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The reproducibility of cervical histology diagnoses is critical for efficient screening and to evaluate the effectiveness of new technologies. The vast majority of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) diagnoses reported in the New Technologies for Cervical Cancer study were blindly reviewed by 2 independent pathologists. Only H&E-stained slides were used for the review. The reviewers were asked to reclassify cases using the following categories: normal CIN 1, CIN 2, CIN 3, and squamous and glandular invasive cancer. We reviewed 1,003 cases. The interobserver agreement was 0.36 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.32-0.40) with an unweighted kappa and 0.54 with a weighted kappa (95% CI, 0.50-0.58). The kappa values from dichotomous classifications with the threshold at CIN 2 were 0.69 (95% CI, 0.64-0.73) and 0.57 (95% CI, 0.51-0.63) with the threshold at CIN 3. The CIN 2 diagnosis had the lowest class-specific agreement, with fewer than 50% of cases confirmed by the panel members, which supports the fact that CIN 2 is not a well-defined stage in the pathogenesis of cervical neoplasia.

In this study we examined the incidence of colposcopic-colpocytologic findings and analyzed Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-DNA testing by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) in 104 Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) serous positive women (Group 1) and 218 HIV-negative women (control Groups 2 and 3). The aim of the study was to evaluate the most appropriate and efficacious diagnostic methods for screening programs for cervical cancer in HIV-positive women. For Group 1 we also considered the value of CD4+ T-lymphocytes and morphologic and molecular follow-up from 3 to 6 months. The results showed that the abnormal transformation zone (ANTZ) was present in 66.3% of the cases in Group 1 compared with 31.4% in control-Group 2 (p<0.001), and with 58.93% of the cases in control-Group 3 (p=0.257); intraepithelial squamous lesions (SIL) were found in 50% vs 5.66% (p<0.001) and vs 56.25% of the cases (p=0.433), respectively. In 28.85% of the HIV-positive patients the first cytological screening exam was not evaluable due to inflammation but in 56.67% of the cases colposcopy revealed ANTZ. The subsequent colpocytological checkup after therapy showed 10 cases (30%) of low risk squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL) and two cases (6.6%) of high risk squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL). HPV-DNA testing by PCR was positive in 53.8% of the cases in Group 1, in 6.6% in control-Group 2 and in 42% in control-Group 3. In HIV-positive patients multiple HPV genotypes were simultaneously present in 21.43% of the cases and high risk genotypes were present in 70% of the cases of HSIL. In Group 1, 36.61% of the cases had lesions of the lower genital tract. The value of CD4+ T-lympocytes was <200 cells/ml in 30% of the cases of HSIL. Our data, like those of other Authors, confirm a high incidence of HSIL, abnormal colposcopic findings, and HPV infections in HIV-positive women with respect to control-Group 2, while there was not much difference between Group 1 and control-Group 3. Such frequency again suggests that an integrated morphological diagnostic approach with colposcopy-colpocytology in the screening of immunosuppressed subjects would be worthwhile.

In this study of 906 women who underwent Cesarean Section without the use of an antibiotic prophylactic it has been confirmed that age, labour in course and the premature rupture of the membrane are clinical parameters that are statistically significant for unspecified fever/endometritis or for infections of the wound and that hemoglobin and hematocrit values below 9 gr/dl and at 35% post-operation are significant for infections of the wound. 13.2% women had complicating infections of which 1.3% were infections of the wound, 0.6% were endometritis, 7.2% were unspecified fever and 4.1% were urinary infections. The Authors show that preventive measures in some areas could be as effective as chemoprophylaxis.

The Authors retrospectively considered colpocytological and colposcopic findings in a series of 400 women, aged 16 to 83 years, presenting for the first time at the Oncological Gynaecology Unit of the Institute of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Padua University between 1991 and 1992. In addition to oncological evaluation, the bacteriological profile and hormone status of cytological samples were formulated in all cases. The most common oncological finding was a cell morphology within normal limits (67%), followed by reactive and reparative changes (19%) and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SIL, 12%). Histological findings correlated well with the cytological diagnosis, though low-grade SIL was over-estimated. As for the bacteriological profile, a mixed flora was most frequent (56.7%) followed, especially in fertile age, by Döderlein's bacillus (20%) and vaginosis (15.5%). Colposcopy most frequently revealed ectopia and/or a normal transformation zone (50.7%) and dystrophic mucosa (21%). An abnormal transformation zone was more common among women with a moderate-to-abundant flora. Fifteen male partners were also checked: cellular changes typical of human papilloma virus infection were found in 40% and colposcopic findings compatible with said virus were observed in 26.6% of cases. These results confirm that colpocytology provides a complete and simultaneous evaluation not only of cell morphology, but also of the bacterial population and hormones in the vaginal ecosystem. It is therefore the method of choice in screening for cervical and vaginal neoplasms and an effective means for simultaneously evaluating vaginal flora and hormone status.

