No abstract

The present classification of first, second, and third grade hemorrhoids only reflects variation in size of a normal human tissue and does not relate to "hemorrhoidal disease." Cross-sections and coronal sections of the anal canal in 32 fetuses, with ages ranging from 28 to 38 weeks of development, were studied and the following fundamental facts were found: in the lumen of the anal canals of fetuses, there are prominences of mucosa formed by conjunctive and muscular tissue, arterial and venous vessels and glands, arranged without following any particular pattern, which resemble similar formations found in the adult that protrude equally in the inside of the canal, known as hemorrhoids. The muscular tissue, smooth or striated, is grouped in bundles, and bunches of collagen fibers of homogeneous, nonfragmented, and regular aspect are found between them. Blood vessels have an ample lumen with a defined structure of collagen tissue as well as muscular tissue in its walls. Prominences of mucosa are connected to the remainder of the intestinal wall by defined conjunctive thick, nonfragmented fibers, that permit firm adherence. In healthy adults, the findings were similar but there was an evident degenerative process in the collagen fibers. In 100 surgical specimens of hemorrhoidectomies, the histologic investigation demonstrated a severe inflammatory reaction that especially affected the blood vessel wall and conjunctive tissue, which probably produced an ischemic lesion of the mucosa that could condition the onset of a vascular thrombosis, allowing displacement of the mucosa and its protrusion through the anus. The files of 815 patients suffering from hemorrhoidal disease were also studied. The main physical findings were bleeding, thrombosis of the internal hemorrhoidal plexus, prolapse of the anal cushions, or a combination of these. The authors propose to classify hemorrhoidal disease as bleeding, prolapsing, thrombotic, and mixed hemorrhoidal disease, aiming toward a rational treatment.

We conclude that decreasing FEV1 is associated with a higher pneumothorax rate.

One hundred and eight patients with a diagnosis of malignant mixed müllerian tumors of the uterus treated at the M.D. Anderson Hospital from 1948 through 1977 were analyzed. Pathology was reviewed and subdivided according to the sarcomatous element. No difference in pattern of recurrence or survival could be demonstrated between homologous, heterologous, or undifferentiated sarcomatous elements. Nine patients were treated with only palliative intent due to advanced local disease combined with poor medical condition. Of the remaining 99 patients, 87% had minimum surgical procedures of total abdominal hysterectomy. All but two of these patients had adjunctive radiation either preoperatively or postoperatively. The 5‐year survival rate was 38%. There was frequent upstaging at surgery in all stages except IA. Patients with tumor confined to the uterus at the time of surgery had a 5‐year disease‐free survival of 52%. When there was extension outside of the uterus, the 5‐year disease‐free survival dropped to 28%. The locoregional recurrence rate was 17%.