Usefulness of modified BRB technique in treatment to ablate uterine fibroids with magnetic resonance image-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound

OBJECTIVE: If bowels and other structures are in the pathway of high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) beam during magnetic resonance image-guided HIFU (MRgFUS) therapy, filling to the bladder and the rectum and then emptying the bladder (i.e., the BRB technique) is used to avoid them. A modified BRB technique might be useful method to using a uterine elevator method or by inducing uterus downward traction to lower the position of the uterus. METHODS: A total of 156 patients who had undergone MRgFUS surgery treatment for uterine fibroids from March 2015 to February 2016 were included in this retrospective study. Of the 156 patients, 40 were treated using a uterine elevator while 29 were treated using downward traction of uterus. HIFU was performed using Philips Achieva 1.5 Tesla MR and Sonalleve HIFU system. RESULTS: MRgFUS surgery was feasible with modified BRB technique in 69 cases. Using uterine elevator method, the intensity of HIFU for group with antefletxio uteri was significantly lower than that for the group without antefletxio uteri (105.37±17.62 vs. 118.71±26.88 W). The group with downward traction of uterus induced was found to have significantly lower intensity of HIFU compared to the group without downward traction of uterus induced (110.26±22.60 vs. 130.51±27.81 W). CONCLUSION: Modified BRB technique was useful in avoiding bowels and other structures located in HIFU beam pathway during MRgFUS treatment to ablate uterine fibroids.

Clinical experience with single-port access laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to assess our clinical experience with single-port access (SPA) laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy and the surgical outcomes of those procedures at our institution. METHODS: The authors evaluated the surgical outcomes of SPA laparoscopic cystectomy in 293 patients and SPA laparoscopic myomectomy in 246 patients. The surgical outcomes comprised operation time, the amount of blood loss during the operation, the change in hemoglobin (before and after the operation), the change in hematocrit (before and after the operation), switching to the multi-port access method, complications, transfusions, and the duration of the postoperative hospital stay. RESULTS: The Pearson correlation coefficient and the Spearman correlation coefficient between the operation time and the amount of blood loss were 0.312 and 0.321 for SPA laparoscopic cystectomy, respectively, and 0.706 and 0.674 for SPA laparoscopic myomectomy, respectively. The drops in hemoglobin and hematocrit were 1.33~0.78 g/dL and 4.14%~2.45%, respectively, in SPA laparoscopic cystectomy, while the corresponding figures were 1.34~1.13 g/dL and 4.17%~3.24% in SPA laparoscopic myomectomy, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study reported the surgical outcomes of SPA laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy and compared them to previously published findings on traditional laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy. No significant differences were found in the surgical outcomes between SPA and traditional laparoscopic cystectomy and myomectomy.

Clinical Consideration of Treatment to Ablate Uterine Fibroids with Magnetic Resonance Imaging-guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS): Sonalleve

OBJECTIVES: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided high intensity focused ultrasound surgery (MRgFUS) is a newly emerging non-invasive technique for the treatment of uterine fibroids. The purpose of this study is to review the clinical impact of MRgFUS. METHODS: This study examined 157 patients. The high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) utilized in this study was Philips Achieva 1.5 Tesla MR (Philips Healthcare, Best, the Netherlands) and Sonalleve HIFU system. The patients were followed in post-operative Month 1, Month 3, and Month 6 to investigate any change. Then, these were further classified according to the use of uterine stimulant (oxytocin) in parallel, Funaki Type of uterine fibroid, HIFU intensity, and non-perfused volume (NPV) ratio. RESULTS: When the uterine stimulant was utilized, the HIFU intensity was measured at significantly lower levels, compared with the group not using uterine stimulant, and treatment duration was significantly. The NPV ratio was found significantly higher in the group using uterine stimulant. Concerning the correlation between Funaki Type of uterine fibroid and average sonication power, it was found that the closer to Type I, the lower the sonication power, the shorter the treatment duration, and the higher the NPV ratio significantly. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, it was found that the lower the Funaki Types of uterine fibroids, and the higher the NPV ratio immediately after the operation, the larger the uterine fibroid volume decrease and SSS change were. Also, if uterine stimulant was used in parallel in treatment, treatment duration and HIFU intensity could become shorter and lower.

Expulsion of Fibroids to the Endometrial Cavity after Magnetic Resonance Imaging-guided High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS) Treatment of Intramural Uterine Fibroids

OBJECTIVES: This report seeks to introduce some cases of the patients who received magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) surgery (MRgFUS)-based intramural uterine fibroids treatment where the post-MRgFUS intramural uterine fibroids decreased in its volume and protruded towards the endometrial cavity to be expelled by hysteroscopy. METHODS: Of the 157 patients who had received MRgFUS treatment in the Obstetrics and Gynecology of the Hospital from March, 2015 to February, 2016; this study examined 6 of the cases where, after high intensity focused ultrasound treatment, intramural uterine fibroids protruded towards the endometrial cavity to be removed by hysteroscopic myomectomy. The high intensity focused ultrasound utilized in the cases were Philips Achieva 1.5 Tesla MR (Philips Healthcare, Best, The Netherlands) and Sonalleve HIFU system. RESULTS: The volume of fibroids ranged from 26.0 cm³ to 199.5 cm³, averaging 95.6 cm³. The major axis length ranged from 4.0 cm to 8.2 cm, averaging 6.3 cm. Fibroid location in all of the patients was in intramural uterine before treatment but after the high intensity focused ultrasound treatment, the fibroids were observed to protrude towards the endometrial cavity in at least Day 5 or up to Day 73 to allow hysteroscopic myomectomy. CONCLUSIONS: In some cases, after an intramural uterine fibroid is treated with MRgFUS, fibroid volume is decreased and the fibroid protrudes towards the endometrial cavity. In this case, hysteroscopic myomectomy can be a useful solution.

