Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(5):323-327
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000500006
Purpose: to assess ovarian reserve by FSH determination on the 3rd day of the menstrual cycle compared to the clomiphene test and to correlate the results with the ovarian response to controlled hyperstimulation with gonadotrophins for in vitro fertilization. Methods: a total of 49 patients older than 30 years who had been presenting a clinical picture of infertility for at least 1 year were selected. All patients were evaluated for ovarian reserve by the clomiphene citrate test and 26 of them were later submitted to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation with gonadotrophins. Of these 26 patients, 18 showed a good response to ovarian hyperstimulation and 8 showed a poor response. Mean (+ SD) FSH values were calculated for the determinations on the 3rd and on the 10th day and for their sum in the group of patients who responded favorably to ovarian stimulation, and were later correlated with the ovarian response after gonadotrophin stimulation. Results: employing a FSH value > 16.1 IU/mL on the 10th day (mean plus 2 SD) for the prediction of a poor ovarian response in the clomiphene test, the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of this parameter were 50, 100, 100 and 81.8%, respectively. Considering the clomiphene test to be positive when the sum of the FSH values determined on the 3rd and 10th day plus 2 SD was > 22.6 IU/mL, we obtained 62.5% sensitivity 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, and 85.7% negative predictive value. A single FSH determination of 10 IU/mL on the 3rd day of the cycle for the prediction of a poor ovarian response showed 87% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 94.7% negative predictive value. Conclusion: in the present study, a single FSH determination on the 3rd day of the cycle showed to be more sensitive than the clomiphene test for the evaluation of ovarian reserve.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(5):329-334
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000500007
Purpose: to evaluate the effect of total abdominal hysterectomy on ovarian blood supply in women in reproductive age, using transvaginal color Doppler. Methods: a prospective study was carried out on 61 40-year-old or younger women. They were divided into two groups: G1, 31 patients submitted to hysterectomy, and G2, 30 normal women. Criteria of inclusion: normal ovarian function at baseline, normal body weight, without expasure to tobacco, no history of laparotomy or ovarian pathology. The pulsatility index (PI) of ovarian arteries determined by Doppler and the transvaginal ultrasonographic measurement of the ovarian volume were performed at three moments: baseline, 6 and 12 months. Results: at baseline the groups were homogeneous. In the hysterectomized group, with 6 and 12 months, increase of the volume of the ovaries and decrease of PI (p<0,05) were observed. At the end of the study, 25.5% (8/31) of the hysterectomized patients presented benign ovarian cysts. In the control group no alteration of the parameters was observed. Conclusion: The decrease of PI by Doppler of ovarian arteries suggests increased ovarian blood supply after total abdominal hysterectomy in women in reproductive age.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(5):337-341
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000500008
Purpose: to evaluate pregnancy outcome after laparoscopic tubal anastomosis. Method: from December 1998 to December 2001, 26 patients with bilateral tubal ligation who underwent laparoscopic tubal anastomosis were prospectively evaluated. Patients' age ranged from 28 to 37 years. The follow-up period ranged from 150 to 425 days and tubal patency (evaluated by hysterosalpingography) and pregnancy outcome were evaluated. Results: laparoscopic tubal reversal was performed in 23 patients. Bilateral reversal was attempted in all except two patients. The operation time ranged from 95 to 155 minutes and all patients were discharged on the following morning. Tubal patency was confirmed in 15 patients (15/23). Pregnancy rate was 56.5% (13/23), without ectopic pregnancies. Nine patients got pregnant in up to four months and four in up to nine months after discontinuing the use of condom. Conclusion: in selected cases, laparoscopic tubal reversal can be performed in patients who had been submitted to tubal sterilization and desire new pregnancies. Patient selection as well as meticulous surgical technique are key factors in achieving satisfactory pregnancy rates.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(4):221-226
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000400002
Purpose: to evaluate the relationdhip between preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve and pain sensitivity of the arm, total time of the surgery, and number of dissected nodes in patients submitted to axillary lymphadenectomy due to breast cancer. Methods: an intervention, prospective, randomized and double-blind study was performed on 85 patients assisted at the State University of Campinas, Brazil, from January 1999 to July 2000. The patients were divided into two groups, according to the intention of preserving or not the intercostobrachial nerve. The surgeries were performed by the same researchers, utilizing the same technique. The postoperative evaluations were performed within 2 days, 40 days and after 3 months. The pain sensitivity of the arm was evaluated through a specific questionnaire (subjective evaluation) and through a neurological physical examination (objective evaluation). Results: the surgical technique was applied to all patients and the preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve was related to a significant decrease in the alterations of pain sensitivity of the arm, both by the subjective and objective evaluations. After three months, in the subjective evaluation, 61% of the patients were asymptomatic in the intercostobrachial nerve preservation group and 28.6% in the nerve section group (p<0.01). By the objective evaluation, 53.7% of the patients presented normal neurological examination in the intercostobrachial nerve preservation group and 16.7% in the nerve section group (p<0.01). No significant difference was observed regarding total time of surgery (p=0.76) and number of dissected nodes between the two evaluated groups (p=0.59). Conclusions: these data show that the preservation of the intercostobrachial nerve is feasible and leads to a significant decrease in the alterations of pain sensitivity of the arm, without interfering in the total time of surgery and the number of dissected nodes.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(4):233-239
