Search

Objective: To develop a differential diagnosis of a mass retrieved alongside skeletal remains in the crypt of the church of Santissima Annunziata of Valenza (Province of Alessandria, Northern Italy)., Material: A calcified mass measuring 40 × 39 mm and 17.62 × 16.3817.62 × 16.38 mm., Method: The analysis utilized macroscopic assessment and histologic examination (including histochemical and immunohistochemical analyses)., Results: Morphological traits include an irregular and spongy external surface. Holes of different sizes lead toward the inner part of the object. A section of the mass shows an "intertwined bundle" pattern, confirmed by microscopic examination., Conclusions: Differential diagnosis determined the mass to be consistent with calcified leiomyoma., Significance: Identifying uterine leiomyoma adds to the paucity of paleopathological literature on the condition and to calcified tumors more broadly. It also allows for an important discussion of women's gynecological health in the past and potentially among nulliparous women., Limitations: Neither histochemical staining nor immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated the certain muscular nature of the specimens due to the rehydration and decalcification processes, for which there are no gold standards., Suggestions for Further Research: Calcified masses are common in the clinical literature but remain rare in paleopathological literature. Careful excavation and improved recognition of apparently calcified masses are necessary to improve recognition, diagnosis, and interpretation., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

A recent article supports our longstanding view that all intramural fibroids can cause disturbance of uterine function. This may be reflected in the symptom of menorrhagia or fertility-related issues, as well as pregnancy losses at all gestational stages. However, it was disappointing that there was no reference to either the mechanism by which fibroids disturb uterine function nor to the gynaecologist who described this more than 100 years ago, namely John Sampson. In fact, Sampson's findings about the unique venous drainage mechanism from the endometrium explains how menstrual loss is contained in normal physiology, but which can be excessive when the protective 'anaemic' zone is disturbed. Two more recent and pertinent observations include the hysteroscopic findings of Osamu Sugimoto, who showed in the 1970s that the endometrium overlying submucous fibroids is actually atrophic, hence the oft-cited reason of hyperplastic or excessive endometrium cannot be the cause of the associated menorrhagia. Furthermore, recent imaging techniques describe an additional 'junctional zone' adjacent to the endometrium in cases of fibroids and adenomyosis. We believe this all adds up to disturbed venous drainage as described by Sampson and needs to immediately enter the educational training of medical students, doctors and gynaecologists worldwide., (Copyright © 2019 Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The recent discovery of the earliest hominin cancer, a 1.7-million-year-old osteosarcoma from South Africa has raised the question of the origin of cancer and its determinants. We aimed to determine whether malignant and benign tumors exist in the past societies., Methods: A review of literature using Medline database and Google about benign and malignant tumors in prehistory and antiquity. Only cases with morphological and paraclinical analysis were included. The following keywords were used: cancer; paleopathology; malignant neoplasia; benign tumor; leiomyoma; myoma; breast cancer; mummies; soft tissue tumor; Antiquity., Results: Thirty-five articles were found in wich there were 34 malignant tumors, 10 benign tumors and 11 gynecological benign tumors., Conclusions: The fact that there were some malignant tumors, even few tumors and probably underdiagnosed, in the past may be evidence that cancer is not only a disease of the modern world. Cancer may be indeed a moving target: we have likely predisposing genes to cancer inherited from our ancestors. The malignant disease could therefore appear because of our modern lifestyle (carcinogens and risk factors related to the modern industrial society)., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Leiomyoma is the most common benign tumor of the pelvic that is associated with reproductive problems such as infertility, frequent abortions, and undesirable prenatal outcomes. High prevalence of leiomyoma and its relation with important gynecological complications, especially during reproductive ages, on the one hand, and high medical expenses and significant complications of common treatments, on the other, made us search traditional Persian medicine texts for a similar disease. In traditional Persian medicine, a condition has been introduced similar to leiomyoma (Oram-e-rahem). In this article, by collecting materials from traditional medicine texts on leiomyoma, we aim to provide theories for further studies on this topic, as there is an obvious difference between traditional Persian medicine and modern medicine with regard to leiomyoma. When modern medicine has not found a suitable response to treatment, reviewing of traditional Persian medicine for finding better treatment strategies is wise., (© The Author(s) 2015.)

Objective: During mature placenta formation, select fetal trophoblasts invade maternal decidual arterioles and junctional zone arteries and change them into low-resistance uteroplacental arteries. Consequently, physicians performing vascular procedures that occlude the uterine arteries should understand their effects on miscarriage rates, the various toxemias of pregnancy, gross and microscopic placental anatomy, and invasive placentation. Thus, the objective of this article is to review the effects of vascular occlusion on pregnancy., Conclusion: In the long run, placental abnormalities may be the canary in the mine shaft to globally judge the effect of uterine artery embolization on pregnancy.

At the end of the 19th century, uterine fibroids cause huge therapeutic issues: on the one hand they can reach an impressive massive volume; on the other hand they provoke endless haemorrhages. Dr Apostoli develops galvanotherapy which becomes the reference in French and international medicine before its rapid downfall as gynaecological surgery makes great progress at the beginning of the 20th Century.