One hundred and forty women, aged between 46 and 70 years, were submitted to periodic colpocytologic, colposcopic and cytologic endometrial checking. None of the patients had been treated by estrogenic therapy. We evaluated the possible morphologic modifications of the endometrium over time by periodic cytologic checks, personalized on the basis of the anamnestic and actual risks of the patients. From the data it was noted that the endometrium in pre- and in post-menopause may present changes in the absence of substitutive therapies. In fact in women in post-menopause we found 33% of atrophic endometria at first check, going down to 22.3% at the second, while the incidence of hyperplasia increased slightly. At the second check we always diagnosed 2 cases (2.6%) presenting atypia, confirmed by subsequent curettage. At the third check an increase was observed of atrophic endometria (41.8%) and a reduction of focal hyperplasia (4%). Among women in pre-menopause there was a high incidence of endometria with focal hyperplasia, 37.5% at the first check, 40.6% at the second and 39.6% at the third; hyperplasia in 11.5% of cases at first check, 12.5% at the second and 6.3% at the third; presence of atypia in 1.5% of cases at the second check and 3.2% at the third. Curettages subsequently confirmed diagnosis in these last three patients. In the cases where small fragments of endometrial tissue appeared in the cytological sample we found good agreement between histologic and cytologic diagnoses; the latter slightly overestimated focal hyperplasia and diffuse hyperplasia.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

In order to evaluate the evolution of the low grade dysplasia using colpocytologic follow-up, 150 women, enrolled in this study, were submitted to yearly colpocytologic control for a period of four years. The rate of progression toward more severe forms was very low; three cases (2.14%) in the first year, one case (0.7%) in the second and two cases (2.32%) in the fourth. Eighty-eight per cent of the patients had cytologic signs of Human Papilloma Virus infection detected in cytologic and histologic examination.

The Authors have examined the correlation between the colposcopic pictures of the Abnormal Transformation Zone (ANTZ), in its varying degrees, and the colpocytological and histological examinations in order to seek a better definition of the indications of carrying out aimed biopsies. From our results a good agreement has been observed from the colpocytological and histological examination and the colposcopic pictures of the ANTZ. In patients with colposcopic images of ANTZ G2 the colpocytological examination diagnosed a CIN 3 in 80.6% of cases, invasive carcinoma in 6.4%, and in histologic examination CIN 3 in 71% and microinvasive carcinoma in 10.7%. Instead in the ANTZ G1, CIN 3 was revealed colpocytologically in 7.9% of the cases and histologically in 7.3%. Among these last, in half of the cases, the focuses of CIN 3 were present at the level of third inferior of the cervical canal. Finally, in ANTZ G0 there was cytological evidence in 6.6% of cases of CIN 3 with a histological correspondence of 3.9%. In particular the focuses of CIN 3, small and limited, had resulted from biopsies carried out on some glandular openings not clearly attributable to ANTZ G1. With regard to the opportuneness of carrying out aimed biopsies, mandatory in the cases of ANTZ G2, we feel it would be useful to carry them out also for ANTZ G1, above all if alterations are diagnosed at the colpocytologic examinations, and in ANTZ G0 if colpocytological alterations are present. Therefore integrating colposcopic and colpocytologic examinations and aiming the biopsies would seem to lead to good diagnostic reliability and adequate successive personalized treatment.

The Authors have reported the cytological patterns of malignant primitive uterine fibrous histiocytoma of a 57 year old woman. The endometrial cytological sampling was performed by an aspiration technique using a feeding-tube; a necrotic-haemorrhagic background filled with hymphocytes and polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and a mixture of highly anaplastic histiocytic and fibroblastic type cells, associated with undifferentiated small round cells, has been described. The result of the histological examination performed on the surgical specimen was the following: polymorphic malignant neoplasia characterized by spindle-like and giant plurinucleated cells, phagocytosis features, endoluminal polypoid growth, wide infiltration of the miometrium two thirds deep, vascular space invasion of the uterine wall and the hilus of the ovaries. The histological features and immunohistochemical analysis were consistent with malignant fibrous histiocytoma in the pleomorphic variety.

