Biomedical subjects

Ting-Chang Chang

Publications and source records attributed to Ting-Chang Chang.

36 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2005

Exclusion of lung metastases in placental site trophoblastic tumor using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography: a case report.

BACKGROUND: We present the first case using [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) for the evaluation of multiple lung nodules in a woman with placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) and history of pulmonary tuberculosis. CASE: PSTT was diagnosed by endometrial biopsy in a 38-year-old female, 11 months after an abortion. She had received medical treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis 8 years ago. Nodular lung lesions in upper and lower lung fields were noted on the chest X-ray and computed tomography, which was not shown on PET. She then received hysterectomy and complete remission of serum beta-hCG titer with stationary lung lesions in follow-up images were noticed thereafter. CONCLUSION: PET, as adjuvant study to conventional images, may help in the differentiation of chest lesions in PSTT.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of cervix after definitive radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To study retrospectively the characteristics and survival of patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the cervix after definitive radiotherapy (RT) and to identify subsets of patients who might benefit from aggressive salvage treatment. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1990 and 1999, 1292 patients with Stage I-IVA SCC of the cervix underwent full-course RT. Of the 1292 patients, 375 (29%) had either local or distant failure and were included in this analysis. The 35 patients (2.7%) with both pelvic and distant relapse were excluded. In the 162 patients with local failure, 71 (44%) had persistent disease and 91 (56%) had a relapse after complete tumor regression. Of these 162 patients, 47 (29%) received salvage surgery. In the 213 patients with distant failure, 46 (22%) had isolated para-aortic lymph node (PALN) metastasis, and 35 (76%) of them were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy/RT. Patients with supraclavicular lymph node (SCLN) relapse usually underwent concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Palliative chemotherapy and/or RT were given by decision of the responsible attending physician. RESULTS: The independent prognostic factors for local failure were advanced stage and young age (<45 years) and, for distant failure, were advanced stage, positive pelvic lymph nodes, and high serum SCC-antigen levels. The 5-year overall survival rate was 10% and 11%, respectively, for patients with local or distant failure. For local relapse, the 5-year overall survival rate was 29% vs. 3% (p = 0.0001) for patients with vs. without salvage surgery and 22% vs. 9% vs. 4% for patients with tumors confined to the cervix, tumors extending but not beyond the cervix and adjacent tissues, and tumor extending beyond adjacent tissues but contained within the pelvis (p = 0.005). The survival rates, either with or without salvage surgery, were nearly identical between patients with persistent disease and those with relapse after complete regression. The 3-year overall survival rate was 34%, 28%, and 5% (p = 0.001), respectively, for patients with PALN relapse alone, SCLN relapse with or without PALN relapse, and relapse other than PALN and SCLN. Of the patients with PALN relapse alone, 27% survived >5 years. CONCLUSION: For recurrent SCC of the cervix after RT, patients with isolated PALN relapse salvaged by RT or combined chemoradiotherapy or those with cervical relapse salvaged by surgery can achieve long-term survival. Early detection of relapse with aggressive salvage treatment is important for achieving better outcome. Patients with persistent disease or relapse after complete remission had similar outcomes. Patients with SCLN relapse had a longer survival time than those with other metastases (except PALN), and palliative RT might be beneficial.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2004

Positron emission tomography for unexplained elevation of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen levels during follow-up for patients with cervical malignancies: a phase II study.

BACKGROUND: During follow-up for patients with cervical carcinoma, elevation of serum squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) levels in the absence of detectable recurrent lesions presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. In the current prospective study, the authors evaluated the use of fluorine-18-labeled fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) to detect disease recurrence in this setting. METHODS: Women with cervical carcinoma who experienced complete responses to primary treatment or salvage therapy and who had no evidence of recurrent disease as detected by conventional methods but had serum SCC-Ag levels > or = 2.0 ng/mL on 2 consecutive occasions were eligible for the study. PET was performed within 2 weeks after the completion of conventional studies for the assessment of recurrence. RESULTS: Twenty-seven consecutive patients were registered for the current study. PET findings were positive for 19 patients: 14 who had a distant lesion or lesions, 2 who had a local lesion or lesions, and 3 who had both local and distant lesions. Of these 19 patients, 17 were confirmed to have recurrent disease; the remaining two were found to be free of disease but had severe anthracosis in the PET-positive mediastinal lymph nodes. Seven of the eight patients with negative PET findings were not found to have recurrent disease on follow-up. Overall, PET detected FDG-avid lesions in 17 (94%; P < 0.001) of the 18 patients with recurrent disease. Seven of these 18 patients received therapy with curative intent; complete control was achieved in 6, four of whom currently are alive and free of disease. The addition of PET in the current setting curbed the use of futile curative therapy and significantly increased overall survival for patients in the current cohort compared with a historical group of 30 consecutive patients who had elevated SCC-Ag levels as a first sign of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: PET expedited the detection of recurrent cervical carcinoma in patients with unexplained elevation of SCC-Ag levels. Such expedited detection may have positive effects on patient survival.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗

