Retroperitoneal uterine leiomyoma occurring 5 years after hysterectomy for fibroids

We encountered a 49-year-old, multiparous female with a very rare isolated retroperitoneal uterine leiomyoma measuring 72 x 43 mm in diameter occurring 5 years after hysterectomy for fibroids. The case was preliminarily diagnosed as right ovarian cancer or fibroma. An edematous, isolated solid tumor in the right retroperitoneal cavity was surgically resected. Pathological findings demonstrated uterine leiomyoma.     

The role of the alcohol dehydrogenase-1 (ADH1) gene in the pathomechanism of uterine leiomyoma

Objective

To describe alterations of gene expression patterns of the alcohol dehydrogenase-1 (ADH1) gene in human leiomyoma tissue. We correlated changes in ADH1 gene activity with several clinical and demographic variables.

Study design

We compared gene expression patterns of ADH1 in leiomyoma tissue samples obtained from 101 hysterectomy cases to 110 cases of hysterectomy performed for non-oncological indications. Gene expression was determined by standard PCR technique. Clinical and epidemiological data were extracted from the computerized database of the 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Semmelweis University and from patient questionnaires.

Results

Median age in the leiomyoma group was significantly lower than in the control group (47.5 ± 12.1 vs. 54.7 ± 10.2 years). The incidence of uterine leiomyoma was highest (48%) in the 41–50 year age group. In the obstetric history, cumulative gestational age in the leiomyoma group was significantly lower (105.1 ± 8.2 weeks) than in the control group (127.2 ± 9.1 weeks) and cumulative lactation length was also significantly shorter (2.4 ± 1.2 months vs. 5.1 ± 2.2 months). Surgical treatment of the fibroid was myomectomy in 39.6% of the cases and hysterectomy in 60.4%. The ADH1 gene was significantly underexpressed in the leiomyoma group compared to the control group. There was no significant association between ADH1 gene expression and family history. Within the leiomyoma group, there was no significant difference in ADH1 gene expression between subgroups of cases with different number of fibroid tumors found in the hysterectomy sample, but individual tumor number did correlate with the degree of underexpression of the ADH1 gene. There was no significant association between ADH1 gene expression and cumulative history of lactation.

Conclusions

Underexpression of the ADH1 gene, which influences the transformation of the extracellular matrix, plays a probable role in the etiology of uterine fibroid. Although significant differences in ADH1 gene activity were not seen, a negative correlation between tumor number and degree of ADH1 underexpression was found. Neither family history nor cumulative lactation length was a significant predictor of uterine leiomyoma.     

Cartilaginous metaplasia in uterine leiomyoma

Introduction  Leiomyoma is the most common tumor in the uterus. A spectrum of histologic variants have been noted, however, metaplasia in the leiomyoma is a rare phenomenon. Adipose metaplasia being most commonly reported. Cartilaginous metaplasia in leiomyoma is very rare. Materials and methods  We report first case of pure cartilaginous metaplasia in a uterine leiomyoma. Conclusion  Cartilaginous areas although rare, may appear in uterine leiomyoma.     

Haematopoiesis in a degenerating uterine leiomyoma

Summary We report the case of a 66-year-old woman who had a hysterectomy because of uterine tumour. Histological examination showed a leiomyoma with degenerative changes and extensive extramedullary haematopoiesis. There was no evidence of any haematological or systemic disease. Extramedullary haematopoiesis in patients without haematological disorders is very rare and has apparently never been described previously in association with a leiomyoma of the uterus.     