The Survey on Korean Menopausal Women's Behavior and Perception of Hormone Therapy / 대한폐경학회지

OBJECTIVES: After Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study had been published, the use of hormone therapy (HT) have been decreasing even though it is the most effective therapy for menopausal symptom. The survey was conducted to investigate Korean menopausal women's perception of HT and behavior when they are treated by HT. METHODS: During 4 weeks from September 2009 to October 2009, total 600 women aged 45~64 participated in the survey by face to face interview. Out of answering women, women who have visited clinic/hospital at least 1 time to treat their menopausal symptom during last 1 year were included. One hundred fifty women for each age group, 45~49, 50~54, 55~59 and 60~64, were recruited in consecutive order. RESULTS: Eighty percent women who have visited clinic/hospital to treat menopausal symptom, visited obstetrics and gynecology. Only 16% of these women were current user, and other 84% of these women had no experience of HT (53%) or stopped therapy (31%). Among current user, only 9% of women have used HT more than 5 years. Eighty percent of current user had used HT less than 2 years. Most distressing menopausal symptom is 'hot flush' regardless HT experience. When doctor recommend HT, 72% of patients accept HT in overall. Among women who had no experience of HT, the most common reason of not to take HT was concern of side effects (51%). And 67% of women who had concern of side effects worried about cancer incidence. CONCLUSION: Many women with menopausal symptom do not take HT even though it is the most effective therapy. Most of women who take HT stop treatment within 1 year. Most common reason of not to take HT is concern about side effect, increasing incidence of cancer related to HT. Therefore, HT should be considered to short-term relief of menopausal symptoms and at the minimal dose, if possible.

Diagnostic Laparoscopy of Patient with Deep Vein Thrombosis before Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer: A Case Report / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a common complication in patients with malignant disease. Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an increased risk of subsequent cancer in the patients who are diagnosed with idiopathic venous thrombosis. Cancers of the breast, lung and ovary in women and adenocarcinomas of an unknown primary cancer are most strongly associated with thrombosis. Mucin-producing cancers are most often associated with VTE and the highest rates of VTE were found for cases of ovarian cancer, but the absolute risk of cancer after thrombosis is relatively low (about 2% over the first year) and so the benefit of screening for cancer in thrombosis patients seems limited. But as this case, the association between thrombosis and occult cancer shows the importance of this association for patients who have thrombosis that is unresponsive to anticoagulant therapy. Especially, we should recognize that such patients can undergo investigation for an underlying malignancy. Diagnostic laparoscopy of an adnexal mass for confirming cancer in the acute setting of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) was performed for our patient. We report here on a case of a patient with DVT in the upper and lower extremities before the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, and we briefly review of the relevant literature.

Fertility-sparing radical abdominal trachelectomy for cervical clear cell adenocarcinoma unrelated to diethylstilbestrol exposure : A case report / 대한산부인과학회지

Clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCAC) is a rare cancer that comprises less than 9% of the cervical adenocarcinoma cases. We experienced a case of fertility-sparing radical abdominal trachelectomy for cervical clear cell adenocarcinoma (CCAC). Thus, reported it. A 27 year old female was diagnosed with clinical stage Ib cervical CCAC. She had no history of maternal exposure to diethylstilbestrol and had negative PAP cytology and HPV tests. She was treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical abdominal trachelectomy. After 2 cycles of postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy, the lesion disappeared completely in an imaging study, and potential fertility was preserved. Radical abdominal trachelectomy with chemotherapy may be a valuable approach for treating stage Ib cervical CCAC in women that wish to preserve potential fertility.

A case of extraosseous ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor of the ovary / 대한산부인과학회지

Ewing's sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumor (ES/PNET) family mainly occurs from skeletal system. ES/PNET from the female reproductive organs such as ovary and uterus has been reported very rarely. Recently, we experienced one case of malignant ovarian neoplasm, which was diagnosed as extraosseous ES/PNET of ovary and received operation and chemotherapy. So, we report this case and include a brief literature review.

A Case of Fetal Cardiac Rhabdomyoma with Tuberous Sclerosis / 대한주산의학회잡지

Fetal cardiac tumors are a rare condition and are histologically benign. Cardiac rabdomyoma is the most common cardiac tumor and may be associated with tuberous sclerosis. Clinical follow-up including monitoring of fetal well-being is warranted as long as the fetus remains asymptomatic and there is no evidence for hydrops fetalis. If obstruction to blood flow and/or early fetal compromise is noted, then the decision of whether to deliver early must be made. We report a case of fetal cardiac tumor diagnosed by antenatal ultrasonography and diagnosed as tuberous sclerosis with brain MRI scanning after birth.

Increased copper content in hair mineral assay of anorexia nervosa patients: 3 cases / 대한산부인과학회지

Anorexia nervosa is a kind of dietary disorder which causes amenorhea, weight loss, behavioral changes, and its hormonal status is typical hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism. The patients with anorexia nervosa showed many hormonal and chemical abonormal findings, like decresed follicular stimulating hormone, decreased lutealizing hormone and estrogen, increased cortisol, hypokalemia, hypercarotenemia. But tissue mineral contents of anorexia nervosa were not reported. We experience the typical increase of tissue copper contents in three anorexia nervosa patients in recent days, so report them with reviews of literatures.