Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):443-448
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800003
Purpose: to demonstrate the interobserver variation existing in the ultrasonographic measurement of amniotic fluid index (AFI) and in the measurement of pocket area, and to compare these two methods. In addition, an attempt was made to establish the intraobserver variation in the measurement of this index. Methods: values of AFI, described by Phelan et al.18, were studied in a group of 80 pregnant women considered to be clinically normal, seen at the Ultrasonography and Medical Updating School of Ribeirão Preto and in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo (FMRP-USP). All pregnant women had a gestational age of more than 24 weeks. Fifty of these patients were submitted to AFI evaluation by 5 different ultrasonographists using the same equipment and during the same period of time, in order to determine the interobserver variation of this index. In addition, planimetric measurement of the area was performed by 2 of these 5 ultrasonographists, selected at random, in an attempt to determine interobserver variation in area measurement. Another group of 30 pregnant women was evaluated by the same ultrasonographist in an attempt to evaluate intraobserver variation in terms of AFI measurement. Results: There was a significant interobserver variation in AFI measurement and a significant variation in area measurement. However, the intraobserver variation in AFI measurement was nonsignificant. There was a correlation between AFI and area measurements. Conclusions: we emphasize the obstetrical applicability of this index and the easier execution of this method compared to area measurement, despite the importance of both procedures.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):449-453
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800004
Purpose: to determine folate, vitamin B12 and ferritin levels in patients whose fetuses presented neural-tube defects (NTD). Blood folate and vitamin B12 act as cofactors of enzymes involved in DNA biosynthesis. Interruption of this process may block neural-tube closing. Vitamin supplementation with folate may reduce occurrence rates and recurrence of NTD, although there is concern about the fact that this prevention may mask vitamin B12 deficiency. Methods: vitamin B12 and ferritin determinations by enzyme immunoassay with microparticles and folic acid determination using the ion capture method (IMx ABBOTT). Results: the percentage of pregnant women with vitamin B12 deficirncy (serum levels < 150 pg/ml) was 11.8%. There was no case of folate deficiency (serum levels < 3.0 ng/ml) and prevalence of pregnant women with iron store deficiency was 47.1% (serum levels < ng/mg). Conclusions: occording to the results obtained in this study (prevalence of 11.8% of vitamin B12 and 0% of folate deficient pregnant women) we suggest that supplementation should be administered after serum vitamin B12 determination.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):457-462
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800005
Objective: to determine the efficacy and safety of misoprostol for cervical ripening and induction of labor in pregnant women at term when compared with placebo. Patients and Methods: fifty-one high-risk pregnant women at term, with unripe cervix, were allocated in a double-blind trial for treatment with intravaginal misoprostol (40 mg, 4/4 h) or intravaginal placebo. Results: thirty-two patients received misoprostol and 19 received placebo. The groups were homogeneous concerning maternal age, gestacional age, parity, and indication for induction (p > 0.05). In the misoprostol group the efficacy was 87.5% and in the placebo group 21.1% (p = 0.0000087). Regarding delivery, in the misoprostol group 75% had vaginal delivery and 25% abdominal delivery, and in the placebo group only 32% had vaginal delivery and 68% abdominal delivery (p = 0.0059).The Apgar score was similar. Conclusion: in this study misoprostol was effective and safe for cervical ripening and induction of labor.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):463-467
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800006
Purpose: to evaluate, in a prospective way, the performance of the fine needle aspiration biopsy in the differential diagnosis of palpable breast masses. Method: the sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for this test were evaluated in 102 women with age above 30 years and a palpable breast mass, who were attended at the University of Campinas. All punctures were performed by the same examiner. Results: the procedure had a sensitivity of 97%, specificity of 87%, positive predictive value of 94% and negative predictive value of 93%. The insufficient or unsatisfactory sample rate was 16% for the first aspiration, decreasing to 2% with a new procedure. Conclusions: this test showed to be highly sensitive and specific for the differential diagnosis of palpable breast masses, reassuring its great importance for the clinical approach of palpable masses.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(8):469-473
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998000800007
Purpose: to evaluate the association between second-degree family history of breast cancer and the risk to develop the disease. Methods: case-control study of incident cases. Sixty-six incident breast cancer cases and 198 controls were selected among women who were submitted to mammography in a private clinic between January 1994 and July 1997. Cases and controls were paired regarding age, age at menarche, at first live birth, at menopause, parity, oral contraceptives and use of hormonal replacement therapy. Results: there was no significant difference between cases and controls regarding all risk factors evaluated, besides second-degree family history. Patients with breast cancer were more likely to have second-degree relatives with breast cancer when compared to controls (OR=2.77; 95% CI, 1.03-7.38; p=0.039). Conclusions: malignant neoplasm of the breast is significantly associated with a second-degree family history of this disease.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(10):557-561
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998001000003
Purpose: the authors report their experience with necrotizing fasciitis (NF) cases which occurred in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Service of the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, assessing the frequency of NF and analyzing the association between NF and certain risk factors cited in the literature. Methods: a retrospective study of patients a with diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis at the Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre from January 1990 to December 1997. Results: two post-cesarean section and one post-surgical (because of ectopic pregnancy) NF cases were found. None of the patients presented clinical complications nor NF risk factors and all surgeries were urgent. The NF frequency in this study was 2.6/10.000 cesarians and mortality was zero. Discussion: NF is a clinical syndrome which does not occur very often but is associated with high morbidity and mortality. This disease involves the surgical wound and the fascial plans. Fast handling and early and intensive treatment bring about good results and decrease in the mortality rate.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 1998;20(10):565-569
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72031998001000004
Purpose: to estimate the duration of cervical neoplasia from human pappilomavirus (HPV) infection to advanced invasive carcinoma, using as paremeter the mean age of the women at diagnosis. Methods: this cross-sectional study included 1,177 women with HPV infection, 1,561 with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and 773 with invasive carcinoma. Results: the mean ages of CIN 1 and CIN 2 on diagnosis were not statistically different. The mean duration of CIN 2 was 2.2 years. The mean duration of CIN 3 was 10.3 years, with 4.1 years as severe dysplasia and 6.2 years as carcinoma in situ (CIS). The mean duration of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions was 12.5 years. The duration means of invasive carcinoma stages Ia, Ib and II were 3.0, 2.7 and 3.7 years, respectively. Conclusions: according to the results, CIN 1 and CIN 2 may arise directly from HPV infection and most of these lesions are transient. CIS presented the longest duration and the mean asymptomatic period of cervical neoplasia is 18.2 years. These results were discussed considering the present knowledge of the natural history of cervical carcinoma and other studies on duration of this neoplasia.