Hysteroscopy after uterine fibroid embolization in women of fertile age

AIM: Uterine artery embolization for fibroids is a controversial issue for women with incomplete reproductive plans. Ovarian failure and uterine infection are the most dreaded complications of this procedure. The purpose of the present study was to assess the types and the frequency of intrauterine abnormalities and the histological features of the endometrium after embolization. METHODS: Uterine artery embolization was performed on 51 women (average age 34.5 years) with intramural fibroid/s larger than 4 cm. Hysteroscopy and endometrial biopsy was performed from 3 to 9 months later in the luteal phase of the cycle. RESULTS: Despite all women having no major symptoms prior to hysteroscopy, only 19 (37%) had completely normal hysteroscopic findings. There was intrauterine protrusion of fibroid/s in 19 cases (37%), yellowish coloration of the endometrium in 14 (28%), intrauterine or cervical adhesions in seven (14%), and communication between the myoma and the uterine cavity in five cases (10%). A normal, functional endometrium was histologically verified in 44 women of 49 (90%) who could be evaluated. Regressive changes (necrosis or hyalinization) of leiomyoma or of indefinite origin were found in 17 patients and embolization particles in five, including one patient with microspheres inside the endometrial vessel. No case of Asherman syndrome or endometrial atrophy was observed. CONCLUSION: The frequency of abnormal hysteroscopic findings after embolization is surprisingly high. The clinical significance, reversibility, and impact on fertility of abnormal hysteroscopic findings after embolization remain unclear. Regardless, hysteroscopy should be strongly recommended to all patients after uterine fibroid embolization, prior to conception.     

High expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in uterine fibroids and its correlation with cell proliferation

Objective

To investigate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in uterine fibroids and healthy uterine smooth muscle as well as its role in the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids.

Methods

We collected uterine fibroid tissues and their paired adjacent healthy uterine smooth muscle tissues from 30 cases of uterine fibroids. We used immunohistochemistry and quantitative real-time PCR, as well as western blot to detect COX-2 expression. Using the COX-2 inhibitors NS-398 and celecoxib, we observed the response to the inhibitors in the healthy and fibroid smooth muscle cell pairs.

Results

COX-2 was detected by immunohistochemistry in both uterine fibroids and uterine smooth muscle, with higher immunoreactivity in uterine fibroids; the positive index of the smooth muscle cells was 11.90 and the positive index of uterine fibroids cells was 46.50 (P < 0.05). The expression of COX-2 mRNA in uterine fibroids was higher (0.122 ± 0.062) than in normal smooth muscle tissue (0.025 ± 0.009; P < 0.05). Also, the western blot results showed that COX-2 expression was significantly higher in uterine fibroid cases, as compared to the expression in uterine smooth muscle. Immunofluorescence showed that the occurrence of COX-2 was obviously higher in smooth muscle cells of uterine fibroids than in the healthy smooth muscle cells. NS-398 or celecoxib significantly inhibited the proliferation of smooth muscle cells of uterine fibroids, but did not inhibit the proliferation of healthy smooth muscle cells. Accordingly, NS-398 or celecoxib significantly reduced the expression of the downstream metabolite of COX-2, PGE2, in the smooth muscle cells of uterine fibroids, but not in healthy smooth muscle cells.

Conclusion

COX-2 expression in uterine fibroids was significantly higher than in healthy uterine smooth muscles. The inhibition of COX-2 activity significantly reduced the proliferation of smooth muscle cells of the uterine fibroids, suggesting that COX-2 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of uterine fibroids.     

Increased expression of tuberin in human uterine leiomyoma

Female Eker rats harboring an insertional deletion in one copy of the tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (Tsc2) gene develop uterine leiomyoma, but the underlying mechanism of human uterine leiomyoma is not completely understood. To examine whether down-regulation of tuberin, a TSC2 gene product, is present in human uterine leiomyoma, we analyzed leiomyoma and matched myometrium tissues from 22 Chinese patients with Western blotting and real-time polymerase chain reaction analyses, and found that the expression of tuberin was significantly increased in leiomyoma tissues compared with matched myometrium tissues with inhibition of both the mammalian target of rapacmycin pathway and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways.     

