Constriction of the umbilical cord by an amniotic band after previous midtrimester amniocentesis is an extremely rare entity. A case report of fetal asphyxia caused by partial occlusion of the umbilical cord by an amniotic band is presented. Clinical and experimental evidence strongly suggests that the pathogenesis of this defect is related to early rupture of the membranes during gestation with subsequent encirclement and ligation of fetal umbilical cord, or extremities. In this case, formation of the amniotic band caused by midtrimester amniocentesis is strongly suggested. Obstetricians should be aware of this hazardous complication during pregnancy and labor in women who had had a midtrimester amniocentesis.

Four patients with endometrial foam cells are described. In one the endometrium was obtained after parturition. It showed decidua and endometritis, whereas in the second patient, who had received birth control medication in the past, the endometrium was proliferative. In both cases there was a considerable amount of endometrial hemorrhage. The foam cells in these two patients had little granularity, and their cytoplasm contained hemosiderin. The other two patients received exogenous estrogen and presented with endometrial hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. In these latter cases the foam cells were more granular, and contained no hemosiderin. Our findings confirm the presence of two types of histologically similar endometrial foam cell: a histiocytic, "non-estrogenic" reactive type capable of phagocytosis, and a stromal, "estrogenic" non-phagocytic type which is associated with hyperplasia or carcinoma and which may also be related to estrogen administration. Staining for hemosiderin may be particularly helpful in differentiating between the two types of foam cell. Such a differentiation is of practical importance because of the biologic significance attached to the "estrogenic" foam-cells which are usually indicative of endometrial hyperplasia or carcinoma.

A case of congenital short femur in an otherwise healthy infant is described. Antenatal sonographic diagnosis was made at 26 weeks of gestation. The left femur was shorter than the right (ratio 0.82-0.85). In this case, the occurrence of congenital short femur was sporadic. The diagnosis was confirmed after delivery. This case illustrates the importance of ultrasound as an early detector of certain congenital anomalies and as a useful tool in their follow-up.

Hydrops fetalis was diagnosed in one of two twins, while the other suffered from cardiac failure. Indomethacin administered to the mother to arrest premature labor, seemed to be the predisposing factor resulting in the hydrops fetalis. The possible relationship between intrauterine closure of the ductus arteriosus and the pathogenesis of hydrops fetalis is discussed.

A case of fetal death due to an amniotic band and an umbilical cord true knot is presented. To the best of our knowledge the simultaneous occurrence of true knot of cord and amniotic band has never been previously reported and may shed light on the possible time of true knot formation in this case.