PubMed2004

Preliminary report of using FDG-PET to detect extrapelvic lesions in cervical cancer patients with enlarged pelvic lymph nodes on MRI/CT.

PURPOSE: To evaluate, in a prospective study, the effects of (18)F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) on the detection of extrapelvic lesions, the design of whole pelvis or extended field radiotherapy, and subsequent failure patterns for patients with cervical cancer and enlarged pelvic lymph nodes (LNs) shown on MRI or CT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between April and December 2001, 19 consecutive patients underwent an additional FDG-PET examination before concurrent chemoradiotherapy. The inclusion criteria for the study were at least one enlarged pelvic LN > or =10 mm in its maximal dimension as shown on radiologic images and no extrapelvic tumors detected by conventional examination. The PET findings of the primary tumor, pelvic LNs, and extrapelvic lesions were investigated and compared with the MRI/CT findings. Tumor FDG uptake was quantitated with the maximal pixel standardized uptake value. RESULTS: Except for 1 patient with diabetes mellitus who was excluded from analysis, 18 cervical tumors had significant FDG uptake (maximal pixel standardized uptake value >8). A total of 39 pelvic LNs were reported, and the agreement of positive pelvic LNs between MRI/CT and PET was 79.5%. Five patients (28%) had positive paraaortic LNs on FDG-PET, and their treatment fields were extended to include the paraaortic region. In addition to the paraaortic LNs, 1 patient also had metastasis at the left supraclavicular node. After a minimum follow-up of 12 months (median 15.9), 4 patients (22.2%) developed new extrapelvic metastases. The disease-free survival rate was 78% at 12 months. CONCLUSION: FDG-PET is a useful tool to detect paraaortic LN metastasis and determine the appropriate treatment field for cervical cancer with enlarged pelvic LNs on MRI/CT. The preliminary data suggest that pretreatment FDG-PET can supplement conventional imaging studies, but still has limitations in the detection of microscopic disease.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Restaging of recurrent cervical carcinoma with dual-phase [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography.

BACKGROUND: The clinical value of positron emission tomography (PET) with [18F]fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) for primary staging in cervical carcinoma appears to be promising. The authors sought to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy and benefit of PET in restaging cervical carcinoma at the time of first recurrence. METHODS: Forty patients with cervical carcinoma who experienced confirmed treatment failure but who were feasible candidates for curative salvage therapy were enrolled prospectively in the current study. Restaging was performed with PET and with computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging (CT/MRI). Dual-phase PET was performed by adding 3-hour-delayed images to the 40-minute scans. The results of the PET and CT/MRI scans were compared. Lesion status was determined by pathologic findings or by clinical follow-up. The receiver operating characteristic curve method with calculation of area under the curve (AUC) was used to evaluate diagnostic efficacy. The primary endpoint was percent improvement in restaging (with improvement indicated by treatment modification) after PET. The secondary endpoint was 2-year overall survival among study participants compared with comparable previously treated patients who did not undergo disease restaging with PET. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients (55%) had their treatment modified due to PET findings. PET was significantly superior to CT/MRI (sensitivity: 92% vs. 60%; AUC: 0.962 vs. 0.771; P<0.0001) in identifying metastatic lesions. For individuals receiving primary surgery, a significantly better 2-year overall survival rate was observed among study participants compared with patients who underwent disease restaging without PET (HR, 0.21 [95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.83]; P=0.020). CONCLUSIONS: Dual-phase FDG-PET is superior to CT/MRI in the restaging of recurrent cervical carcinoma. Restaging with PET provides benefit by allowing the physician to offer optimal management of recurrent cervical carcinoma.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Usefulness of human papillomavirus testing in the follow-up of patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia after conization.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to define the adjunctive role of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA testing in the follow-up of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) after conization. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed a consecutive series of 2,154 patients who received conization. Patients who had cone diagnosis of cervical cancer or CIN 1, a hysterectomy within 12 weeks after conization, and no follow-up data were excluded. The remaining 765 patients (monitored by Pap smears, colposcopy with or without high-risk HPV DNA testing) were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 765 patients, 279 had CIN at cone margin or endocervix (group A) while 486 were both margin- and endocervix-free (group B). The 3-year cumulative rate of residual/recurrent high-grade CIN was 10.3% (95% CI, 6.9-13.7). HPV follow-up status (P=.015), margin status (P=.001), and follow-up cervical cytology (P<.0001) were significant predictors for residual/recurrent high-grade CIN by multivariate analysis. Four high-grade CINs and 1 microinvasive carcinoma of group A were detected initially by HPV testing, while 48.3% (199/410) of those without recurrent/persistent high-grade CIN still had persistent HPV infection. CONCLUSION: HPV DNA testing is useful in the follow-up and understanding of the natural history after conization for high-grade CIN.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2004

