Environment and Endometriosis: A toxic relationship
Endometriosis is a common, be- nign, estrogen-dependent gynecological dis- ease that represents one of the main causes of hospitalization in industrialized countries. It is well established that a large amount of natural and man-made chemicals are present in the en- vironment and both humans and animals are exposed to them. Dioxin and dioxin-like com- pounds have long biological half-life, can accu- mulate within the organism and could negative- ly affect several physiological processes. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the possible relationship between these chemicals and the pathogenesis of en- dometriosis.
Long and fluctuating bone fragments in uterine isthmus: a curious feature of true osseous metaplasia.
Osseous metaplasia in the uterine cavity is a rare phenomenon arising from an unusual transformation of non-osseous connective tissue into mature bone. It is unclear how this alteration occurs and it has no single clinical manifestation. We report a case of asymptomatic endometrial osseous metaplasia of the isthmus with a singular picture: numerous long, floating bone-like structures in the cavity. The lesion was treated by operative hysteroscopy. Histological findings described a rare picture of true osseous metaplasia with the extraordinary presence of cells referable to areas of hematopoietic tissue in the cavities of trabecular bone. Physicians should be more informed and alert regardin…