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Biomedical subjects

C O Granai

Publications and source records attributed to C O Granai.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

The effects of a course in cadaver dissection on resident knowledge of pelvic anatomy: an experimental study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a course in cadaver dissection can significantly increase resident knowledge of pelvic anatomy beyond that of current educational practices. METHODS: Thirteen first- and second-year residents were randomly assigned to a cadaver dissection course (seven) or a control group (six). The dissection group performed dissections with instruction, using a dissection guide designed specifically for the course. The control group received study references on pelvic anatomy and protected study time. Each participant took a practical and written examination at the beginning and end of the study. RESULTS: The two groups did not differ statistically in their scores on the pre-test. Both groups improved on the post-test, but the dissection group scored nearly 50% higher on the test than did the controls. The two groups differed significantly on the post-test, adjusted for pre-test performance (P < .01). In their evaluation of the course, participants from the dissection group emphasized its educational value and urged that it be offered to residents as a regular part of their training. CONCLUSION: Dissection of a human cadaver provides a valuable experience, allowing participants to gain a greater understanding of surgical anatomy and surgical procedures in a no-risk, unhurried setting. Residents who participated in a cadaver dissection course designed specifically for their needs showed a statistically significant increase in knowledge compared with those without this experience. Both objectively and subjectively, a cadaver dissection course is an excellent tool for instructing gynecology residents.

Cadaver↗
PubMed1995

Malignant mixed mesodermal tumors of the ovary.

OBJECTIVE: To review the experience at Women & Infants Hospital and Hartford Hospital of patients with malignant mixed mesodermal tumors of the ovary, and to review the pertinent literature. METHODS: Fourteen cases of malignant mixed mesodermal tumors of the ovary at the two hospitals over a 5-year period were identified through their tumor registries. Demographic data, pathology, treatment, and survival rates were reviewed. RESULTS: The median survival of the patients in our series was 7 months, with 64% dead of disease in 1 year. A review of the pertinent literature indicated median survivals of 6-12 months, with more than 70% of the patients dead of disease at 1 year, despite treatment. CONCLUSION: Further investigation is needed to determine the proper management for malignant mixed mesodermal tumors of the ovary. Meanwhile, current treatment strategies should recognize the present therapeutic limitations, so as not to diminish any further the quality of life for women with this malignancy.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Endometriosis with myxoid change. A case simulating pseudomyxoma peritonei.

After a diagnosis of endocervical adenocarcinoma was made on examination of a curettage specimen, a 46-year-old woman underwent laparotomy for the purpose of radical hysterectomy. After frozen section of a biopsy specimen obtained from a nodule 2 cm in diameter on the posterior surface of the cervix was interpreted as adenocarcinoma, consistent with pseudomyxoma peritonei, the planned hysterectomy was abandoned; only biopsies of the pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes and a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy were performed. Permanent sections of the nodule revealed pools of almost acellular mucin, myxoid fibrous tissue, and typical endometriotic glands and stroma. Similar findings were associated with endometriotic foci in the serosa of a fallopian tube and adjacent to a pelvic lymph node. There was no evidence of adenocarcinoma in any of the specimens. A radical hysterectomy was performed subsequently, and pathological examination of the uterus revealed a superficially invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix without evidence of extrauterine spread. The diagnosis of endometriosis associated with myxoid change was confirmed in residual cul-de-sac tissue. The patient was alive with no clinical evidence of tumor 6.5 years later. This case illustrates that rare cases of endometriosis can be associated with striking degrees of myxoid change, a finding that should not be confused with mucinous adenocarcinoma on microscopic examination.

Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous↗
PubMed1993

Lower limb ischemic venous thrombosis in patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma.

