Cavernous Hemangioma of the Uterus in a Postmenopausal Woman: A Case Report

Cavernous hemangioma of the uterus is an uncommon mesenchymal tumor. Most cases have been reported in young, pregnant women and the condition is very rare in a postmenopausal patient. An 81-year-old woman presented with a huge pelvic mass. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging results suggested a leiomyoma with degenerative change and hemorrhage. Microscopically, large, thick-walled and variable-sized vascular channels were evident in the majority part of myometrium; the lining cells were immunohistochemically reactive for CD31. Vascular tumors of the female genital tract should be cautiously excised due to the profuse intra-operative bleeding. The pathological examination of a hysterectomy specimen is the only method to confirm the diagnosis of this tumor.

Intractable Postpartum Bleeding: A Comparison of the Retrospective Analysis of Angiographic Findings and Transcatheter Arterial Embolization According to Delivery Pattern

PURPOSE: We evaluated the technical aspect and efficacy of transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) in cases of intractable postpartum bleeding by comparing the angiographic findings women patients according to their delivery pattern. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between July of 2003 and March of 2008, 55 female patients were enrolled in this study. Of the 55 patients, 36 underwent a vaginal delivery (group 1), whereas 19 underwent a cesarean section delivery (group 2). We retrospectively evaluated the angiographic findings and the embolization technique between groups, using a Pearson Chi-Square test. Medical records and telephone interview findings were also reviewed to evaluate the efficacy of TAE and the outcome of fertility. RESULTS: Significantly greater positive angiographic findings were found in group 2 (63.2%) relative to group 1 (30.6%). For positive angiographic findings, except for AVM, the embolization was performed using coil or glue with gelfoam. For the negative angiographic findings or AVM, the gelfoam was the only embolic agent used. In all patients except for one, bleeding stopped after embolization. Major complications occurred in 2 patients only, and included uterine synechia and perforation. All patients except for one recovered after menstruation. In total, four patients became pregnant and one patient delivered a healthy infant. CONCLUSION: Positive angiographic findings requiring embolization with coil or glue, as well as gelfoam, were more commonly encountered in group 2 than in group 1. Based on the outcome of the study group, TAE is a safe and effective treatment for intractable postpartum bleeding and is also useful for preserving fertility.

Induction of apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells by isoliquritizenin / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: Isoliquritizenin (ISL) is a chalcone flavonoid, present in licorice, shallot and bean sprouts, has cancer preventing properties and often used in chinese medicine. In this study, ISL to determine its effect on cell proliferation and cell cycle progression in human cervical cancer cells were evaluated. METHODS: Cell viability assay was carried out to determine the viability of human cervical cancer cells. We tested the several experimental methods for verification and functional identification, including MTT assay, FACS analysis, DNA fragmentation assay, and Western blot analysis for ISL treated human cervical cancer cells (HeLa). RESULTS: ISL, induced growth inhibition in a dose dependent manner, treatment with 50 microM/L ISL blocked 50% cell growth. FACS results showed that there was no change in the S phase, but on the other hand ISL increased the percentage of cells in G1 phase. DNA fragmentation assay by ELISA was done to find the rate of apoptosis. Apoptosis took place but in a reduced manner. From Western blot analysis, it revealed ISL induced the expression of p21(Cip1/Waf1) and p27(kip1) but not mediated by p53. Caspase pathway was revealed and cleavage of PARP took place. CONCLUSION: ISL, a chalcone flavonoid, inhibited cell proliferation and induced cell cycle arrest at sub G1 by enhancing the production of p21(Cip1/Waf1) and p27(kip1). These results indicate that ISL will be a promising agent for use in chemopreventive or therapeutic against human cervical cancer cells.

A case of spontaneous hepatic rupture in a patient with primary hepatocellular carcinoma during the puerperium / 대한산부인과학회지

Hepatocellular carcinoma associated with pregnancy is rarely encountered, since hepatocellular carcinoma is usually developed after childbearing ages and severe menstrual irregularity and infertility with disturbance of estrogen metabolism is often accompanied with cirrhosis that is a most common underlying disease of primary hepatocellular carcinoma. Spontaneous hepatic rupture in pregnancy is a rare condition associated with significant maternal and perinatal mortality and could be developed related with severe preeclampsia and especially HELLP syndrome but possible related with hepatocellular carcinoma. We report a case of spontaneous hepatic rupture during the puerperium in a patient with hepatocellular carcinoma with a brief review of literatures.