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Objective: To evaluate by hysteroscopy and histopathology the influence of tamoxifen in the endometrium of post-menopausal women with previous breast cancer. Method: Out of 46 patients studied, 20 of them had been using tamoxifen for an average length of 12 months, and are still being followed-up. Hysteroscopy with endometrial biopsy was performed before and after the use of the drug. Results: The prevalence of endometrial activity before and after this hormoniotherapy was the same, i.e. 10.0%, showing a non-significant variation. Conclusion: The hormoniotherapy with tamoxifen has not increased the endometrial proliferactive activity of postmenopausal patients with breast cancer. The most common hysteroscopical finding was numerous vesicles disseminated throughout the uterine cavity probably due to atrophy of the endometrium.

Objective: To analyze the morphologic and ultrasonographic aspects of the endometrium of postmenopausal women according to the progestogen challenge test. Methods: The study was conducted on 150 postmenopausal women. Each patient was submitted to transvaginal ultrasonography for measurement of endometrial echo thickness and to endometrial biopsies, followed by the progestogen challenge test. Results: Women with a negative test presented atrophic endometrium in 94% of cases. The other 6% have shown active endometrium, but none had hyperplasia. However, 56% of the patients with a positive test had atrophic endometrium. There was a correlation between endometrial thickness less than 5 mm and endometrial atrophy in patients with either positive or negative tests. Conclusion: Because the progestogen challenge test is cheap and easy to deal with, it can be done as a primary screening method in asymptomatic postmenopausal women. If the test is positive, ultrasonography is required in order to determine who needs a more accurate examination of the endometrium. If the test is negative, ultrasonography is not required due to the great number of women who have atrophic endometrium.

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate clinically and urodynamically the effects of hormonal replacement in the treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal females. Methods: Clinical and urodynamic variables of 30 postmenopausal women with genuine stress urinary incontinence were evaluated after 3 months' treatment with conjugated estrogens plus progestogens. Urodynamic evaluations were performed in all patients before and after treatment. Results: Forty-six percent of the patients treated medically were judged to be cured and 43% were judged to be markedly improved. Maximum urethral closure pressure, maximum cystometric capacity and mean flow were significantly increased. Residual urine and diurnal and nocturnal voluntary micturition were markedly decreased (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that hormone replacement in the form of conjugated estrogens plus progestogens results in the clinical and urodynamic improvement of genuine stress urinary incontinence in postmenopausal women.

A case of mansoni schistosomiasis causing peritoneal inflammation and chronic iliac pain is reported. The patient complained of iliac pain for 6 months. Physical examination and sonographic evaluation found a tumor in the left iliac fosse. A pseudocyst was removed from the pelvic region. The histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of S. mansoni. This is a rare case of S. mansoni in the pelvic cavity.