Carsten: A Case of Rupture of the Uterus in the Fourth Month of Pregnancy

Volume 92 Number 2

Vol. 86, No. 12, March 21,1964. *Tasch, H.: The Surgical Treatment of Cervical Incompetence, p. 413. Tasch: The Surgical Treatment of Cervical Incompetence, p. 413. This is a series of 42 patients with habitual abortion treated by surgical correction for the diagnosis of incompetence of the internal os. The operation was performed in pregnancy on all patients. Thirty patients were delivered of viable infants. The author feels, in retrospect, that the 12 failures were performed for wrong indication. The first 30 cases were done by the Shirodkar technique, while the remainder were merely subjected to a purse string suture through the intact vagina. Since none of these 42 patients had any history of trauma to the cervix prior to her abortion, the author feels that the etiology of cervical incompetence lies in congenital weakness of the cervical canal rather than in preceding trauma. Even among the infants salvaged, 19 were premature and only 11 were term infants. Therefore, it is suggested that other, as yet undetermined, factors than the cervical incompetence arc mvolved in these cases. Walter F. Tauber Vol. 86, No. 20, May 16, 1964. *Lisse, K.: Results With Surgical Treatment and Betatron Therapy of Carcinoma of the Vulva, p. 681. *Szendi, B.: Kraurosis Vulvae and Carcinoma of the Stomach, p. 687. Lisse: Results With Surgical Treatment and Betatron Therapy of Carcinoma of the Vulva, p. 681. Between 1948 and 1958, 131 patients with carcinoma of the vulva were treated at the University of Berlin. Radical vulvectomy was the treatment of choice and gave the best results, 61.5 per cent five-year cure. Between 1959 and 1962, 16 patients were treated with a 17.3 million electron volt betatron. Comparative results lead to a preliminary conclusion that the treatment is almost as effective as radical operation. It should, therefore, be employed in selected cases, particularly those who offer poor surgical risks. Walter F. Tauber

Selected abstracts 297

Szendi: Kraurosis Vulvae and Carcinoma of the Stomach, p. 687. This is a report on 3 cases of coincidental occurrence of kraurosis vulvae and carcinoma of the stomach. It is suggested by the author that the two diseases may have more than a coincidental relationship, based on similar tissue reactions to a common toxic agent. After finding the 3 cases mentioned above, stomach studies on 18 additional patients with kraurosis vulvae showed 15 cases of various nonmalignant changes in the stomach. It is, therefore, urged that on the finding of either disease, studies for the other one be made. Walter F. Tauber

Vol. 86, No. 22, May 30,1964. *Herre, H. D., and Horky, Z.: Fetal Malformation and Maternal Diabetes, p. 758. Herre and Horky: Fetal Malformation and Maternal Diabetes, p. 758. Fifty-one malformations (6.8 per cent) were observed in 743 infants born to diabetic mothers. A leading finding was congenital heart disease, particularly anomalies of the aorta. It is felt that the developmental errors are largely due to hypoglycemic shock and acidosis in the first trimester. However, abnormal function of the nidation site, as suggested by abnormal cycles and ovarian insufficiency, also plays a role. Though not proved, it is also felt that a certain percentage of infants suffer from damage in the germ plasm. Walter F. Tauber Vol. 86, No. 24, June 13,1964. *Carsten, P. M.: A Case of Rupture of the Cterus in the Fourth Month of Pregnancy, p. 841. Carsten: A Case of Rupture of the Uterus in the Fourth Month of Pregnancy, p. 841. This is a case report of rupture of the uterus in the fourth month of pregnancy. The patient had undergone a curettage as part of the diagnostic work-up for ectopic pregnancy 2 years previously. The pathology of the ruptured site showed endometriosis and placenta accreta. Placentation in the area of endometriosis was thought to be the underlying cause for th!' perforation. Walter F. Tauber