A case report of giant cell arteritis of the uterus and adnexa

Article Abstract:

The case report is presented of a 68-year-old woman with temporal arteritis who also developed arteritis of the uterus, a rare condition. Temporal arteritis is an inflammatory condition of the temporal artery, which carries blood to the head. In the case discussed, the patient was being treated for the disorder with prednisone (a steroid drug). The patient experienced burning in her stomach and abdominal bloating at night. An ovarian cyst was discovered on routine pelvic examination that changed during the following months. The uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes were removed, and histopathologic studies revealed a benign tumor and extensive giant cell arteritis (the characteristic cell of temporal arteritis) throughout the tissue. Because the patient's temporal arteritis was in remission, she declined further prednisone treatment. Only 15 other cases have been reported of giant cell arteritis of the uterus and surrounding tissues. In two of these cases, temporal arteritis was also present. The lack of symptoms in the patient was surprising, since the condition was extensive and led to the blockage of several small arteries. The possibility of giant cell arteritis of the pelvis should be considered when patients develop temporal arteritis. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Uterine diseases, Giant cell arteritis, Temporal arteritis

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Effect of the vascular endothelium on norepinephrine-induced contractions in uterine radial arteries from the nonpregnant and pregnant human uterus

Article Abstract:

An endothelium-derived relaxing factor may counteract the increased effect of norepinephrine on uterine radial arteries in pregnant women. Norepinephrine is a hormone that stimulates contraction of arteries and capillaries. An endothelium-derived relaxing factor is a substance that induces relaxation of blood vessels. A study compared the effect of norepinephrine on uterine radial arteries from six pregnant and six non-pregnant women who had had a cesarean section or hysterectomy. No difference in response to norepinephrine was found in the uterine radial arteries from pregnant and non-pregnant women. The response to norepinephrine increased significantly in the uterine radial arteries from the pregnant women after the endothelium was removed. Endothelium is the membrane that lines the inside of blood vessels. This change did not occur in the uterine radial arteries from non-pregnant women that had been stripped of endothelium.

Noradrenaline, Norepinephrine, Endothelium, Uterus

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Angiosarcoma of the uterus: a case report

Article Abstract:

The case report is presented of a 61-year-old woman who developed postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, necessitating curettage (scraping the uterine lining and evaluating the material obtained for pathological changes). The diagnosis was angiosarcoma of the uterus, a rare type of tumor made up of aberrant blood vessel cells. The patient underwent removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and selected lymph nodes, as well as chemotherapy. Four years later, the patient remained disease-free. The histopathologic appearance of the removed tissue is discussed. In addition, studies were carried out with the electron microscope, confirming that the tumor was of vascular origin. This is the eleventh case of angiosarcoma of the uterus reported in the medical literature. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Diagnosis, Uterine cancer, Angiosarcoma

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