Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2015;37(2):77-81
DOI 10.1590/SO100-720320140005199
To analyze the factors that might influence the recurrence of ovarian endometriomas after laparoscopic excision.
A retrospective cohort study. We evaluated 129 patients who underwent laparoscopic excision of ovarian endometriomas from 2003 to 2012 and who were followed up for at least two years after surgery. Vaginal ultrasound was repeated to exclude persistent lesion and to identify recurrence. The Student's t-test was used to compare continuous variables and the χ or Fischer exact test (for values of less than five) was used to test homogeneity between proportions. A logistic regression model for multivariate proportional hazards was used to analyze predictors of long-term outcome. The level of significance was set at 5% in all analyses.
The overall rate of ovarian endometrioma recurrence was 18.6%. Endometrioma diameter, surgical procedure techniques and demographic data such as age, presenting symptoms, body mass index, smoking and physical exercise habits were not associated with recurrence, whereas interruption of postoperative medical treatment was significantly correlated with a higher recurrence rate (OR 23.7; 95%CI 5.26-107.05; p=0.001).
Current oral contraceptive use appears to be associated with a dramatic reduction in the risk of recurrence of ovarian endometriotic cysts. Treatment interruption was associated with a higher recurrence rate of ovarian endometrioma after laparoscopic treatment.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(7):331-335
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000700008
The sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary is an extremely rare benign tumor more common in young women and without specific symptoms in most cases. Less than 150 cases have been described, of which 8 were diagnosed during pregnancy. In this report, we describe the association between sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary, Meigs' syndrome and elevated levels of CA-125 in term pregnancy.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2013;35(3):136-140
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032013000300008
Anti-mullerian hormone (AMH) is a glycoprotein produced by granulosa cells of primary, pre-antral and small antral ovarian follicles and its clinical applicability has been recently demonstrated by several studies. Prediction of the response to ovarian stimulation for in vitro fertilization corresponds to the most frequent utilization of AMH in clinical practice, being routinely assessed in many services to identify subgroups of women susceptible to a poor response or to Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome. There are great perspectives that AMH may be applicable to the individual determination of risk for iatrogenic gonadal injury in women with neoplasms who will be submitted to chemotherapy. It is also probable that AMH assessment will be included in protocols for the investigation of amenorrhea and oligomenorrhea, since AMH levels are increased in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, reduced in premature ovarian failure and normal in other conditions such as hyperprolactinemia and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism. It is possible that AMH will be utilized in the future for the prediction of age at menopause and of reproductive prognosis, providing solid bases for pre-conceptive and contraceptive counseling.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(7):323-328
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012000700006
PURPOSES: To evaluate the histomorphometry of ovarian interstitial cells, as well as the blood sex steroid concentrations of female rats with polycystic ovaries induced by continuous light. METHODS: Twenty female rats were divided into two groups: Control Group - in the estrous phase (CtrlG), and a group of rats with polycystic ovaries induced by continuous illumination (POG). CtrlG animals were maintained on a light period from 07:00 a.m. to 07:00 p.m., and POG animals with continuous illumination (400 Lux) for 60 days. After this period all animals were anesthetized and blood was collected for the determination of serum estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), and testosterone (T), followed by removal of the ovaries that were fixed in 10% formalin and processed for paraffin embedding. Five-µm histological sections were stained with hematoxylin and eosin and used for histomorphometric analysis. Morphological analyses, cyst count, determination of concentration and of the nuclear volume of interstitial cells were performed with the aid of a light microscope adapted to a high resolution camera (AxioCam), whose images were transmitted to and analyzed by the computer using AxioVision Rel 4.8 software (Carl Zeiss). Data were analyzed statistically by the Student's t-test (p<0.05). RESULTS: Morphological analysis showed the presence of ovarian cysts in POG animals and corpora lutea in CtrlG animals, as well as evidence of the origin of interstitial cells from the internal theca of these cysts. POG animals presented increased serum estradiol levels (pg/mL) compared to CtrlG animals (POG=124.9±4.2>CtrlG=73.2±6.5, p<0.05), the same occurring with testosterone levels (pg/mL) (POG=116.9±4.6>CtrlG=80.6±3.9, p<0.05). However, progesterone levels (ng/mL) were higher in CtrlG than in POG animals (CtrlG=16.3±2.0>POG=4.2±1.5, p<0.05). Morphometry showed a significant increase in nuclear volume in POG animals (POG=102.1±5.2>CtrlG=63.6±16.5, p<0.05), as well as in the area occupied (%) by interstitial cells (POG=24.4±6.9>CtrlG=6.9±3.2, p<0.05) compared to CtrlG animals. CONCLUSION: The interstitial cells of the rat polycystic ovary probably originate from ovarian cysts due to the degeneration of granulosa cells and differentiation of the internal theca cells. The elevations of serum testosterone and estradiol were probably due to the significant increase in cell activity and in the area occupied by interstitial cells.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2009;31(7):349-352
