Closure or non-closure of visceral peritoneums after abdominal hysterectomies and Wertheim-Meigs radical abdominal hysterectomies.

The effect of visceral peritoneal closure after conventional abdominal hysterectomies and Wertheim-Meigs radical operations was studied clinically. No considerable differences were found in the postoperative staying period; however, the incidence of complications were less in the peritoneal non-closure group (n = 91) than in the control, peritonealized group (n = 149). Significantly lower was the number of postoperative irregular pyelogram in cases without peritoneal closure (n = 25) of radical abdominal operations than in the control group (n = 49) with peritoneal suturing. We therefore suggest that the lack of suturing of visceral peritoneums has some advantages after abdominal hysterectomies and especially has benefits for Wertheim-Meigs operations.

Placental protein 4 as a possible tumor marker in ovarian tumors.

Placental protein 4 (PP-4), a recently characterized glycoprotein from human placenta, was studied using a specific double-antibody radioimmunoassay in sera of 130 volunteers, 76 ovarian tumor patients and in ovarian tumor cyst fluid and ascites of 21 patients. Elevated levels (greater than 3 micrograms/l) were found in 45 of 52 ovarian cancer patients (86.5%). PP-4 levels correlated significantly with staging. 31 patients with malignant ovarian tumor were monitored on 2-9 occasions during 5-82 weeks. Rising or falling levels of PP-4 correlated with progression or regression of disease in 25 of 31 instances (80.6%). Elevated levels were found in 10 of 24 benign and borderline ovarian tumors. Elevated PP-4 level does not indicate malignancy in each case. PP-4 can be regarded as tumor-associated antigen and an tumor marker in oncological practice.

Occurrence of CA 125 and CA 19-9 tumor-associated antigens in sera of patients with gynecologic, trophoblastic, and colorectal tumors.

The present study was undertaken to test the parallel detectability of ovarian cancer antigen CA 125 and gastrointestinal cancer antigen CA 19-9 in the sera of patients with malignant ovarian tumors, benign ovarian tumors, endometrial cancers, cervical cancers, colorectal cancers, and trophoblastic tumors and in early 1st-trimester pregnant as well as in healthy nonpregnant controls. In all kinds of gynecologic and colorectal tumors raised concentrations of both antigens were found with the exception of malignant nonepithelial ovarian tumors where neither of the antigens showed positive reaction. The most positive cases were found in the group with epithelial ovarian cancers. Of the two antigens CA 125 was the more responsive. No positive cases were found with either of the antigens in nonpregnant healthy controls or in patients with benign ovarian tumors. The parallel determination of the two antigens gives us a better opportunity to recognize pelvic tumors and further may enable us to distinguish ovarian and colorectal tumors.