was available in 88 patients and 45 patients, respectively. The mean eosinophil count was significantly lower in endometriosis group than in control group. In comparison between preoperative values and postoperative values, the CA 125 and CA 19-9 level showed significant reduction (P<0.05), however the eosinophil level showed no difference. The positive rate of serum CA 125 and CA 19-9 were 68.9% and 60.0% as a single test, whereas the combined positive rate of CA 125 and CA 19-9 was 82.2%. CONCLUSION: For the diagnosis and follow-up of endometriosis, serum CA 125 and CA 19-9 combination test will be valuable. Serum eosinophil count seems to be unsuitable for the screening and follow up test of endometriosis.

Two cases of paratubal cysts manifesting as huge pelvic masses in young women / 대한산부인과학회지

Paratubal cysts come from paraovarium of the broad ligament between the fallopian tube and ovary. Overall, these cysts constitute 10% of all adnexal masses and are commonly incidental findings upon surgical exploration for other reasons. They more commonly occur in women between 30 and 40 years of age. We report two cases of rapidly growing, huge paratubal cysts in young women, which are presented with brief review of literature.

Clinical significance of CA19-9 in mature cystic teratoma of the ovary / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this investigation was to analyze the association between ovarian tumor markers and the clinicopathologic features of ovarian mature cystic teratoma. METHODS: The medical records of 195 patients whose pathologic diagnosis were made as mature cystic teratoma after surgery from June, 2000 to July, 2006 at Ewha Womans University Mok-dong Hospital were reviewed. The proportions of elevation of each tumor marker were evaluated in all patients and CA19-9 which showed the greatest elevation rate was selected as a promising relevant tumor marker. The patients were alloted to either Group I showing elevated CA19-9 or Group II showing normal level of CA19-9. The relationship between CA19-9 level and demographic data or clinicopathologic features were investigated by usual statistical method. RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 35.4+/-12.8, and the average size of tumor was 7.1+/-3.5cm. Bilaterality of the mature cystic teratoma was 12.8%. The proportion of the patients showing elevated levels was greatest in CA19-9 as 33.3% (65/195), compared with 12.0% in CA-125, 5.8% in CEA, 1.1% in AFP. Significant difference between Group I and Group II were found in age, parity, tumor size, and bilaterality. Bilaterality and tumor size were greater in Group I, and age and proportion of parous women were lower in Group I. On the other hand, the rate of ovarian torsion or laparotomy conversion showed no difference. Likelihood ratio for bilaterality which may be clinically used during surgical procedure were 2.2 for CA19-9 suggesting its potential role in gynecologic practice. CONCLUSION: This study shows that CA19-9 may be a useful tumor marker associated with tumor size and bilaterality in ovarian mature cystic teratoma. Further confirmative study with larger sample size is in need in order to establish its definite clinical role in ovarian mature cystic teratoma.

A case of synchronous double primary vulvar cancer and PET-negative renal cell carcinoma / 부인종양

We report a case of synchronous double primary vulvar cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Kidney mass was incidentally detected during preoperative evaluation of vulvar cancer, and was finally confirmed as a renal cell carcinoma. Although the initial result of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography was negative for a renal malignancy, nephrectomy was performed under the radiological and urologic impression of renal cell carcinoma which was supported by computerized tomography findings. Histological analysis finally confirmed a renal cell carcinoma. This is the first case report of synchronous double primary vulvar cancer and renal cell carcinoma, which emphasizes multidisciplinary approach to unexpected lesions when the clinical experience of one specialist is limited.