Excellent progression-free survival with liposomal doxorubicin for a patient with recurrent ovarian malignant mixed müllerian tumor: case report and literature review.

INTRODUCTION: Ovarian malignant mixed müllerian tumor (MMMT) is a rare, highly aggressive, fatal disease. Patients have a median survival of 18 months and a 5-year survival rate of only 8%. Optimal cytoreduction surgery plus platinum-based combination chemotherapy are associated with better outcomes. CASE REPORT: A 65-year-old patient of stage IIIc ovarian MMMT having obtained a 41-month remission after four courses of aggressive surgical debulking procedures, platinum-containing chemotherapy, and intraoperative radiotherapy suffered from multi-focal recurrences and obtained another 22-month progression-free survival after treatment with monthly liposomal doxorubicin (Lipo-Dox) for 14 courses and Lipo-Dox/carboplatin for subsequent 6 courses without obvious toxicity. DISCUSSION: Liposomal doxorubicin might be useful as salvage chemotherapy for heavily pretreated, recurrent ovarian MMMT. A prospective trial is needed for more proof.

Antibiotics, Antineoplastic↗

PubMed2004

Defining the priority of using 18F-FDG PET for recurrent cervical cancer.

UNLABELLED: PET with 18F-FDG has shown its potential in cervical cancer. For maximizing the benefits of this new imaging technology, we aimed to define the prognostic features of recurrent cervical cancer patients for selecting appropriate candidates using 18F-FDG PET. METHODS: Patients enrolled were from 2 independent prospective studies investigating the role of 18F-FDG PET in cervical cancer patients after definitive treatment with documented failure (CTRP-018) or unexplained elevated tumor marker serum levels (CTRP-016) and proven relapse after PET. A total of 55 eligible patients received PET and CT or MRI. Lesion status was determined from pathologic results or clinical follow-up. The benefits calculated were based on treatment that was modified because of the PET findings. The Cox proportional hazards ratio (HR) was used to select independent prognostic covariates. RESULTS: Thirty-six (65.5%) patients had treatment that was modified due to PET. Primary radiation (HR = 14.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.74-77.92), squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) > or = 4 ng/mL (HR = 5.82; 95% CI = 1.53-22.04), and presence of symptoms (HR = 6.24; 95% CI = 1.99-19.61) at recurrence were significant factors associated with poor survival. A scoring system using these covariates defined 3 distinct prognostic groups: score < or = 1 (HR = 1.00); score = 2 (HR = 6.91; 95% CI = 1.49-32.14); and score = 3 (HR = 60.46; 95% CI = 9.68-378.09) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Using this risk score, 18F-FDG PET may offer maximal benefits by selecting appropriate recurrent cervical cancer patients for salvage therapy with precise restaging information.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Value of dual-phase 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography in cervical cancer.

