Interobserver reproducibility in determining p16 overexpression in cervical lesions : use of a combined scoring method.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate interobserver reproducibility of a combined scoring method for immunohistochemical interpretation of p16 overexpression in cervical lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: p16 immunostaining was performed in cervical samples from 183 patients, including 69 normal, 42 low grade squamous intraepithelial lesions(LSIL), 36 high grade SIL (HSIL), and 36 squamous cell carcinomas(SCCAs). Each case was evaluated by a combined scoring method based on the percentage of positive cells (score 0-3), the intensity of staining (score 0-3), and the distribution pattern (score 0-2). Immunoexpression for p16 was considered as positive when the combined score was 4-8 and negative with a score of 0-3. Ten pathologists with varied experience in interpretating p16 immunostains evaluated each slide independently. RESULTS: All normal cervical squamous epithelia (69/69) were uniformly negative for p16. All HSILs (36/36), all SCCAs (100/100), and all but one of the LSILs (40/41, 97.6%) showed positive expression. In 172 of 183 cases (93.9%), p16 interpretation was concordant with all pathologists. Eleven cases with discordant results included 10 LSILs and 1 normal mucosa sample. Percentage of agreement of each pathologist pair ranged from 96.7-100% (mean 98.1%) with mean kappa value of 0.96 (range 0.93-1.000). CONCLUSION: The proposed combined scoring method shows good reproducibility among the participating pathologists and good correlation with the histologic diagnosis. This method may be a useful guide in the interpretation of p16 expression in cervical epithelial lesions.

Preoperative and postoperative agreement of histopathological findings in cases of endometrial hyperplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine agreement of preoperative and postoperative histopathology of endometrial hyperplasia (EH). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Histopathology of specimens obtained by curettage and hysterectomy within 1 year was retrospectively compared by a skilled gynecological pathologist. Patients who received hormone therapy were excluded. RESULTS: Of 79 women with a preoperative diagnosis of EH, only 32 were diagnosed as EH from hysterectomy specimens. There was no endometrial cancer. The agreement between preoperative and postoperative histology did not achieve statistical significance (Kappa 0.011). Postoperative histopathology was more severe than preoperative diagnosis in 5 (6.3%) patients, including 3 preoperative diagnoses of simple hyperplasia without atypia, 1 simple hyperplasia with atypia, and 1 complex hyperplasia without atypia. CONCLUSIONS: For EH diagnosed by curettage, we can be sure of the diagnosis. However, 6.3% had more severe histology from hysterectomy specimens. Thus, repeated curettage or other investigations should be reconsidered in women with recurrent bleeding.

Primary non-gestational uterine cervical choriocarcinoma with metaplastic transformation from squamous cells.

BACKGROUND: Primary non-gestational uterine cervical choriocarcinoma is very unusual and although it has been hypothesized that it can arise by metaplastic transformation of cervical epithelium, solid evidence has been lacking. CASE: Primary non-gestational uterine cervical choriocarcinoma was diagnosed in a 47-year-old, woman undergoing tubal resection 17 years previously. A histologically- and immunohistochemically-confirmed, non-gestational cervical choriocarcinoma could be diagnosed in which there was metaplastic transformation from squamous cells . The patient underwent 5 courses of an actinomycin-D chemotherapeutic regimen and radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. CONCLUSION: Primary non-gestational uterine cervical choriocarcinoma may indeed arise from metaplastic transformation of epithelial tissue.

Autopsy findings of fetal death.

OBJECTIVE: To study the autopsy findings associated with fetal death in the division of reproductive pathology. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Descriptive study of 35 fetal deaths with placentas after postmortem examinations in the division of reproductive pathology between January 2005 and December 2005. The fetal deaths and placentas were examined by a perinatal pathologist in the surgical pathology room, Department of Pathology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. The demographic data of the mothers, the gestational age from obstetric information, diagnosis before abortus or delivery. The postmortem examinations including abnormal macroscopic or microscopic findings were analyzed. RESULTS: The associated pathologies of fetal death could be identified 87.5% for groups of fetal weight less than 500 grams and in 77.8% for groups of fetal weight 500 grams or more. The most common associated pathology of fetal death in both groups was congenital anomaly, was 50% and 25.9% respectively. Macerated fetuses were found in 48.2% of all cases. Causes of macerated groups were identified in 66.7% of cases. Hydropic fetuses were 14.3% (5 cases) of all fetal deaths in which the cause of death was identified before delivery in two cases and was identified in postmortem examination in one case. Thus, the identified causes of fetal death in hydrops fetalis were 60%. CONCLUSION: Most common associated pathology of fetal deaths is congenital anomaly.

Prenatal prevention for severe thalassemia disease at Srinagarind Hospital.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results and cost-effectiveness of prenatal prevention measurement in severe thalassemia diseases at Srinagarind Hospital. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive study. SETTING: Antenatal care (ANC) Clinic, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. SUBJECTS: 1,498 thalassemic screened pregnant women first presenting at ANC Clinic at gestational age less than 17 weeks. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Medical records of thalassemic screened pregnant women between February 2002 and February 2005 were analyzed. Those with a value of mean corpuscular volume (MCV) less than 80 fl, or positive dichlorophenol indophenol precipitation test (KKU-DCIP Clear Reagent Kit) underwent hemoglobin (Hb) typing by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) together with thalassemia investigation (complete blood count, MCV and Hb typing) of their husbands and to identify couples at risk of 3 severe thalassemia diseases; Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis, homozygous, -thalassemia and, -thalassemia/ Hb E disease. Then they were advised to undergo DNA analysis and, if they had fetal risk, appropriate prenatal diagnosis was offered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Number of affected fetuses detected by prenatal diagnosis. RESULTS: Nine hundred and ninety six pregnant women (66.49%) were positive on screening. Of these, 642 (64.46%) had thalassemia investigation done with their spouses. There were 19 couples at risk (1.27% of total screened pregnant women) for having fetal severe thalassemia disease from initial laboratory results. Most of them were, -thalassemia/ Hb E diseases. We found only 10 pregnant women (52.63%) that had undergone prenatal diagnosis. The consequent results were two affected fetuses (20%), one was Hb Bart's hydrops fetalis, and the other was, o-thalassemia/ Hb E disease. In these cases, their parents decided to discontinue the pregnancy. Our prevention program could save 1.14 million bahts for the cost of treatment in two prevented severe thalassemia cases. CONCLUSION: The prenatal prevention program of severe thalassemia disease at Srinagarind Hospital can effectively detect affected fetuses and reduce severe thalassemia disease, which is a major health problem in Thailand.

Knowledge-attitude-practice of sexual intercourse of post-menopausal women using hormone replacement therapy.

OBJECTIVE: To study knowledge, attitude, practice and concern related to sexual intercourse of post-menopausal women using hormone replacement therapy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred and thirty subjects were included in the study from the 1st of May 2000 to the 31st of August 2000 at the Menopause Clinic, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen. All subjects were interviewed by a researcher with structured questionnaires. RESULTS: Sixty seven per cent of the subjects had an acceptable level of knowledge, whereas, 87.7 per cent thought that they could have sexual intercourse similar to what they had in their pre-menopausal period. It was found that 85.4 per cent and 88.5 per cent of the subjects had either less or absent sexual desire and less sexual activity, respectively. In terms of their concern, 73.9 per cent of the subjects were not worried about sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: The majority of the post-menopausal women using hormone replacement therapy had a good level of knowledge and attitude concerning sexual intercourse. Although most of them had decreased sexual desire and activity, this sexual activity did not cause them concern.