Search

International audience; Breast angiosarcoma is a rare but serious complication of radiotherapy. We report two cases of radiation-induced breast angiosarcoma in two patients having benefited from breast conserving surgery with radiation. We shall put emphasis on the etiopathogeny of these tumours and their clinical and therapeutic aspects.

International audience; OBJECTIVE: To define the vascular and nervous relationships of the uterosacral ligament and to analyze histologically its content for a better description of this structure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three fresh fetal cadavers, three embalmed and one fresh adult cadavers were used. The anatomical relationships of the uterosacral ligament were studied by dissecting one fresh fetal pelvis and two embalmed adult pelves. By histological and immunohistological examinations, eight biopsies of the cervical origin of the complexe ligamentaire utérosacral (USLC) were analyzed: four from fresh fetuses, two from a fresh adult cadaver and two from an embalmed adult cadaver. The specimens were stained with haematoxylin eosin safran (HES) coloration, with antinervous cell specific antibodies (PS100) and with antismooth muscle actine antibodies (to visualize vessel walls) before examination under optical microscope. RESULTS: On anatomic examination, the uterosacral ligament was covered by the visceral pelvic fascia. By removing this fascia, the uterosacral ligament appeared to be a condensation of nervous fibers made up of hypogastric and pelvic nerves forming the hypogastric plexus. Histologically, the uterosacral ligament contained connective tissue, nervous fibers, sympathetic nodes, vessels and fatty tissue. No structured ligamentous organization was identified. CONCLUSION: The uterosacral "ligament" is in fact a "ligament complex" integrating connective tissue as well as nervous and vascular elements. Radical wide excisions of the USLC during cancer or endometriosis surgery and uterosacral suspension during pelvic floor reconstructive surgery should be performed with caution in order to preserve pelvic innervation.

International audience; OBJECTIVES: The presenting symptoms of leiomyosarcoma (LMS) are the same as those of leiomyoma. The diagnosis of LMS is usually achieved retrospectively after pathological analysis of hysterectomy specimens. The aim of surgery in uterine sarcomas being resection without tumor morcellation, LMS poses the problem of the choice of surgical route because it is more likely to occur in relatively young women. This study was undertaken to determine, firstly, the frequency of LMS in a series of hysterectomies performed for presumed leiomyomas, secondly, if there exist any particular context in which LMS should be considered and how this may modify the choice of surgical route, thirdly, to discuss about the therapeutical aspects of those cases of LMS diagnosed incidentally after uterine morcellation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective review, from 1996 to 2005, of cases of LMS diagnosed retrospectively in patients having benefited from hysterectomy for presumed leiomyomas, at the department of Obstetrics-Gynaecology, Belfort Hospital. RESULTS: From 1996 to 2005, 1297 hysterectomies have been performed for presumed leiomyomas in our department. Patients' mean age was 48 years (34 to 77 years). Menometrorraghia was the most common symptom having motivated surgery (57%), followed by pelvic pain (31%) and the notion of a rapidly growing uterine mass (12%). The distribution of surgical route was as follows: laparotomic route, n=393 (30%); vaginal route, n=855 (66%) and laparoscopic assisted vaginal route, n=49 (4%). Pathological analysis had revealed LMS in three patients (0.23%). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: LMS is usually diagnosed incidentally on hysterectomy specimen analysis. Indeed, the surgeon may find himself in a therapeutic dilemma in cases where vaginal extraction has required tumour morcellation with an increased risk of peritoneal and/or vaginal dissemination. However, given the extremely low incidence of LMS in series of hysterectomies performed for presumed leiomyomas and the lack of specific preoperative context to clearly evoke this diagnosis, the fear of leiomyosarcoma should not make us apprehend nonlaparotomic surgical routes.

International audience; BACKGROUND: An increasing number of patients with early-stage breast cancer is being diagnosed by way of population-wide mammographic screening in women. Because breast-conservation therapy (BCT) is the standard treatment, the aim of our study was to determine factors predisposing patients to re-excision for pT1 tumors. METHODS: A retrospective study was conducted at Besancon University Hospital in France. Patients with pathologic diagnosis of invasive breast carcinoma

International audience; OBJECTIVES: When all the breech conditions for the acceptance of a vaginal breech birth are present, we occasionally practise a total breech extraction for non frank breech presentations. Similarly, for frank breech presentations, instead of using the fetal leg as tractor, we sometimes apply the vacuum extractor on the breech presentation in order to perform the first step of the total breech extraction. The vacuum extractor is not traumatic for the fetus and enable a quick extraction. This study was conducted to describe the technique we use in our ward. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective study including every singleton delivery with a breech presentation and a tried and assisted vaginal delivery using the vacuum extractor in our maternity ward from 1994 to 2004. A descriptive analysis of maternal, fetal and obstetrical elements has been carried out. RESULTS: Twenty-eight deliveries were indexed. In each case, a vaginal delivery was performed. Neonatal outcomes were satisfactory with a five minutes Apgar score always higher than 7. In all 96.5% of the extractions were realized under pelvic level +2. The main indication of extraction (78.5%) was a second stage of labour which was too long. CONCLUSION: Obstetricians should know several techniques to accept and to manage breech deliveries. Indications for assisted vaginal delivery using the vacuum extractor in frank breech presentation are unusual, concerning delay in the second stage with an engaged foetus. This technique may avoid some cesarean sections. Nevertheless vaginal breech delivery try should be happening with great caution and with a strict patient's eligibility.

International audience; Introduction. The techniques used for axillary node dissection are constantly evolving. The advent of the grip Ligasure Precise raise the question of its cost-effectiveness compared with surgical clips. OBJECTIVE: To compare the effectiveness of Ligasure compared with surgical clips for simple axillary node dissection or Patey procedure in terms of duration of drainage, cost of hospitalization and complications. MATERIAL: and method. Retrospective study extending from January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2004, concerning 187 patients who underwent simple axillary dissection (100) or Patey procedure (87), with use of surgical clips or Ligasure followed by drainage. RESULTS: The use of Ligasure increased the operative cost because its price is higher than that of a clip grip with a refill. Ligasure significantly decreased the duration of drainage in the two groups but there was significantly more abundant fluid loss in the dissection group. The cost of hospitalization related to the choice of the technique of hemostasis (cost of the material + lasted of drainage X price of the day of hospitalization), was not significantly favor of Ligasure. Taking into account the choice of the hemostasis technique and the total duration of hospitalization (material cost + duration of hospitalization X price of the day of hospitalization), there is no significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSION: This study compares grip Ligasure Precise with surgical clips for axillary dissection. The duration of drainage was significantly shorter with Ligasure Precise but its benefit in terms of fluid loss remains to be shown. The use of Ligasure does not significantly reduce the cost of hospitalization.