[Hormonal replacement therapy after breast cancer].
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to F Laffargue.
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The presence of estrogens alone increases the risk of cancer of the endometrium. The risk increases with dosage and length of administration. Estrogens have a promoting rather than an initiating role since the risk progressively disappears after stopping treatment. Hormone-induced cancers have a better prognosis than spontaneous cancers. The association of progesterone or a progestogen obviates this risk. Prescription of oestrogens after treatment of cancer of the endometrium is non longer strictly contraindicated. Each case should be considered independently.
We present a case of prenatal diagnosis of a fetal cystic hygroma of the arm diagnosed using ultrasound scanning in the 32nd week of gestation. This represents the first reported case of cystic hygroma in this location. Ultrasonography was useful for the assessment of fetal arm mobility and for monitoring the volume of the mass during the pregnancy.
Lymphangiomas or cystic hygromas are malformations of the lymphatic vessels and are characterized by single or multiple cysts which have developed within the soft tissues. They occur most commonly in the neck (75 per cent of cases) and are often associated with hydrops or chromosomal abnormalities (Romero et al., 1988). Mediastinal or abdominal locations are rare and represent less than 5 per cent of cases in the literature (Singh et al., 1971). This paper represents the first reported case of prenatal diagnosis of a lymphangioma in the neck, mediastinum, and abdomen. Diagnosis was made before fetal viability, and allowed us to recommend termination of the pregnancy because of the poor prognosis.
Uterine angiomyolipomas are rare lesions composed of mature adipose tissue, smooth muscle, fibrous connective tissue, and blood vessels in varying proportions. We reported the first case of angiomyolipoma associated with a normal pregnancy. Initially, the tumor developed intramurally and could have been confused with a partial molar gestation. After delivery, tumor development was extensive and subserosal, making differential diagnosis from a sarcoma difficult. The question of histological diagnosis, as well as that of immunocytochemical analysis which seems to be helpful in such cases, is discussed here.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of selective termination in triplet pregnancies. DESIGN: Comparative, prospective, nonrandomized study. SETTING: All 80 pregnancies were managed in a single tertiary center by the same obstetrical team. PATIENTS: Eighty women with triplet pregnancies were divided into two groups: group I consisted of 48 women who wished to continue their pregnancies without reduction; in group II were 32 women who choose reduction generally to obtain twins. INTERVENTIONS: Selective terminations were performed after an average term of 9.6 weeks of gestation by transcervical or transabdominal approaches. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: The rate of miscarriage and prematurity, fetal growth, perinatal morbidity and mortality, and maternal complications in the two groups. RESULTS: Prematurity was lower in reduced pregnancies (95.5% in triplets versus 53.5%), especially between 24 to 32 weeks' gestation where prematurity was reduced by half. Birth weight was > 450 g higher in the reduced group. The perinatal mortality rate was lower for reduced pregnancies, but this difference was not statistically significant. Five life-threatening maternal complications occurred in triplets, with none in the reduced group. CONCLUSIONS: Selective terminations are effective in decreasing the rate of prematurity, improving fetal growth, and avoiding maternal complications. The procedure thus could be used in triplet gestations. The ultimate decision should be taken by the couple who must be well informed of the risks of the procedure before deciding.
OBJECTIVE: The effect of selective fetocide on the course of 61 multiple pregnancies. DESIGN: An observational study. SETTING: A tertiary centre. SUBJECTS: 61 women whose pregnancies included 37 triplets, 18 quadruplets, 5 quintuplets and 1 hepatuplet; 97% followed IVF or the induction of ovulation. The aim of the procedure in most cases was to obtain twins. INTERVENTIONS: Selective reduction was performed before 13 weeks gestation under general anaesthesia, using either a transcervical (n = 26) or transabdominal approach (n = 35). Fifty-four twins, 4 singletons and 3 triplets were obtained after the procedure. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Preterm labour rate. RESULTS: The rate of unplanned fetal loss was 13% and was related to the number of suppressed embryos (P < 0.05). The preterm labour rate was 56.6%, the mean gestation at delivery was 35.6 weeks. Seven deliveries were before 32 weeks and led to all neonatal deaths. A comparison with published data suggested that fetal reduction reduced the rate of preterm labour in high multiple pregnancies; in 24 twin pregnancies obtained after reduction of triplets there was probably a gain of 2 weeks gestation. Severe growth retardation occurred in 13%. The perinatal mortality rate was 10.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Selective termination reduces but does not prevent early preterm labour. The procedure is of value in pregnancies with more than 3 fetuses and should be considered carefully for triplet pregnancies.
