[Use of transvaginal ultrasonography in the early diagnosis of endometrial neoplasia]. / Utilizzo della tecnica ultrasonica transvaginale nella diagnosi precoce della neoplasia endometriale.

The paper examined the efficacy of transvaginal sonography in measuring the endometrium in menopausal women. The study included 50 women, both asymptomatic and with metrorrhagia, all of whom had been in menopause for at least 1 year and were under 75 years old. In symptomatic patients sonographic findings were compared with histological tests. Histological correlation was only performed in asymptomatic patients with endometrial findings of over 8 mm or in those undergoing surgery for other pathologies. Sonography revealed a good level of correlation with histological findings. Endometrial lines measuring less than 8 mm had no pathological significance. On the contrary, in those cases over 8 mm it was important to evaluate the overall morphological significance of sonographic findings and for this purpose histological diagnosis was necessary. Ten hyperplastic forms and 2 endometrial adenocarcinoma were diagnosed in this group. In terms of the sonographic image the hyperplastic forms appeared as a thick, highly reflective and well defined endometrial layer; on the contrary, carcinoma appeared as an irregular, highly reflective area with the loss of the hypoechogenic peripheral halo. The authors conclude that this easily performed and minimally invasive method is of value as as screening method for endometrial carcinoma and should be recommended for women receiving replacement therapy.

[Tumor marker ca. 125 in acute pelvic inflammations]. / Marker tumorale ca. 125 e le infiammazioni pelviche acute.

The paper reports a case of acute pelvic inflammatory disease (PID): the symptoms, diagnostic treatment and therapy, which was carried out according to standard protocols, the operation and the postoperative period were all fully correlated with serum concentrations of the marker ca. 125. Above all, a close interdependence was observed between the clinical regression of disease and the parallel reduction of marker serum levels. The graphic curve of ca. 125 was compared during the postoperative period to the curves expressed by the levels of GB and VES values. The method of monitoring highlighted the parallelism of the three curves with a particular affinity between the ca. 125 and GB curves.

[Clinical patterns of fibrocystic mastopathy in relation to parity and age]. / Comportamento clinico della mastopatia fibrocistica in relazione alla parità ed età.

Two thousand five hundred and twenty cases of fibrocystic mastopathy (FCM) were chosen from a vast population of patients examined during the period from 1980 to 1989. The main clinical symptoms of FCM were assessed in relation to their evolution according to age and parity. Correlations were observed between the clinical symptoms examined and the age range of patients. Parity was also significantly correlated to clinical symptoms of FCM.

[Description of bilateral hydrocele of the canal of Nück. Clinical case]. / Descrizione di idrocele bilaterale del canale di Nück. Osservazioni cliniche.

A case of Nück's hydrocele is described. Hydrocele is not a rare condition but is often incorrectly diagnosed as a cyst or abscess of Bartolino's gland. It is vital to ascertain the presence of an external oblique inguinal hernia which has the same pathogenesis. This association occurs in 30-40% of hydrocele cases.

[Voluntary interruption of pregnancy in an area hospital on the outskirts of Turin]. / L'interruzione volontaria di gravidanza in un ospedale zonale del circondario di Torino.

Data pertaining to a series of 457 cases of voluntary termination of pregnancy at the Rivoli Infirmary Obstetrics and Gynaecology Division are presented. The patients were divided into three groups by weeks of amenorrhoea. The parameters investigated were: age, parity, previous spontaneous and artificial abortions, and complications observed 60 days after the operation. Percentage data were evaluated in terms of age, marital status, number of children, socioeconomic group, and reasons for termination. Lastly, percentages of dissent and consent on the part of the male partner were also worked out.

PIP: Data pertaining to a series of 457 cases of voluntary termination of pregnancy at the Rivoli Infirmary Obstetrics and Gynaecology Division are presented. The patients were divided into 3 groups by weeks of amenorrhoea. The parameters investigated were: age, parity, previous spontaneous and artificial abortions, and complications observed 60 days after the operation. Percentage data were evaluated in terms of age, marital status, number of children, socioeconomic group, and reasons for termination. Lastly, percentages of dissent and consent on the part of the male partner were also worked out. (Author's modified)

[Special obstetrico-gynecologic hospital structure and local service units. Considerations on the availability and need for ULS 35 and 36]. / Struttura specialistica ospedaliera ostetrico-ginecologica e unità locale dei servizi. Considerazioni sulle disponibilità e necessità delle U.L.S. 35 e 36.

The underlying principles of the national health reform measures and those approved by the Piedmont Region's programmes with regard to social and health reorganisation are recalled. Reference is made to anomalies with respect to local health services No. 35 and No. 36 in the case of obstetrics and gynaecology, there being three maternity departments for 97,251 inhabitants in the area concerned. The main aspects of the division are examined. It is shown that implementation will only be possible if there is a usership capable of feeding every branch of the structure set up. It is suggested that the specialist activities of obstetrics and gynaecology be concentrated at Susa and Avigliana, though oven this division will not ensure a proper flow of users. The position could be improved by better employment of the basic structures, i.e. the consulting surgeries and SAUB out-patient departments.

[Lysosomal enzymes in the neoplastic pathology of the uterine cervix. Study of acid phosphatase in the diagnostic test of vaginal secretions in patients with pre-invasive and invasive cancer of the uterine cervix. I. Methods and preliminary experiences]. / Gli enzimi lisosomiali nella patologia neoplastica del collo dell'utero Studio della fosfatasi acida quale test diagnostico nei secreti vaginali di pazienti portatrici di ca. preinvasivi e invasivi del collo dell'utero. Nota I - Metodiche ed esperienze preliminari

Gomori's method was used in the detection of positive -- or negative -- phosphatase granulations and their intracellular locations in vaginal secretions from 10 normal women and 20 patients with cervical neoplasia in various stages. Positive-phosphatase granulations were absent in normal subjecta and those with advanced neoplasia, whereas mainly large and medium-sized paranuclear positive granulations were a prominent feature of epithelial cells from patients from state 0-ToNoMo carcinomas. Further details will be given in a second note.

[Acid phosphatase activity in breast dysplasias and in carcinomas of the breast]. / L'attività della fosfatasi acida nelle displasie mammarie e nei carcinomi della mammella

The histochemical reactions of acid phosphatase were studied in tissues deriving from normal breasts, from mammary dysplasia, and from breast carcinoma. Acid phosphatase was demonstrated in all cases with more intense activity in breast carcinoma where activity was particularly accentuated in the stroma. In benign tumours and fibroadenosis, phosphatase was prevalently localized in the periductal cells and within the ducts. Exceptions were the cases of fibroadenosis with acute or chronic collateral inflammation where phosphatase granules were located in the stroma also, even though they were always quantitatively inferior to the corresponding localization of cases of breast carcinomas.