Vulval liposarcoma.

A 60-year-old woman complained about an indolent and slowly growing tumor of the vulva. Clinical examination showed a sharply circumscribed lump in the posterior part of the left labium majus, suggestive of a cyst of Bartholin's gland. At operation a solid, macroscopically encapsulated tumor was found, which was a mostly well-differentiated liposarcoma on histological examination. Ten months after operation, the patient was well and had no signs of local or distant recurrence. The clinical and pathological features of this extremely rare case are presented and discussed.

IUD-associated ovarian actinomycosis causing bowel obstruction.

PIP: This case report presents an unusual case of primary IUD-associated ovarian actinomycosis, which spread to the sigmoid causing intestinal obstruction. A 43-year-old gravida 3, para 2, had her 1st IUD from 1978-80 (Gyne-T) and her 2nd IUD from 1980 to October 1983 (Multiload). Right lower abdominal pain led to hospitalization in May 1983. A tender nodular mass was palpated in the left pelvic area. Laboratory results confirmed the presence of inflammation. Rapid improvement followed a course of laxatives and cephalosporin antibiotics, and the patient was discharged with the diagnosis of acute sigmoid diverticulitis. 2 months later, a double contrast examination of the large intestine was done and showed severe narrowing of the sigmoid colon over a distance of 12 cm and occasional sharp recesses. Colonoscopy showed a spastic stricture of the sigmoid with massive edema of the otherwise intact mucosa at 18 cm. Computer tomography of the abdomen showed a large, focally cystic infiltrative mass in the pelvis with congestion and displacement of both ureters as well as bilateral hydronephrosis, predominantly on the right side. The descending colon was congested. The patient was readmitted to hospital with the tentative diagnosis of ovarian cancer when her general condition deteriorated. She complained again of abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant and alternating diarrhea and constipation. Pyrexia and the hematological findings suggested sepsis. The pelvis contained a predominantly leftsided nodular mass and a brown fetid discharge was coming through the cervix. The IUD was removed and treatment with ampicillin and clindamycin was started with rapid improvement in the patient's condition. Obstruction with extreme distention of the colon required emergency laparotomy. An inflammatory mass was found in the pelvis consisting of a right-sided ovarian tumor, bilateral hydrosalpinges, and a tightly encased sigmoid colon. The dilated caecum had a large necrotic area in its wall which necessitated caecostomy and double-current sigmoidostomy after subtotal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. The patient made a good recovery. As recently as the 1950s, primary pelvic actinomycosis was a rarity. In the last 4 years alone, 20% of all reported cases of actinomycosis involved the female genital tract. The percentage of cases found among IUD users has been continuously increasing and in the last 2 years all published cases were IUD users. The presence of actinomyces in vaginal smears always is indicative of the presence of a foreign body, most commonly and IUD.^ieng