Comparison of the histopathological results of the endometrial thickness detected by transvaginal ultrasound of symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to assess the reliability of transvaginal ultrasound (TVUSG) in endometrial pathologies by comparing the ultrasonographic and histopathologic findings in symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopausal women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study the data of 129 postmenopausal women that underwent dilatation and curettage was reviewed by dividing them two groups as symptomatic and asymptomatic. Symptomatic group was divided into subgroups according to the value of endometrial thickness obtained by TVUSG. RESULTS: Among all subjects the cancer rate was found statistically 3.043 times higher in patients with the endometrial thickness of 15 mm and greater and atrophic endometrium rate was 75% in patients with the endometrial thickness of less than five mm. Endometrial thickness was found significantly higher in cancer patients than the others (p < 0.05). Among the patients with endometrial thickness of 15 mm and greater, the cancer rate was found higher in symptomatic group than in the asymptomatic group. The cancer rate was found statistically higher in patients with bleeding compared to asymptomatic ones with the endometrial thickness between 5-14.99 mm (p < 0.05). Cancer was not detected in any of the symptomatic patients with the endometrial thickness of less than five mm. CONCLUSION: Postmenopausal patients with the symptom of bleeding should undergo detailed gynecological and ultrasonographic examination. The authors believe that this study may be a strong support to the success of TVUSG as a screening method in both symptomatic and asymptomatic postmenopausal women. Furthermore if the patient is symptomatic with a thick endometrium, to exclude the malignancy, endometrial biopsy must be performed.

Antioxidant effect of pomegranate extract in reducing acute inflammation due to myringotomy.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of pomegranate extract on acute inflammation due to myringotomy. DESIGN: Prospective, randomised study. SUBJECTS: Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups. Group one constituted controls. Group two underwent myringotomy. Group three underwent myringotomy and also received 100 µl/day pomegranate extract, via gavage, one day before and two days after surgery. Following sacrifice 48 hours after myringotomy, the animals' right ears were used to determine the concentration of reactive oxygen species, using the chemiluminescence method; left ears were used for histological study. RESULTS: Reactive oxygen species levels were significantly decreased in group three compared with group two (p < 0.01). The density of inflammatory cells in group three was significantly less than that in group two (p < 0.01). Lamina propria thickness and vessel density were also significantly decreased in group three compared with group two (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that oral pomegranate extract decreases reactive oxygen species concentration and acute inflammation in the tympanic membrane after myringotomy.

A giant villous adenoma: case mimicking rectosigmoid malignancy; radiological survey to diagnosis.

Villous adenomas are benign lesions, which are difficult to interpret because of their malignancy potential. They have similar radiological findings to malignant lesions. Usually, villous adenomas are asymptomatic although they may cause rectal bleeding like malignant tumours. We present a case of giant villous adenoma to evaluate the contribution of its radiological features including double contrast barium enema, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examinations for the differential diagnosis.

Mesenteric Meckel's diverticulum: a case report.

Meckel's diverticulum, an omphalomesenteric remnant caused by the failure of the vitelline duct to involute by the seventh or eight week of gestation, was first described in 1809 by Johann Friederick Meckel. It is the most common congenital abnormality of the small intestine. It is usually located in the last 90 cm of the terminal ileum and is formed by all layers of the small intestine. It frequently contains heterotopic tissue, usually gastric mucosa. Here we report a 15-year-old white female who presented to the emergency ward with abdominal pain. Laparatomy was performed with the diagnosis of acute abdomen. A Meckel's diverticulum was found in the mesenteric aspect of the ileum. Histologic examination of the specimen revealed the presence of pancreatic tissue and oxyntic and antral type gastric mucosa showing chronic peptic ulceration apart from intestinal mucosa. This case report underlines the need for a revision in our understanding and classification of Meckel's diverticulum.