This descriptive study was conducted to evaluate the risk of uterine rupture in cases of late vaginal induced abortions among women with previous cesarean sections. 23 women were referred at a mean gestational age of 23.9 (SD 6.9) weeks of gestation after one or two cesarean sections. Indications for terminating the pregnancy were maternal diseases in 4 cases and fetal anomalies in 19 cases. RU 486 and/or prostaglandins were used for cervical ripening and to induce labor. Vaginal birth was obtained in 20 cases (86.9%) with an average duration of 72 (SD 52) h. Cesarean section was performed in the remaining 3 women because no cervical dilation could be obtained. One uterine rupture occurred and was treated with conservation of the uterus. Late termination of pregnancy in such cases can be achieved without cesarean section with a high success rate.
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In this paper, we describe the outcome of 33 triplet pregnancies referred to us between 1985 and 1990. They were managed as follows: management at home as soon as the diagnosis was made, then hospitalization at 28 weeks' gestation. Progesterone and beta-mimetics were administered daily, a cesarean section was always performed. One late abortion occurred at 21 weeks. The rate of prematurity was 90.6%, mean gestational age at delivery was 34.1 +/- 3 weeks, and 62.5% of deliveries occurred between 34 and 37 weeks. Ninety-four fetuses were delivered alive. Mean birth weight was 1880 +/- 410 g. Fetal growth retardation rate was 61.8%, including 28 infants under the third centile and 31 under the 10th centile. Perinatal death rate was 4.16% including 2 in utero deaths and 2 neonate deaths. All infants are healthy except for one child with severe mental retardation. These results show that triplet pregnancies can be safely managed, and that selective first-trimester reduction in triplet pregnancies does not appear to be necessary.
We studied the effect of antiprogesterone RU 486 on spontaneous uterine contractility and PGI2 release with human myometrial strips superfused "in vitro". A decrease of PGI2 release into the superfusion medium was observed after 20 min superfusion. The inhibition was dose-dependent and reversible. After 20 min washing with tyrode medium without RU 486, the uterine strips recovered their initial rate of release. R5020, a progesterone agonist, did not affect PGI2 release nor dexamethasone and testosterone. Parallel to the decrease of PGI2 observed during RU 486 superfusion, the uterine spontaneous contraction frequency decreased, while the amplitude and duration of contractions increased. The alteration of uterine contractility was also rapid, dose-dependent and reversible. Modification of uterine strip spontaneous contractility, similar to those induced by RU 486, were also observed with superfusions of R5020 at concentrations as low as 10(-9)M, dexamethasone (10(-8)M), but not with superfusions of testosterone. These observations are not in favour of a progesterone-receptor mediated effect of RU 486 in our model. The mechanism of action may be related to the antiprogesterone specific structure i.e. the bulky substituent at the C-11 position. The RU 486 effect on uterine strip contractility, mimicked by other steroids, could point to a non-specific lipid/membrane interaction. However, the fact that testosterone did not affect motility, may indicate a possible specificity of steroids having a 3 oxo pregnene structure.
Conjoined twins were diagnosed at 10 weeks of gestation in a triplet pregnancy obtained by means of in vitro fertilization. Vaginal scan evidenced craniopagus twins associated with a singleton. Considering the poor and unpredictable prognosis, selective terminations of twins was successfully performed.
The principle underlying preventive treatment of fetal intrauterine growth retardation can only be considered after defining various groups that are at risk and early screening based on the obstetric history, biological tests, and recently using flow rates with Doppler techniques. The use of aspirin in preventive treatment of growth retardation originates in the pharmacological properties of its molecule which allow the re-establishment of a balance of the prostoglandins. Numerous authors have studied clinical effects, its harmlessness as well as the true indications for its use. As there have been no control studies the theoretical possibilities of using Beta-Mimetic drugs has not been tested. The use of ultrasound has made it possible to try to see whether there is an improvement in the fetal state of well-being when oxygen therapy is used by the mother as it is in certain extremes to see what effect it has on placental function. Its use as an effective prophylactic has not yet been demonstrated. Promising lines of research could be assessing the effects of immunological treatments that have already been suggested (especially gammaglobulin transfusions). They have been used prophylactically with success but the series are small for well defined immunological indications.
