[Ultrasonics in the diagnosis and staging of endometrial carcinoma]. / Contributo dell'ecotomografia alla diagnosi ed allo staging del carcinoma endometriale.

In the study of endometrial pathology actually ultrasounds have a few utility in precocious diagnosis, but can be useful during the staging phase (echo-histopathologic correlations, tumor biometry, myometrial invasion). Present study is relative to 134 patients affected by endometrial carcinoma (histologically proved) and preliminarily submitted to echotomography. The "false negative" results of ultrasounds were 16/134. Echographic observations, classified according to Niwa e coll. and Obata, were put in comparison with anatomo-histopathology. The evaluations of tumor dimensions and myometrial invasion were correct respectively in 59.2% of cases and in 64.1% of cases. During the staging phase of endometrial neoplasia echotomography can allow a better pre-surgical definition, mainly with a more detailed informations about tumor biometry (T) and myometrial invasion (M).

[Ultrasonics in the follow-up of cases of non-surgically treated endometrial carcinoma]. / L'ecotomografia nel follow-up dei casi di carcinoma endometriale non trattati chirurgicamente.

Authors present an experimental study to evaluate the possibilities of ultrasounds in the follow-up of endometrial carcinoma inoperable cases. 18 women affected by endometrial adenocarcinoma (I or II stage F.I.G.O.) not submitted to surgery (due to increased surgical risk or refusal of operation) and treated by radio-hormonotherapy were considered. In these inoperable cases, echotomographic follow-up (in association to the usual oncologic specific follow-up) permitted to evaluate uterine modifications directly "in vivo": both for tumor dimensions and for myometrial invasion. Without reference to the effectiveness of radio-hormonal therapy, from our experience the utility of ultrasounds in the selection of "non-responders" cases is evidenced ("non-responders" cases were then treated by chemotherapy).

[Post-menopausal metrorrhagia: endometrial ultrasonic aspects]. / Metrorragie post-menopausali: aspetti ecotomografici endometriali.

Main causes of uterine post-menopausal bleeding are estrogenic substitutive therapy, ipo/atrophy, hyperplasia, carcinoma of endometrium and sarcoma. To evaluate the real usefulness of echotomography in these conditions, 128 patients in post-menopause (end of menstrual cycles from over an year) with at least one uterine bleeding were considered. The patients were submitted to pelvic ultrasonography in order to study uterine and ovarian morphology and, in particular, to examine endometrial echopattern. Endometrial reliefs were classified into 4 groups of echopattern and put in comparison with histopathology. From this comparison a well defined role of echotomography in the study of post-menopausal bleeding is evidenced: in cases of "abnormal echopattern" the probability of endometrial pathology is elevated (83.3%), with a good "sensibility" but without a so good "specificity" of ultrasounds: therefore its "subsidiary" but "necessary" role in the diagnosis of climateric uterine bleeding is emphasized.

[Treatment with danazol of breast adenosis. A comparative note]. / Trattamento con danazolo della adenosi mammaria. Note comparative.

The term "mammary adenosis" describes chronic congestion of the mammary gland, whose principle symptom is painfulness. The Authors report the results obtained during therapy, which utilised three different pharmacological treatments: danazol, progestogen vitamin compounds. Evaluations made were both subjective (pain) and objective (clinical details), classified in those levels: recovery, improvement, persistence of symptoms. Results were evaluated after 3 and months of treatment, and then at four months after suspension of treatment; these were then compared. The best results were obtained with danazol, although there was a greater number of side effects.

[Use of low-dose danazol in adenosis of the breast]. / Utilizzazione del danazolo a basso dosaggio nella adenosi mammaria.

Mammary adenosis is a very common affliction which, it has been calculated, affects between 7 and 15% of women of child-bearing age. The Authors report the results obtained during treatment of this condition with danazol in those different dosages (50, 100 and 200 mg per day). Results were evaluated at 3 and 6 months during therapy, and then 4 months after suspension of the treatment. Effects were evaluated in terms of changes in the symptomatic pain and in the actual clinical record. Side effects were also examined in terms of age and obstetric history. The therapy produced good results with all those dosages used. The lowest dosage gave the most favourable long-term effects, also in terms of the scarsity of side-effects.

[Cefotetan in preoperative prophylaxis in gynecologic surgery]. / Il cefotetan nella profilassi preoperatoria in chirurgia ginecologica.

The Authors report on the effectiveness of a 2nd generation "cephalosporin" (Cefotetan) used in preventive antibiotic treatment connected with gynaecological surgery. Two hundred hospital patients were involved in the experiment and were divided into 4 groups: 1) the first and second groups were given a "short-term" preventive antibiotic treatment (a single dose before the operation); 2) the third and fourth groups were given antibiotics continuously in the post-operative period. In those patients in groups I and III (who had operations for abdominal laparotomies) the incidence of fewerishness was 12% in those patients treated with the "short-term" therapy, and 10% in those receiving post-operative treatment. Sepsis on the suture developed in none of these cases. Urinary infection occurred in 6% of these patients in group I as compared with 2% in group III. During post-operative treatment of patients in group II and IV (who had had minor gynaecological operation) the incidence of inflammation with slight temperature was very much lower only 4% of the cases treated with "short-term" preventive antibiotics and only 2% in those patients receiving continuous preventive treatment. In no case was these sepsis of the suture. Urinary infection occurred in 4% of patients on "short-term" therapy (group II) but in none of the patients in group IV. Side effects were in all cases only slight and of brief duration, especially in group I and II who received the single pre-operative dose of the antibiotic.

[Cervical mucus in the evaluation of ovarian activity]. / Il muco cervicale nella valutazione dell'attivitá ovarica.

PIP: Cervical mucus, its biological characteristics and significance, is described as well as the cervical functional tests for the study of ovarian activity. The fern test, spinnbarkeit, and the crystallization of cervical mucus, and the significance of different findings are discussed, as well as the reliability of the tests and the factors that may interfere with them. The fern test is regarded as a sensitive, rapid, and sufficiently reliable test to evaluate ovarian activity, at least during the 1st phase of the cycle. Follicular maturation can be easily followed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes and the time of ovulation can be determined. In view of their simplicity and reliability, it is suggested that cervical functional tests be routinely used.^ieng