Teratomas of the ovary: a clinico-pathological evaluation of 87 patients from one institution during a 10-year period.

AIM: To present the classification and diagnostic problems encountered between teratomas and other ovarian tumors as well as with other benign entities diagnosed and treated in our institution. METHODS: We analysed retrospectively the clinical and pathological characteristics of 87 teratomas examined in our hospital during the last ten years. RESULTS: Teratomas constituted 5% of all ovarian tumors. The age range was from 11-69 years old (median: 35). The most frequent symptom was lower abdominal pain in 68% of patients. A pelvic mass was noted in 3% of cases. A pregnancy was present in 3% of patients. In ten cases the tumors were bilateral. Tumor size ranged from 1-16 cm in diameter (median: 7.17 cm). The treatment consisted of cystectomy in 66% of the cases, oophorectomy in 23% or hysterectomy with both adnexa in 11% of cases. Fifty-seven cases presented with a histological diagnosis of mature teratoma, biphasic or triphasic type, three cases with monodermal teratoma, ten cases with ovarian neoplasms of mixed type, 15 cases with epidermal cysts, and two cases with benign cysts. Malignant changes within the teratomas were seen in 5% cases. CONCLUSION: Teratomas are common ovarian tumors at any age, especially during the reproductive age, with a low rate of complications and malignant transformation. The treatment should be based on patient age, fertility status, tumor size, the cystic or solid nature of the tumor and bilaterality.

Factors associated with initiation and duration of breastfeeding in Greece.

AIM: Our aim was to study factors affecting the initiation, progress and duration of breastfeeding in Greece. METHODS: We studied 938 infants born in 2001 in 17 maternity hospitals in Greece. RESULTS: The percentage of breastfeeding infants was 85.5%. The actual progress of breastfeeding was different from the one that the mothers intended to follow. Although the majority of women claimed in the beginning that they would breastfeed mainly for four to six months (23.2%) and 12-14 months (23.1%), the majority had discontinued breastfeeding by the fourth month (58.5%) and only 7.3% breastfed for more than one year. The initiation time of breastfeeding was positively influenced by natural delivery (p = 0) and pleasant delivery (p = 0.397). Smoking was negatively associated with the duration of breastfeeding (p = 0) and the infants of smokers breastfed mainly for one to two months (38.7%). Exclusive breastfeeding in the maternity hospital was positively associated with the mother's intention to refuse to use a mixed diet after being discharged (p = 0). CONCLUSION: Greater support is needed so that women can implement their original intentions concerning the progress of breastfeeding.