proportions of the white and red pulps of the human fetal spleen

To compare the proportions of white and red pulps of the human spleen during the fetal period. We performed this study in the Department of Anatomy and Pathology of Suleyman Demirel University, Faculty of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey, from the period between 2002-2003. Spleens from 137 dead fetuses aged between 9 and 40 weeks were embedded into paraffin blocks following classical histological steps and stained with hematoxylin and eosin. White and red pulps could be differentiated only in 25 cases [13 males, 12 females]. The proportions of the areas of white and red pulps [the trabeculae were included into the red pulp and the groups of lymphocytes were included into the white pulp] were estimated by point counting method on the sections taken from different parts of the spleens by systematic randomized sampling technique. It has been ascertained that the white pulp has been distinguished from 20th week onwards during the fetal period. The proportion of the white pulp area has been found to be 22.3% [of total white and red pulp areas] at the 20th week and has come to 37.6% at the 40th week. Concerning the trimesters, the proportion of the white pulp area has been found to be 30% [of total white and red pulp areas] at the 2nd trimester and has come to 36% at full term. While the white pulp area had a positive correlation with the gestational age [r: 0.34], the red pulp area had a negative one [r: -0.34]. No difference has been found among gender. Reference values have been obtained about the proportions of white and red pulp areas of human fetal spleen

Development of the liver during the fetal period

To investigate the development of the liver in human fetuses aged between 9-40 weeks. We studied 121 human fetuses [62 males, 59 females] with no external anomalies aged between 9-40 postmenstrual weeks during 2003-2004 in Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey. The fetuses were divided into four groups as 1st, 2nd and 3rd trimesters and full term fetuses. We measured fetal weight, length, width, thickness, and volume of the liver. We established localization of the liver and its relation with the neighboring structures, its ligaments, and size of itself and its lobes, shapes of the liver and the localization of the porta hepatis on the visceral surface of the liver. We found significant correlations between the size, weight, volume of the liver, sizes of its lobe and gestational age [p<0.001]. Group comparisons disclosed significant differences between groups in all parameters except between 3rd and 4th groups with respect to the heights of the liver and the caudate lobe [p<0.05]. During the fetal period, the proportion of the distance between the porta hepatis and the right margin of the liver to the distance between the porta hepatis and the left margin of the liver did not change significantly [p>0.05]. However, the proportion of the distance between the porta hepatis and the upper margin to the distance between the porta hepatis and the lower margin decreased significantly with gestational age [p<0.05]. Type 3 liver [square] was the most commonly observed type of fetal liver [53%]. Our opinion is that the parameters obtained can be useful to diagnose pathologies of liver development and anomalies concerning several branches of medicine such as anatomy, pathologic anatomy [fetopathology], forensic medicine, medical imaging, obstetrics and pediatrics

Osseous metaplasia in borderline papillary serous cystadenofibroma of the ovary: a case report

We report a case of osseous metaplasia in borderline serous papillary cystadenofibroma of the ovary. Serous tumors of the ovary are common cystic neoplasms. In some serous neoplasms, the fibroblastic stromal component is unduly prominent, appearing grossly as solid, white nodular foci in a cystic neoplasm. These serous neoplasms is classified as cystadenofibroma and can be separated into benign, borderline and malignant types. The borderline category of this neoplasm extremely rare. The occurrence of osseous metaplasia within an ovarian papillary serous cystadenofibroma is very rare. So far only two cases of osseous metaplasia associated with a serous cystadenocarcinoma of the ovary1 have been reported. The present report is, therefore, a first case of osseous metaplasia in an ovarian borderline serous papillary cystadenofibroma