The modalities and indications for surgery in the treatment of breast cancers have changed considerably over the last 30 years with a succession of exclusive surgery, exclusive radiotherapy, then limited surgery with adjuvant radiotherapy, adjuvant chemotherapy and finally neoadjuvant chemotherapy. With the contribution of all of these treatment modalities, the authors discuss the respective roles of radical surgery and conservative surgery as first-line surgery for invasive breast cancers. After recalling its objectives, first-line surgery is then described in terms of its diagnostic role in the presence of a suspicious node, an patch of mastopathy, nipple discharge or subclinical lesions. The various radical and conservative techniques of primary curative surgery are then described in the context of combined therapy (adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy): no longer Halsted's radical mastectomy, by modified Patey's mastectomy with limited lymph node dissection and especially partial mastectomies (quadrantectomy, lumpectomy) with axillary lymph node dissection, alone or combined with radiotherapy. The implications on the cosmetic result and the various modalities of reconstructive surgery are also discussed.
The combined oral contraceptive pill is an efficient means of contraception. It acts at different levels of the genital tract. Despite its efficiency, it is universally suggested that patients take the pill at regular daily intervals. Little attention has been given to the question of what happens if you miss the pill one day or more. A study was undertaken to evaluate the consequences of pill misses at different times of the cycle. Forty-seven young, healthy, normally menstruating patients voluntarily enrolled. All were given Cilest (ethinyl estradiol 35 micrograms and norgestimate 250 mg, Cilag France) for 21 days without any misses. Then, after a 7-day interval, they were prescribed one (group 1), two (group 2), three (group 3) or four days of pill misses, to occur respectively on day 1 (group a), 6 (group b), 12 (group c) or 18 (group d) of a new 21 day cycle; supplementary contraceptive means were recommended. Four patients had no miss prescribed and served as controls. Ovarian function was evaluated with daily estrogen measurements (E1 + E2 enzymatic dosage, BioMérieux, France) and ultrasound examinations. When required, because of significant increase in estrogen or because of follicular growth detected on ultrasound, LH and progesterone were measured. None of the patients experienced a normal ovulation. Four patients (1 control, 1 from group 2a, and 2 from group 3a) had a significant increase in estrogen levels and had a follicular image on ultrasounds. One of them (group 3a) had a follicular rupture, but none had a LH surge or increase in progesterone.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Fetal hypotrophy or intrauterine growth retardation is an important cause of fetal and neonatal mortality and a real cause of iatrogenic prematurity. When pregnancy is progressing normally there are histological changes in the spiral arteries with an equilibrium between the endothelial prostacyclin and platelet thromboxane on the one part and peroxides and Vitamin E on the other part. This allows uteroplacental circulation to flow rapidly and at a low pressure. Furthermore immunological tolerance of the mother's system in the relationship to her embryo plays a part in bringing about this special haemodynamic state. The physiopathology of retarded growth stemming from the blood vessels brings into play multiple mechanisms. The first cause is a defect in placentation which is shown up as insufficient trophoblastic invasion in the second stage. This brings about endothelial dysfunction with disappearance of the normal equilibrium of the prostaglandins and an alteration in the physiological equilibrium between the peroxides and a natural antagonist, which is vitamin E. Immunological disturbances have also been considered following studies on the immunohistochemistry and with the frequent association of obstetrical vascular complications together with phospholipid specific autoantibodies.
Eighteen women were referred for fetal karyotyping because of advanced maternal age (over 38 years) later than 23 weeks' gestation. In order to obtain more rapid karyotypes, cordocentesis rather than amniocentesis was performed. All procedures were successful, leading to the obtention of normal karyotypes in all cases. No fetal incidents occurred and results were obtained more rapidly than by amniocentesis. We suggest the use of cordocentesis rather than amniocentesis in cases of late referral of women.
A congenital cystic adenomatoid malformation was diagnosed by ultrasound examination at 20 week's gestation. The entire right lung was cystic and elements of poor prognosis such as hydrops fetalis and polyhydramnios were present. After verification of the karyotype, abortion was performed and autopsy confirmed prenatal findings and Stocker's type I. Cystic congenital adenomatoid malformation of the lung is a rare form of congenital pulmonary disease. Our case shows that this malformation can be accurately diagnosed during the midtrimester of pregnancy by ultrasound examination. Ultrasound examination permits an evaluation of the three types described by Stocker and may reveal certain lesions associated with poor prognosis, such as anasarca or polyhydramnios. Also, it offers the possibility to save some fetuses by surgical decompression in the immediate postnatal period, or to terminate earlier pregnancies by abortion.