Three cases of lower limb, deep venous thrombosis that progressed to ischemia in patients with advanced ovarian cancer are reported. One patient developed frank gangrene of the extremity. Venous stasis, secondary to venous compression from metastatic disease, was the predisposing factor in all cases. Heparin therapy was uniformly unsuccessful in halting progression of thrombosis. Ischemic thrombosis originating from extrinsic venous compression is unlikely to respond to conventional therapy alone. Local external radiation to metastatic sites, given early and possibly in conjunction with conventional treatment methods, may achieve a clinical response by causing a reduction in tumor size and thus relief of venous compression.

Female↗
PubMed1993

Persistence of gestational trophoblastic disease for longer than 1 year following evacuation of hydatidiform mole.

BACKGROUND: A spontaneous fall in the radioimmunoassay for the beta subunit of hCG to less than 2 mIU/mL documents regression of hydatidiform mole following evacuation of a molar pregnancy. Continued negative hCG levels for the year after evacuation indicates the absence of risk for persistent gestational trophoblastic disease. This report describes an unusual case of recurrent nonmetastatic gestational trophoblastic disease 16 months after initial evacuation. CASE: A 29-year-old woman presented at 19 weeks' gestation with severe preeclampsia and vaginal bleeding. Pelvic ultrasonography demonstrated a molar pregnancy. Pathology following uterine evacuation confirmed a hydatidiform mole. Serial hCG levels fell progressively to less than 2 mIU/mL over the following 25 weeks. She remained compliant with oral contraceptive pills despite having no sexual activity. Sixteen months after uterine evacuation, recurrence of gestational trophoblastic disease was documented by a rising beta-hCG, negative pelvic ultrasound, normal liver function tests, and normal computed tomography of the head. Endometrial curettage showed no chorionic villi or molar tissue. She was treated with five courses of actinomycin D and has remained disease-free for the following 5 years. CONCLUSION: This late recurrence of gestational trophoblastic disease suggests that those with a molar pregnancy may benefit from surveillance beyond 1 year after uterine evacuation.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine presenting as a pelvic mass: four cases.

Four patients with leiomyosarcoma of the small intestine who presented with a pelvic mass are reviewed. The tumors had clinical and radiographic features resembling ovarian neoplasms. These patients develop sizable tumors and, yet, have relatively few symptoms which would necessarily direct the physician to the intestine as the site of origin. The clinicopathologic features and management of these tumors are reviewed.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

The use of minoxidil to attempt to prevent alopecia during chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies.

Minoxidil 2% topical solution applied twice a day is known to induce hair growth and prevent hair loss in normal male pattern baldness. Based on this potential, this pilot study tested the effect of Minoxidil on hair loss during chemotherapy for gynecologic cancers. Ten women about to start alopecia-inducing chemotherapy protocols were entered into this non-randomized prospective trial. By study design, each patient served as her own control, as only a portion of the scalp was treated with Minoxidil. Four of the ten patients were unevaluable for failing to comply with the twice-a-day Minoxidil application schedule. Of the six evaluable patients, five experienced complete or severe symmetrically diffuse hair loss, all of which occurred within four weeks of initiating chemotherapy. One patient had no hair loss in either the treatment or control area. Application of the topical Minoxidil in all ten patients had no untoward side effects, skin changes or hypotension. Thus, in this pilot study, 2% Minoxidil was non-toxic but showed no benefit in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia.

Administration, Topical↗
PubMed1990

Use of the omental J flap for better delivery of radiotherapy to the pelvis.

The surgically created omental J flap (or synthetic equivalents) can facilitate radiation therapy, particularly brachytherapy, in which adhesions of the pelvis would otherwise limit its value. The J flap used in this role has an occasional place in the management of patients with carcinoma and exemplifies how surgical procedures and irradiation can be combined for more effective treatment of carcinomas.

Brachytherapy↗
PubMed1990

Ultrasound for diagnosing and preventing malplacement of intrauterine tandems.

