In the assessment of malignant potential of ovarian tumours, frozen section has been found to be accurate in 97.1% (168 of 173) of cases. The positive predictive value of frozen section in the diagnosis of a malignant lesion was 100% (34 of 34). Errors were mainly made in the diagnosis of borderline tumours with a predictive value of 87.5% (7 of 8). The negative predictive value was 98.4% (127 of 129). Frozen section however, was less accurate in the diagnosis of specific histological type with an accuracy rate of 91.9% (159 of 173). Macroscopic features were found to be useful in the intraoperative prediction of malignant potential. Completely cystic tumours were benign in 96.4% (108 of 167) of cases. Solid/cystic tumors were malignant in 69% (27 of 38) of cases. Completely solid tumours were malignant in 56% (9 of 16) of cases. Frozen section in completely cystic tumours only marginally improved the clinical macroscopic diagnosis of malignancy. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound scan in the diagnosis of malignant/borderline tumours were 82% and 86% respectively. The false negative rate of 7% makes laparoscopic excision of unsuspected malignant ovarian cyst a significant possibility. The predictive value of ultrasound scan in the diagnosis of malignant ovarian tumour was 62% (26 of 42). In the preoperative assessment of malignant potential of ovarian tumours, this study shows that ultrasound scan has a high false positive and a significant false negative rate. Careful intraoperative assessment of gross features and the use of frozen section especially in those with solid/cystic and solid tumours will help achieve a high accuracy rate in the assessment of ovarian tumours.

A randomized controlled study of 112 women with singleton pregnancies at term, and no antenatal complications, admitted in spontaneous labour were randomized to receive either an intramuscular injection of 0.5 mg of Syntometrine or an intramuscular injection of 125 ug of prostaglandin 15-methyl F2 alpha at delivery of the anterior shoulder of the baby. Blood lost in the first 2 hours, and subsequent 22 hours postdelivery were collected separately and measured by colourimetric measurement of haemoglobin content. Other parameters in the third stage were measured, including need for transfusion of blood or blood products, length of the third stage, and change in haemoglobin concentration before and 24 hours after delivery. The incidence of side-effects with administration of either prostaglandin 15-methyl F2 alpha or Syntometrine were documented. The prophylactic use of intramuscular prostaglandin 15-methyl F2 alpha (Carboprost) in the active management of the third stage of labour gave similar results to prophylactic intramuscular Syntometrine in terms of length of the third stage of labour, incidence of postpartum haemorrhage and total blood loss in the first 2 hours and subsequent 22 hours after delivery. However it has the disadvantage of higher cost, as well as statistically significant increase in the incidence of profuse and frequent diarrhoea. Based on these results intramuscular injection of prostaglandin 15-methyl F2 alpha offers no advantage over intramuscular Syntometrine for routine prophylactic use to reduce blood loss in the third stage of labour.