Peripheral T-cell lymphoma in a patient with acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

A case of pulmonary T-cell lymphoma in an Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patient is presented. Morphologically, it belonged to the large cell, immunoblastic category of the Working Formulation and demonstrated a helper/inducer phenotype. Clinically there was no association with manifestations of human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I related lymphoma and the patient was seronegative for HTLV-I and HTLV-II antibodies. High-grade B-cell lymphomas occur with an increased frequency in patients with AIDS but the occurrence of a peripheral T-cell lymphoma in AIDS has not been documented before. The case is discussed in the context of current concepts of AIDS-related lymphomagenesis.

Videolaseroscopy and laser laparoscopy in gynaecology.

Laser laparoscopy has greatly expanded the potential applications of laparoscopy in gynaecology. Videolaseroscopy is a new refinement in the technique, which we believe is beneficial, not only to the patient, but also to the treating physician and the operating room staff. The clinical results of the beneficial application of this technique in the treatment of endometriosis and other diseases of the reproductive organs will be presented.

Surgical treatment of endometriosis via laser laparoscopy and videolaseroscopy.

The CO2 laser has been used laparoscopically for the removal of endometriotic implants, drainage of endometriomas, and lysis of adnexal adhesions in 102 patients. These patients were followed for a period ranging from 12 to 18 months, during which there were 62 pregnancies including 9 spontaneous abortions and 1 elective termination of a pregnancy. The rates of conception after surgery were as follows: 75% for patients with mild endometriosis (stage I/American Fertility Society), 62% for patients with moderate endometriosis (stage II/AFS), 42.1% for patients with severe endometriosis (stage III/ASF) and 50% for patients with extensive endometriosis (stage IV/AFS). Standard treatment of infertility associated with endometriosis includes both medical (danazol, oral contraceptives, progestins) and surgical (laparotomy, laparoscopy), or combined approaches. This study reports on the CO2 laser used laparoscopically in the treatment of endometriosis associated with infertility. Of 102 patients presenting with infertility attributed to endometriosis, 60.7% conceived within 24 months following laser laparoscopy. In this patient group, no immediate or subsequent laparotomy was required prior to achieving conception, nor was hormonal therapy enacted during the postsurgical study period.

Surgical treatment of endometriosis via laser laparoscopy.

The carbon dioxide laser has been used laparoscopically for the removal of endometriotic implants, excision of endometrioma capsules, and lysis of adnexal adhesions in 102 patients. These patients were followed for a period ranging from 12 to 18 months, during which time there were 62 pregnancies, including 9 spontaneous abortions and 1 elective termination. The rates of conception after surgery were as follows: 75% for patients with mild endometriosis, 62% for patients with moderate endometriosis, 42.1% for patients with severe endometriosis, and 50% for patients with extensive endometriosis. Of 102 patients presenting with infertility attributed to endometriosis, 60.7% conceived within 24 months after laser laparoscopy. In this patient group, no immediate or subsequent laparotomy was required before conception was achieved, nor was hormonal therapy enacted during the study period after surgery.

Undetected IgM paraproteins on serum protein electrophoresis.

Sera from three patients initially evaluated by cellulose acetate electrophoresis demonstrated apparent application "artifacts." On agarose gel electrophoresis, each had a definite paraprotein "spike." The immunoglobulin classes of the paraproteins were determined by immunoelectrophoresis, with and without reduction by dithiothreitol. The immunoglobulin class was confirmed by immunofixation electrophoresis on agarose gel. All three abnormal immunoglobulins were IgM-kappa-type paraproteins. Agarose electrophoresis with immunofixation was superior in the identification of these paraproteins compared with the standard method of cellulose acetate electrophoresis coupled with immunoelectrophoresis.