Surgical re-examination after first line surgery followed by chemotherapy is an absolutely necessary step in the course of integrated treatment of advanced ovarian epithelial tumours. Our personal experience of surgical re-staging and reductive surgery in 48 patients affected by ovarian tumours stage III and IV (FIGO), by laparotomic second look is reported. Repeated surgery succeeds in further reducing the neoplastic deposits or radicalizing the first intervention in 33% of the overall series; in 52% of the cases, the second look was negative for neoplasia; in 16% only, despite tumour finding no reductive surgery was possible. If only the cases presenting residual neoplasia after primary surgery are taken into account, tumour debulking was possible in 44% of the patients. The analysis of this series fully confirms the preliminary statement that the smaller the residual neoplasia after surgery, the greater the chances of success for chemotherapy in ovarian cancer. It confirms as well that the laparotomic second look is the only currently available way to usefully assess the full remission of the disease.

The Authors report their experience regarding the comparison between pre-surgical clinico-instrumental staging and intra-operative staging in 134 patients with gynaecological neoplasias, particularly considering the spread to the lower urinary tract. The analysis of the results shows the moderate reliability of the cystoscopy in routinely evaluating extension of gynaecologic malignant diseases. The association of cytological urinary sediment examination with cystoscopy improves the possibility of a better evaluation. On the contrary, vesical biopsy, performed on the indications of cystoscopy and urinary cytology, and standard excretory urography prove to be insensitive indicators in diagnosing the spread of gynaecological malignancies.

The authors take into account all the Dilatation and Curettage done in the Obstetric and Gynaecological Clinic of the University of Siena during the past ten years, on hospitalized patients affected by postmenopausal uterine bleeding (PMB). Endometrial cancer resulted in 14.3% of the cases, in 41.4% of the cases the histological finding showed benign pathology of the endometrium, in 26.5% it was not possible to remove sufficient tissue from the uterine cavity for a diagnostic interpretation. In 14.6% of the cases, the diagnostic method showed premalignant or other than benign tissue. In the light of these results and considering the frequent complication which arise from this operative technique, the patients' stress, the high cost and the relatively low diagnostic reliability, the authors conclude that the routine use of this method is quite often excessive. The authors recommend, for the diagnosis of endometrial pathology, hysteroscopy associated with specific endometrial biopsy, undoubtedly the most up-to-date and less expensive technique, more acceptable to the patient and more sure than Dilatation and Curettage.

This study evaluates the possible use of computed tomography not as an alternative diagnostic method but, rather, as a supplement to laparotomy in patients treated for ovarian cancer. The following conclusions can be drawn: in patients presenting no clinical evidence of persistent or relapsing disease C.T. Scan is not a mandatory but, rather, an optional test since it entails 25% false negatives, a 66.6% predictive value and because the involved patients will need, in any case, a further intervention. Conversely, C.T. Scan is clearly indicated in patients presenting clinical evidence of disease. It can prove helpful in detecting metastases in areas that prove difficult to be clinically examined; in assessing whether the retroperitoneal areas conceal neoplastic tissue or in planning the right operation for masses that have been palpated only before chemotherapy, and then in regression. When, despite chemotherapy, tumour progresses, surgery may became useless, and the C.T. Scan may therefore prove helpful in defining the condition and guiding non surgical treatment. Therefore, in the follow up of ovarian cancer the C.T. Scan may be performed on the basis of clinical course, instead than on a rigid aprioristic planning.

The utility of endometrial cytology in the diagnosis of uterine pathology has led to the development of many methods of sampling; ours uses a rubber tube whose tip has been cut and in its place inserted a steel tip specially made, to the diameter of the tube, and 2-3 cm long. The withdrawal is normally carried out without any need for the dilation of the cervical canal and without having to pinch the neck of the uterus, the stell tip being pushed backwards and forwards by the extractor carrying out a curettage of the cavity. The material obtained is both abundant and of sufficient quality for a histological examination, besides the cytological one.

Seventy-seven cases of ovarian teratomas were studied according to examination modality of surgical specimens and to histologic patterns and frequency of different tissues components. The main histogenetic conjectures were debated also.

From October 1982 through December 1986, standardized abdominal-pelvic sonography was performed on 257 patients with ovarian cancer scheduled to undergo surgery (laparoscopy, laparotomy). This U.S. test was evaluated by a gynaecologist who was informed of the clinical diagnosis and the findings of physical examination. The Authors selected 110 patients with ovarian cancer, underwent a second look laparotomy, for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The sensitivity (53%), the specificity (68%), the predictive value (78%) and the accuracy 71.8%) of ultrasound for detecting disease have been evaluated to assess its usefulness as a non invasive diagnostic modality in these patients.