环氧合酶-2在子宫肌瘤组织中的表达及其意义

目的观察环氧合酶-2（cyclooxygenase,COX-2）在子宫肌瘤与子宫平滑肌组织中的表达,探讨COX-2与子宫肌瘤发病机制的相关性。方法选择2010年1月至2010年8月在上海市杨浦区中心医院行腹腔镜下子宫肌瘤切除术的30例患者的子宫肌瘤组织为实验组,并取其邻近的正常平滑肌组织为对照组,采用免疫组化方法检测COX-2的表达;并采用蛋白印迹法及实时荧光定量逆转录聚合酶链反应分别在蛋白水平和基因转录水平检测标本中COX-2的表达。结果免疫组化检测实验组和对照组均有COX-2蛋白表达,平滑肌细胞阳性指数（MPI）为11．90,子宫肌瘤细胞阳性指数（FPI）为46．50,两者比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈O．05）。蛋白印迹法结果显示,COX-2在实验组（O．872±0．035）中的表达明显高于对照组（O．202土0．056）,两者比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。COX-2mRNA在实验组（0．122±0．062）中的表达也高于对照组（0．025±0．009）,两者比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论COX-2在子宫肌瘤的表达明显高于子宫平滑肌,COX-2可能在子宫肌瘤的发病机制中起重要作用。     

米非司酮对子宫肌瘤血管生成的影响

目的探讨米非司酮对子宫肌瘤组织中血管生成的影响。方法 采用免疫组化方法对米非司酮治疗组的子宫肌瘤组织及子宫内膜处于增殖期或分泌期的、未治疗的子宫肌瘤组织及其周围的正常肌层组织中Ⅷ因子相关抗原(vWF)进行检测,以观察子宫肌瘤与其周围正常肌层间及米非司酮治疗后肌瘤组织的微血管密度(MVD)的变化。结果子宫肌瘤组织中的MVD较其周围的正常肌层低(P<0.05),肌瘤与肌层的MVD随月经周期改变而变化,增殖期高于分泌期(P<0.05)。米非司酮治疗有效与无效患者间的MVD差异无显著性(P>0.05),但治疗有效患者较对照组有明显降低(P<0.05)。结论米非司酮对子宫肌瘤治疗有效者可减少血管生成。     

Cytochrome P2A13 and P1A1 gene polymorphisms are associated with the occurrence of uterine leiomyoma

Problem To investigate the association between the occurrence of uterine leiomyoma and two SNPs of the CYP 2A13 and CYP 1A1 genes.Method of study Prospective case control study with 132 women with clinically and surgically diagnosed uterine leiomyoma and 260 controls. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based amplification of CYP 2A13 and CYP 1A1 genes, and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis.Results Comparing women with uterine leiomyoma and controls, we demonstrate statistical significant differences of allele frequency and genotype distribution for the CYP 1A1 polymorphism (P = 0.025 and P = 0.046, respectively). Furthermore, for the CYP 2A13 polymorphism we found a significant difference concerning allele frequency (P = 0.033). However, for the genotype distribution, only borderline significance was observed (P = 0.064).Conclusions The CYP 2A13 and CYP 1A1 SNPs are associated with uterine leiomyoma in a Caucasian population and may contribute to the understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of uterine leiomyoma.     

米非司酮对子宫肌瘤组织病理学影响的研究

目的 观察米非司酮对子宫肌瘤组织病理学的影响,探讨其使肌瘤体积缩小的机制。方法60例子宫肌瘤患者随机分为治疗组和对照组,其中治疗组21例患者手术前每天服用米非司酮10mg,共3个月,分别于治疗前后B超测定最大肌瘤三维经线判定肌瘤体积变化;对照组39例患者术前未接受任何激素治疗。两组患者术后行组织切片HE染色,观察两组肌瘤组织病理学的改变。结果 治疗组肌瘤组织退行性变的程度与对照组相比差异有显著性(P<0.05);而治疗后有效组与无效组在病理改变上差异无显著性(P>0.05)。结论米非司酮治疗后肌瘤组织退行性变的程度增加,可能与血供减少有关,是肌瘤缩小的原因之一。