Endometrial cancer: preoperative evaluation of myometrial infiltration magnetic resonance imaging versus transvaginal ultrasonography.

From January 1996 to December 1998, 33 patients with endometrial carcinoma were preoperatively examined in our department; 30 women underwent transvaginal ultrasonography (TVUS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 3 only TVUS. Diagnosis was obtained by histopathological examination of the tissue removed by hysteroscopically controlled biopsy or by curettage of the uterine cavity. TVUS and MRI were performed a few days before surgery. After surgery the uterus was histopathologically examined by a pathologist in order to evaluate the depth of myometrial invasion. The results were compared with TVUS and MRI data to determine sensibility and specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of the two methods. According to the results of the present study we conclude that: TVUS is a low cost, easily performed and reliable method in a high percentage of cases if carried out by a skilled ecographist. MRI, is more expensive and has a lower specificity and sensibility index; it is a valid method if the cervical canal is involved and/or myometrial invasion is > 50% (M2) and if lymphatic invasion has to be investigated.

The evaluation by means of ultrasounds of the bladder residue after gynaecological operations.

An echographic study of the bladder in 42 patients after gynaecological operation has been carried out to evaluate the urinary residue. We prove that we have a better approximation to the real urinary volumes, using the ellipsoid formula that permits the measuring of the longitudinal, front-rear and lateral-lateral diameters of the bladder; then we elaborated tables that gave us directly the quantity of urine in the bladder of the three diameters echographically measured.

[Re-establishment of fertility in post-partum. Connections between the basal body temperature and the cervical mucus]. / Ripristino della fertilita nel periodo puerperale. Comportamento della temperatura basale e del muco cervicale.

PIP: A temporary reduction of ovarian receptivity to gonadotropic stimuli occurs during post-partum; breast feeding is probably one of its most important modifying factors, possibly through endorphin-mediated gonadotropic hormone suppression. Suction of the nipple could stimulate endorphin release. 19 breast-feeding women were instructed to record their basal body temperatures, cervical mucus characteristics, type of breast feeding and weaning. The results clearly show that the longer the breast feeding, the longer the return of fertility is postponed. Specifically, no fertility was observed before the start of weaning, and in only 6 women was fertility observed during mixed breast and formula feeding. Finally, the majority of the women taking part in the study were able to predict the return of fertility based on changes in the cervical mucus, which demonstrates the utility of this family planning method, also in the post-partum period.^ieng