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Biomedical subjects

V Billson

Publications and source records attributed to V Billson.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

The accuracy and interobserver reproducibility of endometrial dating.

Although controversial, diagnosis of luteal phase defect (LPD) includes the morphological assessment of endometrial development. This study was conducted to determine if refresher training in the histological criteria could improve the accuracy and interobserver reproducibility of endometrial dating. Seventy-eight endometrial biopsies were dated by a reference panel of two pathologists and then reviewed twice by a study panel of four pathologists. In the first review, usual practice was applied. Prior to the second review, they studied a standard document of histological criteria. Samples were dated as proliferative, secretory (post-ovulatory day, POD), menstrual, and undatable. Accuracy levels based on the reference dating and agreement levels using kappa values were calculated per review and compared. The kappa for overall dating was 0.683 in the first review and 0.696 in the second. The respective first and second review kappa values were 0.736 and 0.771 for proliferative, and 0.794 and 0.764 for secretory. Amongst those dated as secretory in the first and second reviews, respectively, 31 and 28% were assigned the same POD by any two panellists, 68 and 63% were dated to within 1 day, and 77 and 71% were dated to within 2 days. Accuracy levels per panellist for overall dating were very high in both reviews but were low for individual PODs. Accuracy and interobserver reproducibility were unaffected by refresher training, suggesting the limits of histological dating have been reached.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1995

Ceroid granulomas in the female genital system.

Three cases of ceroid granulomas of the female genital system are presented, involving the cervix in two and lesions in the ovaries and bowel serosa in the other. Ceroid granulomas are unusual and interesting lesions formed when suitable substrates accumulate within macrophages to such an extent that a relative lack of biological antioxidants results and auto-oxidation and conversion to ceroid is favoured. This may occur in the setting of haemorrhage and necrosis, whether from tumour necrosis or associated with endometriosis. Other sources of lipids and lipoproteins include bile, meconium and vernix caseosa.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

Mammographic follow up: a vital component of breast cancer management.

Women with proven breast cancer are at high risk for development of a second breast malignancy or a recurrence. An important component of clinical care is regular mammographic follow up, to enable preclinical diagnosis and avoid delay in treatment. One hundred and forty-two women with previous breast cancer attended a pilot mammographic screening program. Eleven had suspicious mammographic lesions, all clinically occult; nine breast cancers were diagnosed (two recurrences and seven new tumours). The cancer detection rate in this high-risk group of women was 6.3%, compared with 0.8% in 16,283 women screened with no history of breast cancer. Examination of the mammographic history of the 142 women showed that mammography was used infrequently as part of their clinical surveillance, and this led to a delay in diagnosis of the new or recurrent cancer. Recommendations for an appropriate regimen for use of mammography in new and established cases of breast cancer are made.

Aged↗
PubMed1993

The absence of HPV DNA in genital specimens from infants.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the prevalence of HPV DNA using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in neonatal foreskin and cervical specimens obtained at necropsy. MATERIALS: Foreskin and cervical specimens were obtained from consecutive neonates who had autopsies performed at The Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, from June 1991 to February 1992. Specimens were analysed for HPV DNA using the polymerase chain reaction and the L1 consensus primers and generic probes. RESULTS: Specimens were obtained from 98 neonates, 52 males and 46 female. The mean gestational age of the neonates was 29 weeks (range 20-42). Eighty neonates died in utero, three during labour and 15 following delivery. Ninety four were delivered vaginally whilst four were delivered by caesarean section. Samples were collected a mean of 20 hours (range 2-48) from the time of delivery. In 30 cases there was evidence of autolytic change while in the remaining cases, the histology was well preserved. No evidence of HPV DNA was found in any of the samples using the L1 general primers (95% confidence interval 0-3.6%). Recent cervical cytology was available on 70 of the infant's mothers. Six had cytological evidence of HPV infection while the remainder were normal. CONCLUSIONS: HPV DNA is uncommonly detected (by PCR) in foreskin and cervical specimens obtained from neonates.