PURPOSE: The role of positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18-labeled fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) in cervical cancer has not yet been well defined. We conducted a prospective study to investigate its efficacy in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography (MRI-CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with untreated locally advanced (35%) or recurrent (65%) cervical cancer were enrolled onto this study. In the first part of this study, 41 patients had a conventional FDG-PET (40 minutes after injection), and in the second part, 94 patients received dual-phase PET (at both 40 minutes and 3 hours after injection). The overall results of PET scans were compared with MRI-CT, and the two protocols of PET were also compared with each other. Lesion status was determined by pathology results or clinical follow-up. The receiver operating characteristic curve method with area under the curve (AUC) calculation was used to evaluate the discriminative power. RESULTS: Overall (N = 135), FDG-PET was significantly superior to MRI-CT in identifying metastatic lesions (AUC, 0.971 v 0.879; P =.039), although the diagnostic accuracy was similar for local tumors. Dual-phase PET was also significantly better than the 40-minute PET (n = 94). The latter accurately recognized 70% of metastatic lesions and the former detected 90% (AUC, 0.943 v 0.951; P =.007). Dual-phase FDG-PET changed treatment of 29 patients (31%; upstaging 27% and downstaging 4%). CONCLUSION: This study shows that dual-phase FDG-PET is superior to conventional FDG-PET or MRI-CT in the evaluation of metastatic lesions in locally advanced or recurrent cervical cancer.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

The impact of image fusion in resolving discrepant findings between FDG-PET and MRI/CT in patients with gynaecological cancers.

This study was performed to prospectively investigate the impact of image fusion in resolving discrepant findings between fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or X-ray computed tomography (CT) in patients with gynaecological cancers. Discrepant findings were defined as lesions where the difference between the FDG-PET and MRI/CT images was assigned a value of at least 2 on a 5-point probability scale. The FDG-PET and MRI/CT images were taken within 1 month of each other. Image fusion between FDG-PET and CT was performed by automatic registration between the two images. During an 18-month period, 34 malignant lesions and seven benign lesions from 32 patients who had undergone either surgical excision or a CT-guided histopathological investigation were included for analysis. Among these cases, image fusion was most frequently required to determine the nature and/or the extent of abdominal and pelvic lesions (28/41, 68%), especially as regards peritoneal seeding (8/41, 20%). Image fusion was most useful in providing better localisation for biopsy (16/41, 39%) and in discriminating between lesions with pathological versus physiological FDG uptake (12/41, 29%). Image fusion changed the original diagnosis based on MRI/CT alone in 9/41 lesions (22%), and the original diagnosis based on FDG-PET alone in 5/41 lesions (12%). It led to alteration of treatment planning (surgery or radiotherapy) in seven of the 32 patients (22%). In patients with gynaecological cancers, the technique of image fusion is helpful in discriminating the nature of FDG-avid lesions, in effectively localising lesions for CT-guided biopsy and in providing better surgical or radiotherapy planning.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Randomized trial of surgical staging (extraperitoneal or laparoscopic) versus clinical staging in locally advanced cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To define the role of pretreatment surgical staging for locally advanced cervical carcinoma. METHODS: A two-step randomized trial was conducted to compare clinical staging (arm A) versus surgical staging (arm B) and to compare the laparoscopic (LAP) with the extraperitoneal (EXP) approach in previously untreated locally advanced cervical carcinoma. After the first randomization, those in arm B were randomly allocated to either LAP or EXP. An interim analysis was planned to evaluate the feasibility of LAP versus EXP, which led to the current report. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients were eligible (arm A, 29; arm B, 32). The operation time, blood loss, and lymph node yield of LAP and EXP were not significantly different. Serious acute and late toxicity was not different between arm A and arm B, or LAP versus EXP. Para-aortic node metastasis was documented in 25% (95% confidence interval, 10% to 40%) of patients on arm B. An interim analysis was performed in January 2000. Patients on arm B had significantly worse progression-free survival than those on arm A. Hazard ratios of relapse/persistent or death were 3.13 (P = 0.005) and 1.76 (P = 0.150), respectively. Patient accrual was terminated according to the early stopping rules. With further follow-up till December 2001, the difference in progression-free survival remained significant (P = 0.003), and the difference in overall survival became significant (P = 0.024) as the data matured. CONCLUSION: The benefit of pretreatment surgical staging for cervical carcinoma remained unproven. The detrimental effects of surgical staging observed in this study must be considered in the design of clinical guidelines or future trials.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Tension-free vaginal tape procedure on genuine stress incontinent women with coexisting genital prolapse.

