Expression of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor, Microvessel Density and Prognosis in Epithelial Ovarian Tumors / 대한산부인과학회잡지

OBJECTIVE: It is still unclear whether angiogenic potential, which is believed to be a prerequisite for tumor development, is an important prognostic factor in ovarian carcinoma. The current study was designed to examine the relationship among Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, angiogenesis in ovarian neoplasms and clinicopathological prognostic variables. METHODS: A according to the WHO classification and FIGO staging epithelial ovarian carcinoma was classified. Microvessel density and VEGF status were evaluated by immunohistochemistry in 77 epithelial ovarian carcinomas. RESULTS: Positive immunostaining for VEGF was observed in 92.6% (50 out of 54) of ovarian carcinomas, which was significantly higher than that of low malignant potential (LMP) tumors (12 out of 23; 52.2%) (p<0.001). In ovarian carcinomas, positive VEGF immunostaining was also observed more frequently, even though not significantly, in tumor of elder age group (more than 60 years) (p=0.05) and less differentiated (p=0.05). CD34 immunostaining revealed increased microvessel density in ovarian carcinomas larger than 10 cm in size (p=0.029) and in mucinous type tumors (p=0.025). Microvessel counts of epithelial ovarian carcinomas examined were not correlated with VEGF expression. Histologic type (p=0.0428), differentiation (p=0.0083) and FIGO stage (p=0.0004) also influenced overall survival of ovarian carcinomas in univariate analysis. But multivariate analysis revealed that disease stage was the only significant and independent prognostic factor of ovarian carcinomas (p=0.001). In advanced ovarian tumors (stage III/IV), microvessel density was the only significant prognostic factor (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Therefore, the expression of VEGF could be used as an adjuvant indicator of differing borderline tumor from ovarian carcinoma. And microvessel density of advanced ovarian carcinoma may enhance the predictability of patient at high risk for tumor progression who are potential candidate for further aggressive therapy.

A Case of Vulvar Denervation Operation in an Old Patient with Intractable Dysesthetic Vulvodynia / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Vulvodynia is the term used to describe unexplained vulvar pain, sexual dysfunction, and the resultant psychological disability. In vulvar vestibulitis, surgery is carried out on patients who have failed conservative therapy. Surgical procedures which is removal of all sensitive vestibular tissue are most effective in patients with pure vestibulitis, but effective surgery is not known in patient with dysesthetic vulvodynia. We experienced one case of vulvar denervation operation in patients with intractable dysesthetic vulvodynia, which have failed conservative therapy. So we report one case with a brief review of literature.

A Case of Pure Dysgerminoma with Syncytiotrophoblastic Giant Cell Secreating HCG / 대한산부인과학회잡지

Dysgerminoma is accounting for only 1-3% of all ovarian cancers and about 30-40% of all ovarian germ cell malignant tumors. Elevated serum or urine levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) occurs in about 2% of non-pregnant patients with dysgerminoma, and usually result in hormonal manifestations, mimicking an ectopic pregnancy or hydatidiform mole. We experienced one case of dysgerminoma with syncytiotrophoblastic giant cell and report this case with a brief review of literatures.