Postoperative B-mode ultrasound was used to evaluate final tandem position in 50 consecutive placements (28 patients). In 34% (17 of 50), the tandem was found to be suboptimally positioned; in 24% (12 of 50), it penetrated the myometrium; and in 10% (five of 50), it frankly perforated the uterus. The uterine fundus was the region most commonly perforated, and the anterior myometrium was the site most frequently penetrated. In all cases in which postoperative ultrasound showed malpositioning, the clinical and radiographic assessment indicated proper intracavitary placement. Ultrasound affected clinical management in 42% (21 of 50) of the placements involving 61% (17 of 28) of the patients. To improve tandem placement, we used intraoperative real-time ultrasound to guide 73 consecutive surgical insertions. Ultrasound clearly visualized the procedure, allowing tandems to be positioned with confidence even in the most difficult cases. The immediate feedback from intraoperative ultrasound eliminated malplacements and thus the need for a second anesthesia to reposition the tandem.

Brachytherapy↗
PubMed1989

Primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube.

Nineteen women with a mean age of 62 were treated for primary adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube from 1960 to 1980. Common presentations were bleeding or discharge, pelvic mass, and pain. Cervical cytology was positive in five of eleven cases; endometrial curettings revealed adenocarcinoma in three of nine cases. Staging was by a system analogous to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) classification of ovarian carcinoma: 11% stage I, 44% stage II, 28% stage III, and 17% stage IV. Bleeding and abnormal cervical cytology were associated with earlier stage lesions and better prognosis. The most common treatment was excision of the primary tumor and gross intraperitoneal metastases. Total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed in 14 cases. Thirteen patients received 40-50 Gray of 2 MeV external beam pelvic radiation. Stages I and II had five-year survival of 100% and 63%. However, 38% of stage II patients had late extrapelvic relapses, and two early stage patients suffered serious complications of radiation therapy. All stage III and IV patients died of disease, 63% within the first 3 years. Based upon these results and review of other modern series, the importance of early diagnosis and complete surgical staging is emphasized, and stage-specific adjuvant therapy recommended.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1985

The value of endocervical curettage as part of the standard colposcopic evaluation.

Whether to perform endocervical curettage (ECC) as part of a routine colposcopic examination in patients with an abnormal Papanicolaou smear remains controversial. Some studies consider ECC an essential part of a colposcopic examination regardless of the level of the squamocolumnar junction (SCJ); others consider it superfluous in cases where the SCJ can be visualized. Between January 1980 and December 1982, 278 new patients with abnormal Papanicolaou smears underwent colposcopy. Directed biopsies established the degree of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and ruled out invasive disease. ECC was done on every patient. A total of 51 patients (18%) had a positive ECC. Seven patients could not be evaluated because their records were incomplete. Of the 44 evaluable patients, 32 (73%) had satisfactory colposcopy. In the remaining 12 (27%) the upper limit of the transformation zone could not be seen clearly; in that group the degrees of CIN on colposcopic biopsy and ECC were in agreement in two cases; ECC revealed the degree to be less severe in four cases and more severe in six (50%). In the group with satisfactory examinations, 15 had the same degree of CIN on colposcopic biopsy and ECC; ten had less severe and seven (22%), more severe degrees of CIN on ECC. Of greatest clinical importance was that, overall, 11.5% had a positive ECC despite a satisfactory colposcopic examination. This study indicated that ECC provides unique and important information, justifying its inclusion as part of the standard evaluation of every patient undergoing colposcopy for abnormal cervical cytology.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1984

Ultrasound used for assessing the in situ position of intrauterine tandems.

Intracavitary radiation is an integral part of the treatment in many gynecologic cancers. The intrauterine tandem has a well-established role in treating both cervical and endometrial malignancies. The effectiveness of this therapy and its complications are directly related to the proper intracavitary position of the tandem. To date, there has been no objective technique appropriate for routine use in assessing the precise in situ location of these devices, apart from plain abdominal films. As such, little is known about the incidence or types of procedural complications and the sequelae associated with improper tandem placement. Here it is reported that ultrasound is an effective tool for evaluating the in situ position of the intrauterine tandem. Two cases are presented demonstrating important applications of this method.

Aged↗