1068 patients were examined using a unified diagnostic protocol. 618 patients at high risk were screened out, and underwent further instrumental and surgical investigation. 17 cases of breast cancer were detected, while the remaining patients were addressed to an appropriate, highly reliable and repeatable follow-up for breast care.

In this study, the Authors report their own experience in electromyography of anal sphincters. The clinical evaluation concerns a clinical series of 14 patients suffering from carcinoma of the uterine cervix at SPS stage A and B, and undergoing a personalized radical hysterectomy during 1986. The protocol included a preoperative electromyographic and urodynamic evaluation and a post-operative re-evaluation 30-60 days after surgery. The pre-operative evaluation in both the urodynamic test and the electromyographic test showed bladder-urethral function in all the cases examined. The post-operative electromyographic evaluation was considered normal and did not show alterations in the sphincteral function in 9 cases (64.3%). In the remaining 5 cases (35.7%) the presence of sphincteral incoordination was shown. The analysis of the results shows that the use of electromyography, connected with the usual urodynamic study in gynaecological oncology, objectively recognises the sphincter-detrusorial situations characterized by dysuria and retention from a clinical-anamnestic point of view.

The problem of progestin treatment for benign breast disease and mastodynia is still dividing Clinicians and Searchers: the traditional methods of clinical investigation and follow-up do not allow any further step in the debate. In this work we evaluated the role of E2/Progesterone R.I.A. and thermography in monitoring the effect of progestin on BBD and found that only the latter can give useful informations, insufficient, however, to direct the treatment. If we want to be able to select the patients suitable to be treated by progesterone, we must know the tissutal hormone receptivity and be able to reexamine it during the treatment to verify the effectiveness of the administered drug. These informations can be obtained through the assay of Estradiol and Progesterone Receptors in the most accessible hormone-dependent tissue: the endometrium. Our data point out a quite different behaviour of Estradiol and Progesterone cytoplasmic Receptors in the endometrium of women with mastodynia and controls. The knowledge of these informations in the single patient will let us come out from subjectivity when deciding about BBD therapy or when trying to correct unsatisfactory treatments.

Cytological and histological finding of an intraductal breast papilloma in a 14 year old girl is reported. The differential diagnosis with other adolescent breast pathology is discussed.

In the present paper the authors, taking for a starting point the occasional recognition of an asymptomatic orthotopic ureterocele in pregnancy, refer to the present knowledge of its embryology, pathological anatomy and the form of therapeutic approach. In the light of such experience they confirm the role of clinical-instrumental diagnostic investigations of purely gynecological and obstetric pertinence in the recognition of pathologies of urological interest.

The indisputable utility of needle aspiration in early diagnosis induced us to improve a personal method of withdrawal. This is based on the use of an opposite mounting studied and patented by us, in order to maintain the single-use syringe in constant aspiration; also in some needles modified by a longitudinal split with a cutting edge.

In the University of Padua during the last ten years the chlamydia trachomatis, mycoplasma and viruses were studied in human infertility. The results show the influence on chlamydia and ureaplasma urealyticum, in some cases with different pathogenetic mechanisms. The results are discussed.

The Monoclonal Antibody technology has been used in 29 cases of ovarian cancer. The immuno-enzyme-assay detected positive levels of estrogen cytoplasmatic receptor in 51.8% of the cases as well as in the nuclear (51.8%). Moreover, the ER/EIA technique screened positive levels of Total ER (ER/t) in 72.4% versus 65.5% obtained by DCC-method. 24.1% of the cases had negative ER/t levels observed by EIA. The monoclonal antibody anti-ER is a very interesting method for studying hormone-dependent tissue, because it uses an immunological binding to antigenic protein (receptor).

The Authors reviewed 284 cases of endometriosis; it interested all age ranges with prevalence of four and fifth decades and showed a range of 19-68 years. Favourite sites was ovary with 271 cases, remaining were: tubes, omentum, vagina, vulva and cecum. The histological appearance is similar to normal endometrium but these foci react to hormonal stimulation variably.

479 cases of tumors of salivary glands were examined at the Institute of Surgical Pathology of the University of Padua during the years 1973-1986; all these were reviewed. The diagnosis of individual tumors was based on the World Health Organization classification. Tumors were analyzed considering the histological type, sex, age and site. Primary tumors of epithelial origin were 91.8%. The principal site was the parotid (78.1%) while the submandibular gland forms the second largest group (14.57%). The malignant forms increase with age and were more common in submandibular and sublingual glands than the parotid. Connective tissue tumors were rare; 50% were hemangiomas that occur in children and young people; the only malignant neoplasias of soft tissue were 2 cases of rhabdomyosarcoma.