Relevance of frozen sections and serum markers in invasive squamous cell carcinoma arising from ovarian mature cystic teratoma: two case reports.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian mature cystic teratoma (MCT) is a common neoplasm in women. While malignant transformation of MCT is relatively rare, squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent malignant neoplasm arising from MCT. Some tumor markers have been reported to be useful for prediction of MCT malignant transformation prior to operation. However, widely accepted use of these markers remains to be established. In the present study, we report the usefulness of frozen section assessment during operation, as well as preoperative measurement of tumor marker levels. CASE PRESENTATION: We present two cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising from ovarian MCT. The first case was a 45-year-old Asian woman referred to our hospital after her periodical company medical checkup, due to possible ovarian tumor. Image analysis suggested a dermoid cyst, and left salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Because the cyst was histologically diagnosed as an invasive squamous cell carcinoma arising from an MCT, our patient underwent an additional preventative operation. The TNM classification and FIGO stage were T1aNXM0 and Ia, respectively. The second case was a 53 -year-old Asian woman who visited our hospital due to complaints of abdominal pain and urinary retention. Image analysis and laboratory data showing high serum levels of SCC antigen (normal range: < 1.5 ng/mL) and CA19-9 (normal range: < 37 U/mL), which strongly suggested malignant transformation of MCT. Frozen sections obtained during the operation were histologically analyzed to confirm malignancy, and our patient underwent an additional operation. The TNM classification and FIGO stage were T1aNXM0 and Ia, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: We report the usefulness of frozen section assessment during operation, as well as preoperative measurement of tumor marker levels.

Ovarian mucinous cystic tumor of borderline malignancy with a mural nodule of anaplastic spindle cell carcinoma: a case report.

Ovarian cystic tumors with a mural nodule are a rare entity. We report a case of a mural nodule of anaplastic spindle cell carcinoma in an ovarian mucinous cystic tumor of borderline malignancy. The patient was a 45-years-old Japanese woman who presented with an ovarian cyst. She suffered from mature cystic teratoma of both ovaries 9 years before the present history. Image analysis and laboratory data showing a high serum CA19-9 level suggested ovarian malignancy. She underwent bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with hysterectomy and omentectomy. There was a mural nodule in the ovarian mucinous cystic lesion. Microscopically, the nodule was composed of spindle-shaped cells with severe nuclear atypia. Immunohistochemical analysis allowed the cells to be categorized as anaplastic spindle cell carcinoma. Fifteen months after the operation the patient is alive without any clinical findings of tumor recurrence. To the best of our knowledge in the English literature, this is the first report of a mural nodule of an anaplastic spindle cell carcinoma within an ovarian mucinous cystic borderline tumor harboring previously confirmed cystic teratoma.

Effect of the interval between onset of sustained fetal bradycardia and cesarean delivery on long-term neonatal neurologic prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of the interval between onset of sustained fetal bradycardia and cesarean delivery on long-term neonatal neurologic prognosis. METHOD: A retrospective observational case-series performed with patients who had sudden-onset and sustained (<100 beats per minute) fetal bradycardia during labor. Fetal heart rate was monitored closely until cesarean delivery. The effect of the interval between the onset of bradycardia and delivery on neonatal neurologic prognosis was examined. RESULTS: Among 2267 deliveries in 2002-2003 at Kitasato University Hospital, 19 pregnancies met the inclusion criteria. Episodes of fetal bradycardia were due to umbilical cord prolapse (n=5), placental abruption (n=4), uterine rupture (n=3), maternal respiratory failure (n=1), and other causes (n=6). Mean onset of fetal bradycardia to delivery interval (BDI) was 20.5±8.9 minutes. Mean decision-to-cesarean delivery interval was 11.4±3.9 minutes. BDI was negatively correlated with umbilical arterial pH at delivery. There were 3 postnatal deaths. Neurologic assessment at the age of 2 years revealed that 15 of 16 children were neurologically normal. When the BDI was less than 25 minutes, all term pregnancies led to normal neonatal neurologic development. CONCLUSION: In the event of sustained intrapartum fetal bradycardia, delivery by emergency cesarean within 25 minutes improved long-term neonatal neurologic outcome.