OBJECTIVE: To study the efficacy of performing the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure concurrently with vaginal pelvic relaxation surgeries in the management of genuine stress incontinence with genital prolapse. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty-eight women were surgically managed. Various vaginal pelvic reconstructive surgeries for prolapses were completed before the TVT procedure. Pre-operative and postoperative urodynamic studies, 1-h pad tests and symptom analysis were evaluated 1 year postoperatively. Surgical procedures and patient outcomes are discussed. RESULTS: Objective data available for 55 patients. Fifty (91%) were dry 1 year postoperatively. The concurrent pelvic surgeries included vaginal total hysterectomies, anterior colporrhaphies, posterior colporrhaphies and sacrospinous ligament fixations. No major surgical complications occurred. The average blood loss was 134 ml, the average operating time for the TVT procedure was 21 min, and the average postoperative hospital stay was 3.4 days. All patients voided spontaneously with adequate volumes of postvoid residual urine before being discharged. Two patients had a recurrent prolapse. Urodynamic parameters showed no significant differences before and after the surgery, except that the parameters related to voiding dysfunction were improved in the patients with severe cystocele. De nova detrusor instability was observed in one patient. CONCLUSIONS: The tension-free vaginal tape procedure performed with concurrent vaginal pelvic relaxation surgery is safe and effective for genuine stress incontinence and pelvic prolapse. Concomitant procedures also appear to relieve bladder outlet obstructions caused by severe prolapse.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Management of port-site metastasis after laparoscopic surgery for ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define the clinical features and long-term prognosis of port-site metastasis after primary laparoscopic surgery for ovarian cancer. STUDY DESIGN: All the patients with epithelial ovarian cancer or borderline malignancy who had undergone primary laparoscopic surgery at our institution were reviewed. The clinicopathologic parameters, flow cytometric parameters, p53, p27, bax, HER-2/neu, and bcl-2 by immunostaining, presentation of port-site implants, management of the individual patient, and long-term outcome were analyzed. CANCERLINE and MEDLINE (1960-2002) were searched for related papers. RESULTS: Between 1993 and 2001, of the 31 patients with epithelial ovarian cancer or borderline malignancy who underwent primary laparoscopic surgery at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, 6 (19.4%) had port-site metastasis. The other 2 patients were referred after port-site metastasis. Tumors with port-site recurrences had higher S-fraction than those without (median: 18.2% vs 9.9%, P =.003; relative risk ratio: >15.5% vs <or=15.5% = 38.33; 95% CI, 3.3-449.2). Those patients who have port-site metastasis develop during chemotherapy (n = 2) or after adequate chemotherapy had been given (n = 2) all died of cancer. Two patients have been currently alive without disease, the tumors of whom were p27-positive and p53-, HER-2/neu -, bcl-2-negative. CONCLUSION: Port-site metastasis after laparoscopic surgery, during chemotherapy or when adequate chemotherapy has been given, is usually associated with poor outcome. Further investigations are necessary to define the mechanisms and effective management to prevent and treat this serious complication.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Ovarian metastasis originating from bronchioloalveolar carcinoma: a rare presentation of lung cancer.

Ovarian metastasis originating from bronchioloalveolar carcinoma (BAC) has not been reported previously. We report a 63-year-old Chinese woman who was diagnosed as BAC with pleural metastasis in 1997. Four years later, she complained of vaginal bleeding, and a pelvic mass was discovered by an abdominal computerized tomography scan. Tumor debulking and total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy were performed. Pathology disclosed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma, with abundant clear cytoplasm, in the ovaries. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining revealed that the tumor cells from the ovary and pleura were reactive to thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) and cytokeratin-7 (CK-7) but were negative for cytokeratin-20 (CK-20). The results of immunohistochemical staining, clinical course, and pathological features were compatible with the diagnosis of BAC with ovarian metastasis. In conclusion, to investigate the primary site of a metastatic ovarian cancer, clinicians should not forget the lungs since the incidence of lung cancer in females is increasing. Moreover, a monoclonal antibody panel for TTF-1, CK-7, and CK-20 may facilitate discrimination between primary and metastasized ovarian adenocarcinomas and/or identifying tumors of pulmonary origin.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2003

Sclerosing stromal tumor of ovary.

Sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary is a rare ovarian disease with prevalence of 1.5% to 6% of ovarian stromal tumors. We present a 24-year-old woman with irregular menstruation for 6 months and a self-palpable lower abdominal mass. Enucleation of the left ovarian tumor was undertaken. Gross examination showed a soft elastic tumor with a smooth outer surface and diffusely white edematous stroma with scattered yellowish nodular areas on the cut surface. Histologic study showed that the cellular nodules consisted of a disorganized admixture of fibroblasts and round vacuolated tumor cells. The cellular nodules were separated by edematous hypocellular fibrous tissue forming a pseudolobular appearance. Regular menstruation resumed after the surgery and no evidence of tumor relapse during 1 year of follow up.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Psychiatric morbidity and pregnancy outcome in a disaster area of Taiwan 921 earthquake.

We investigated the prevalence of minor psychiatric morbidity in a group of women who were pregnant during or immediately after a major earthquake disaster and we investigated the prognostic factors that may have influenced the perinatal outcome of the pregnancy. The study was initiated 6 months after the earthquake and enrolled 171 women in a town near the epicentre. A Post-Earthquake Questionnaire, Chinese Health Questionnaire (CHQ-12) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms checklist were completed before delivery while the perinatal data were retrieved from hospital obstetrical records. The prevalence of minor psychiatric morbidity (MPM) was 29.2%. Women with starvation experience, higher negative attitude scores about the influence of earthquake on pregnancy and more casualties among relatives were significantly correlated with high CHQ. A significant positive correlation between the MPM and PTSD scores was noticed. Among the 115 pregnancies with known perinatal outcome, there were nine (7.8%) low-birth weight neonates, defined as birth weight < or = 2500 g. Maternal history of abdominal injury, spouse casualty and instability in living condition were significantly correlated with low birth weight. Spouse casualty was the only significant factor that predicts neonatal low birth weight.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Choriocarcinoma with diffuse intraabdominal abscess and disseminated intravascular coagulation. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Management of choriocarcinoma complicated by diffused intraabdominal abscess is difficult, especially when disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) ensues. CASE: A 29-year-old woman presented with massive vaginal bleeding, fever and severe abdominal pain. Choriocarcinoma with pulmonary and vaginal metastases was diagnosed along with diffused intraabdominal abscess. Hysterectomy and hypogastric artery ligation were performed after the fever and abdominal symptoms failed to respond to intravenous antibiotics. Although the patient developed DIC after surgery, transfusion, antibiotics and immediate combination chemotherapy improved her condition and controlled the malignancy. She was free of disease for > 20 months after treatment. CONCLUSION: Timely surgery, aggressive antibiotics and immediate postoperative chemotherapy are recommended for patients with choriocarcinoma complicated by intraabdominal abscess and DIC.

Abdominal Abscess↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A randomized blinded study of the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting in women after major gynecologic laparoscopic surgery.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in women undergoing major gynecologic laparoscopic surgery with an expected surgical duration exceeding 1 hour and anticipated overnight hospitalization. DESIGN: Randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. SETTING: This study was set at a university hospital. PATIENTS: One hundred forty female patients with an American Society of Anesthesiology (ASA) physical status I or II and scheduled for gynecologic inpatient laparoscopic surgery. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomly assigned to receive 1 mg granisetron (Group A, n=70), or saline solution (Group B, n=70) intravenously after induction of general anesthesia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The endpoints were evaluated by the following parameters: the incidence of PONV, episodes of nausea, retching, vomiting, rescue antiemetics, and complete response. Patients were closely observed for 24 hours after administration of the study drug. The two groups were generally well balanced in terms of demographic variables. The surgical period was longer in the granisetron group compared with the saline solution group. The total incidence of PONV was 41/70 (59%) in patients who underwent inpatient gynecologic laparoscopic surgery when no prophylactic antiemetic was given. Administration of granisetron decreased the incidence of PONV (29/70 [41%] vs 41/70 [59%], p<.05), the incidence of vomiting (18/70 [26%] vs 31/70 [44%], p<.05), and the proportions of patients requiring rescue antiemetics (14/70 [20%] vs 47/70 [67%], p<.01), but these results were not comparable to other studies. CONCLUSION: A long surgical period may have great impact on the PONV in women who undergo gynecologic laparoscopic surgery, which implies the need for skilled gynecologic laparoscopists.

Adult↗