[Laser conization for cervical intraepithelial neoplasias, grade III. Personal experience of 77 cases]. / Laser conizzazione nelle neoplasie intraepiteliali della cervice di III grado. Nostra esperienza su 77 casi.

BACKGROUND: Evalutation of the efficacy of laser conization for cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (Hg-SIL). METHODS: A retrospective evaluation. Case collection: A total of 77 women, 47 outpatients and 30 inpatients with endocervical CIN3 or CIN2, were treated by carbon dioxide (CO2) laser between 1993 and 1995. A preoperative diagnosis has been made by means of Pap-smear, colposcopy and marked biopsy. In 47 cases a laser conization was performed in Day Surgery, without vessel constrictors or local anesthetics. In 30 cases a narcosis (Diprivan ) was induced. The former were discharged 2-3 hours and the latter 24 hours after treatment. RESULTS: The histological examination confirmed preoperative diagnosis in 64 (86.5%) cases and negligible one grade discrepancy was reported in 7 cases (6 over- and 1 underestimated); missed invasion and no free margins were reported in the remaining 4 and 2 patients respectively, so these latter 6 patients were submitted to other surgical procedures. No serious complications occurred with the exception of mild vaginal postoperative bleeding. During the follow-up of 36-82 months, cervical alterations were described only in 12 out of 71 cases, flat condilomatosy in 8 cases, CIN2 in 2 patients and CIN3 in other 2 patients. At present, all the patients are free of disease. CONCLUSIONS: The conization with dioxide laser is a good therapy for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, even if expensive; infact poor side-effects are observed as well as a very good reliability.

Leiomyosarcomas of the small intestine misdiagnosed as ovarian masses: report of three cases.

Leiomyosarcomas of the small intestine are rare lesions. Because of their aspecific symptoms, diagnosis is often made at a late stage and, in women, must be distinguished from ovarian tumors. Three cases of large, abdominal masses, evaluated preoperatively as being ovarian tumors, are presented. At histology all three were diagnosed as leiomyosarcomas of the small intestine.

Cervical carcinoma in young patients: clinical and pathological variables.

Twenty-five (10.2%) out of 243 untreated patients with invasive cervical carcinoma were 35 years old or younger. When matching the clinical and pathological variables between the younger and the older women, the former were characterized by a higher rate of Stage IB disease (P = 0.10), G3 and G4 tumors (P = 0.25), bulky lesions (P = 0.05) and node metastases (P = 0.50). In spite of this poorer pathological profile, both the 5-year disease-free survival rate (75%) and survival according to stage of the younger women were similar to those reported in larger series, regardless of the patients' age. No modification of the standard therapy is therefore required in younger patients.