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Objectives: Evaluate spectral Doppler parameters peak systolic velocity (PSV), end diastolic velocity (EDV), resistance index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) in infiltrated and non-infiltrated uterine arteries of patients with locally advanced (stages II B, III B) squamous cell cervical cancer and their changes during treatment.Material and methods: the study group included 36 patients aged 35-78 years old. At diagnosis, PSV, EDV, RI and PI in uterine arteries were examined and compared with MRI findings. All patients underwent transvaginal doppler ultrasonography prior to the treatment, after external beam radiation therapy and six weeks after the last application of brachytherapy. Results:The median PSV value in the first examination was higher in infiltrated uterine arteries than compared to non-infiltrated ones (p = 0.001). The PSV values for all vessels decreased between the first and the third observation (p < 0.001). There was a significant difference in PI values between infiltrated and non-infiltrated uterine arteries between the first and the third examination (p = 0.027). Conclusions:In patients with locally advanced cervical cancer of uterine arteries, assessment of PSV but not EDV, RI or PI can be helpful in differentiating infiltrated from non-infiltrated vessels. In this group of patients, radiotherapy decreases PSV, but not EDV, RI or PI values in uterine arteries. An observation conducted from the onset of radiotherapy to end of the follow-up in uterine arteries reveals that PI, but not RI, PSV or EDV, is different in infiltrated and non-infiltrated vessels.

Purpose The aim of the prospective study was to assess changes during treatment and prognostic significance of cervical vascularization density in patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) staged II B and III B and to find relationship of cervical vascularization density with tumour diameter, grading, staging and age of patients. Methods The study group included 50 patients who underwent transvaginal Doppler ultrasonography prior to chemoradiotherapy, after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) and 6 weeks after HDR brachytherapy. The colour Doppler (CD) vascularity index (CDVI) and the power Doppler (PD) vascularity index (PDVI) in cervical tumour were examined. Results CDVI and PDVI values decreased significantly during radiotherapy (0.13 (95% CI 0.09–0.16); 0.09 (95% CI 0.07–0.11) and 0.05 (95% CI 0.03–0.06) for CDVI (p < 0.001) and 0.26 (95% CI 0.22–0.31); 0.18 (95% CI 0.14–0.22) and 0.08 (95% CI 0.06–0.11) for PDVI (p < 0.001)). No statistically significant associations of CDVI and PDVI with tumour diameter, grading, staging and age of patients were found. The higher (above median) CDVI values before EBRT were associated with better OS (p = 0.041). The higher (above median) PDVI values before EBRT were associated with superior DFS (p = 0.011) and OS (p < 0.001). DFS and OS did not differ significantly regarding CDVI and PDVI values after EBRT and after the treatment. Conclusions In the study group, cervical vascularization density evaluated in CD and PD functions did not depend on tumour diameter, grading, staging and age of patients and decreased during radiotherapy. The prognosis for our patients with CDVI and PDVI before the treatment above the median value was better than compared to patients with these parameters below the median value.

Introduction Parameters that will help to identify patients with better and worse prognosis are sought in subjects with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma. Aim of the study To assess the relationship between squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC-Ag) concentration and the risk of relapse in patients with squamous cell cervical carcinoma staged IIB-IIIB. Material and methods The study group consisted of 52 patients with cervical squamous cell carcinoma staged II B ( n = 39) and IIIB ( n = 13). Serum SCC-Ag concentration was assessed prior to radiochemotherapy or radiotherapy and four weeks after treatment. Results The follow-up after treatment ranged from 1 to 33 months (16.2 ±10.5). During follow-up, nine relapses were diagnosed (17.3%). The concentration of SCC-Ag before the treatment was elevated in 41 cases (78.8%) and in 11 cases (21.2%) it was ≤ 2 ng/ml. In all the patients with relapses SCC-Ag concentration before the treatment was elevated. Relapses were diagnosed in five patients with elevated SCC-Ag concentration after the treatment (55.6%) and in four patients with normal SCC-Ag concentration after the treatment (9.3%). There was a positive correlation between SCC-Ag concentration before and after the treatment and relapse occurrence. Conclusions Evaluation of serum SCC-Ag concentration in patients with locally advanced squamous cell cervical carcinoma before treatment is a valuable supplementary diagnostic tool and patients with high SCC-Ag concentration are at an increased risk of relapse. Due to the relationship between elevated serum SCC-Ag concentration after treatment and increased risk of relapse, these patients may require a more intensive post-treatment follow-up.

The main aim of this paper is to present three cases of persistent (patent) primitive trigeminal artery, presence was incidentally revealed during various radiological examinations. The presence and function of these vessels in extrauterine life is sometimes associated with other vascular abnormalities e.g. aneurysms, hemangiomas, moyamoya disease but frequently found incidentally without any negative signs or symptoms. The presented cases of patients with primitive trigeminal artery clearly show that the reported ailments, which had made the diagnostic imagining necessary, were not associated with the patency of this artery.