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000400004
Purpose: to analyze sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and the likelihood ratio of transvaginal ultrasound and hysteroscopy when compared with the histopathologic examination of the endometrium in women with breast cancer who have been treated with tamoxifen. Methods: transversal study with 30 women in whom transvaginal ultrasound evaluated the echogenic pattern of endometrial echo and its thickness. Hyteroscopy was performed and described as normal (normal or atrophic endometrium) or abnormal (thickening, polyps, leiomyoma, synechia). Material for histopathology was obtained from endometrial biopsy and the findings were considered normal (irregular endometrial maturation and/or atrophy) or abnormal (polyps, simple or complex hyperplasia, leiomyoma or endometrial carcinoma). Results: the general diagnosis of endometrial modifications was present in 36.6% of patients. The most frequent results were cystic atrophy (46.6%) and endometrial polyps (26.6%). Through the ROC curve the best cutoff of 8 mm of endometrial thickness measure was determined. This measure showed sensitivity of 72.7%, specificity of 72.9%, positive predictive value of 66.6%, negative predictive value of 83.3% and likelihood ratio of 3.4. Hysteroscopy showed sensitivity of 90.9%, specificity of 68.4%, positive predictive value of 62.5%, negative prediction value of 92.8% and likelihood ratio of 2.8. Conclusions: the most frequent endometrial modifications were cystic atrophy followed by polyps. Transvaginal ultrasound showed a higher rate of false-positive (42.1%), when the cutoff for the thickness of the endometrium was 5 mm; however acuracy improved when the measure of 8 mm was used. The cutoff of 8 mm was determined through the ROC curve.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(4):227-231
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000400003
Purpose: to evaluate the variations in vascular anatomy by assessing the number of vessels of the proximal and distal urethra, of the vesicourethral canal and of the bladder, during and after pregnancy in rats. Method: thirty female rats, with a positive test for pregnancy, were divided into three groups of 10 animals each: GI - rats on the 10th day of pregnancy; GII - rats on the 20th day of pregnancy; GIII - rats on the 5th day of puerperium; a control group (GIV) composed of 10 rats in the estrous phase. The vessels were stained by the method of Masson and counted with a 25-dot integration ocular, coupled to a light microscope, with an objective of 40X. The studied regions were proximal and distal urethra, vesicourethral canal and bladder. Results: there was no significant variation in the vessel number in the bladder, in the vesicourethral canal and in the proximal urethra during gestation. In the distal urethra of the group IV there were 13.7 vessels, less than that observed in the pregnant groups (20.5 to 24.4 vessels). Conclusion: the pregnant rats had a larger number of vessels in the distal urethra than those in the estrous phase. There were no differences regarding the other sites.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(4):241-246
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000400005
Purpose: to make a differential diagnosis in regard to breast carcinoma and to evaluate diagnostic and clinical methods in the treatment of breast tuberculosis and the follow-up after adequate treatment. Patients and Methods: three patients with breast tuberculosis were observed from March 2001 to March 2002; the first two were hospitalized at our Mastology Department and the third patient was treated at a private clinic. The clinical signs and symptoms, laboratory findings, response to therapy and follow-up were evaluated. Results: the average age of the patients was 40.6 years. The most frequent signs and symptoms were pain and breast tumor. In two patients the presumptive diagnosis was based on the clinical findings, on the histological findings (granulomatous inflammatory process), and on the therapeutic response to tuberculostatic drugs. Only one patient had a microbiological diagnosis, as Koch's bacillus was identified in a sample of her breast tissue. Treatment with a triple tuberculostatic regimen, including rifampin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide, led to the regression of the lesions. Conclusion: primary breast tuberculosis, a rare occurrence which may present clinically as a breast nodule and radiologically as carcinoma, should be taken into account when making the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with mammary mass.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2002;24(4):247-251
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032002000400006
Purpose: to compare cervical length measurements in twin pregnancies obtained by transvaginal ultrasound examination in the recumbent and standing positions. Methods: fifty twin pregnancies underwent transvaginal ultrasound examinations to measure the cervical length with the women in recumbent and standing positions. The study was carried out between May 1999 and December 2000. The scans were repeated every 4 weeks and the total number of evaluations was 136. Two groups were analyzed: one included only the first ultrasound examinations carried out in each woman and the second group included all evaluations. Results: in the first group, cervical length measurements in the standing and recumbent positions correlated inversely with the gestational age (recumbent: r=-0.60; p<0.001; standing: r=-0.46; p=0.008). The mean measure in the recumbent position was 35.2 mm (SD=9.9 mm) and 33.4 mm (SD=9.5 mm) in the standing position. When the difference between the measure obtained in the standing and recumbent positions was expressed as percentage of the measure in the recumbent position, there was no significant association with gestational age (p=0.07). When all evaluations were considered, there was a significant association between cervical length in the recumbent and standing positions (r=0.79; p<0.001). The measures in recumbent and standing positions were inversely correlated with gestational age (recumbent: p<0.0001; standing: p<0.0001). The mean cervical length in the recumbent position was 33.5 mm (SD=10.8 mm) and 31.8 mm (SD=9.6 mm) in the standing position. There was no significant association between cervical length difference expressed as percentage of the measure in the recumbent position and gestation. Conclusion: cervical length measure obtained with the patients in the recumbent and standing positions provided similar information.