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032009000700005
PURPOSE: to evaluate the ovarian reserve of infertile patients with severe ovarian endrometriosis, submitted to excisional surgery of endometriomas and attended from February to November, 2008. METHODS: prospective study, including 30 patients with endometriosis grades III and IV, with severe ovarian impairment, submitted to excisional surgery of the endometriomas, and 30 patients with endometriosis grades I and II, allocated as a Control Group. The ovarian reserve was indirectly assessed, through the basal (U/L) follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), between the third and fifth days of the cycle, 12 months after the surgery. The body mass index (BMI) was calculated according to Quetelet's formula [weight (kg)/height(cm²)]. The Mann-Whitney non-parametric U test was used to compare the variables "age", "BMI" and "basal SFH" between the groups. RESULTS: there was no significant difference between the groups about age and BMI. Concerning basal FSH, in the group of patients with severe endometriosis, the average value was 7.0 U/L, while in the Control Group, it was 5.6 U/L (p=0.3), what demonstrates that the difference between the two groups was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: the surgery did not affect the ovarian reserve of patients with severe ovarian endometriosis.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2007;29(12):614-618
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032007001200003
PURPOSE: to determine the variation of the number of ovarian follicles during fetal life. METHODS: twelve ovaries donated for research were included in our study, nine from fetuses and three from newborn babies who died in the first hour after being delivered with 39 weeks of pregnancy. Fetal age was confirmed both by the last menstrual period of the woman and by ultrasonography. Ovaries were fixed in formaldehyde, included in paraffin and serially sliced at 7 mm. At every 50 cuts, the obtained material was haematoxilin-eosin stained and evaluated with an optical microscope (400 X). The follicles were counted in ten different regions of the ovarian cortex, each region with an area of 625 mm². The presence of a nucleus was considered the parameter for counting. Follicular density, per 1 mm³ was calculated using the formula Nt=(No x St x t)/do, where Nt is the number of follicles; No is the mean number of follicles in 1 mm²; St is the total number of slices in 1 mm³; t is the slice thickness and do is the nuclei mean diameter. RESULTS: the gestational age of fetuses ranged from 24 to 39 weeks. The number of follicles per 0.25 mm² ranged from 10.9 ± 4.8 in a newborn to 34.7 ± 10.6 in another newborn. Among the fetuses, the least value was obtained in a 36 week-old fetus (11.1 ± 6.2) and the highest in a 28 week-old fetus (25.3 ± 9.6). The total number of slices per ovary ranged from six to 13, corresponding to follicles counted in areas from 15 to 32.5 mm². The total number of follicles ranged from 500,000 at the age of 22 weeks to > 1,000,000 at the age of 39 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: our results demonstrate different (increasing) densities of ovarian follicles along the gestational period, providing more knowledge about this still not well-known subject.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2004;26(8):605-610
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032004000800003
OBJECTIVE: to evaluate staging, surgical procedures and outcome of ovarian granulosa cell tumors (GCT), with emphasis in the possibility of conservative surgery (unilateral ooforectomy). METHODS: this is a retrospective cohort study in which 24 patients treated with GCT during the period of January 1994 to January 2004 were included. Variables of interest such as patient's age, symptoms, tumor size on physical examination, staging, treatment modalities (types of surgery and of adjuvant chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) and prognosis have been analyzed. The chi-square test was used to check the association between variables, and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05, always describing the two-tailed Fisher exact test. RESULTS: the patients' age varied from 30 to 82 (mean 51.7) years old. The most frequently referred symptom was pelvic pain (n = 10; 41.7%). Fourteen patients (58.3%) presented clinical stage (CS) Ic, 5 (20.8%) CS IIIc and 5 (20.8%) CS Ia. More advanced clinical stages were significantly associated with palpable pelvic masses (p < 0.04). Endometrial hyperplasias were found in 3 (25%) of the 12 hysterectomy specimens. The follow-up period varied from 2 to 114 (mean 42.5) months. Among the 16 (66.7%) surviving and disease-free patients, 4 had CS Ia (25%), 11 CS Ib (68.8%) and 1 CS Ic (6.3%), whereas all patients who died had CS IIIc (p = 0.0008). All 6 patients (25%) that underwent conservative surgery were alive and without recurrence. CONCLUSION: although GCT usually present low aggressiveness, the clinical staging continues to be the main prognostic factor and hence it determines the option for conservative surgery and the use of adjuvant therapy.