Cervix Uteri↗
PubMed1991

Is what you see what you get? Breast specimen handling re-visited.

Specimen radiography is already established as an essential adjunct to excisional biopsy of mammographically detected abnormalities. Two methods of specimen sectioning following the initial specimen radiograph are described. The techniques were devised to identify the lesion accurately in the specimen for subsequent pathological analysis. They have been tailored to suit the differing facilities at two Breast Screening Centres. The methods highlight the desirability of a cooperative multidisciplinary approach to the management of breast disease. They underline the importance of radiological localization of the lesion; not only for the surgeon, but also for the pathologist.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1990

Recurrent secondary hyperparathyroidism due to implanted parathyroid tissue: a case report.

Hyperparathyroidism is a common complication of chronic renal failure. Although many patients can be managed by conservative measures, surgery is sometimes necessary. One of two operations can be performed: subtotal parathyroidectomy or total parathyroidectomy with reimplantation of parathyroid tissue into muscle. A case is presented of a patient who underwent the first and then the second of these procedures for recurrent hyperparathyroidism. A further recurrence was found to be caused by the implanted parathyroid tissue in a forearm muscle, requiring a third procedure for control of the disorder.

Chronic Kidney Disease-Mineral and Bone Disorder↗
PubMed1989

The wide-angle pattern electroretinogram. Relation between pattern electroretinogram amplitude and stimulus area using large stimuli.

Pattern electroretinograms (PERGs) were recorded from two normal human subjects in response to various spatial frequencies and stimulus areas. The maximum stimulus area was 75 degrees x 86 degrees which was achieved by using a standard TV monitor and a reduced viewing distance. The amplitude of the PERG increased with area in an approximately logarithmic fashion over the range investigated. The explanation relates to non-linearities of the stimulus, the retinal image and neural processing. The wide-angle PERG may be useful in the assessment of retinal diseases affecting the mid-peripheral inner retina, such as diabetic retinopathy.

Electroretinography↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Solitary luteinized follicle cyst of pregnancy. Report of a case with cytologic findings.

BACKGROUND: Giant luteinized follicle cyst is a recently recognized cause of ovarian enlargement during pregnancy and the puerperium. Only rare cases of this clinical condition have been reported in the literature, and the cytologic features have not been previously described. CASE: A 34-year-old, pregnant woman presented at 10 weeks' gestation with a large, right ovarian cyst. Clinical management was initially conservative, but four weeks later the patient presented with acute abdominal pain. At laparotomy, the ovarian cyst was aspirated and a cystectomy performed. On cytologic examination, the presence of a luteinized follicle cyst of pregnancy was suggested. Subsequent histologic examination confirmed the diagnosis. CONCLUSION: This case illustrates the clinicopathologic features of a luteinized follicle cyst of pregnancy with special emphasis on the cytologic characteristics. The cytologic features are sufficient to establish the diagnosis in conjunction with the ultrasonographic appearance.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Umbilical cord stricture and intrauterine fetal death.

Umbilical cord stricture is an uncommon but distinctive condition associated with intrauterine fetal death. Although cases have been reported periodically since the last century, there has been considerable speculation as to whether the condition is real or a postmortem artifact. In the present study, 25 cases reported since 1925 are reviewed and 8 new cases are described. Clinically, a decrease in fetal movements is usually the only symptom during the second or third trimester of pregnancy and fetal death occurs soon after. The women's age, health, and previous history have shown no link with this condition, but a higher incidence is noted in twin pregnancies. Morphologically, most infants are macerated and an extremely narrow segment of umbilical cord is usually seen at the fetal end and rarely at the placental end or in multiple sites along the cord. Absence of Wharton's jelly, stenosis, or obliteration of cord vessels at the narrow segment and intravascular cord thrombosis are the major pathological features. The findings of this study support the view that the condition can cause fetal death and alerts both pathologists and clinicians to the important features identifying this cause of perinatal wastage.

Adult↗