Berta Díaz-Feijoo

Comparison of robotic-assisted vs conventional laparoscopy for extraperitoneal paraaortic lymphadenectomy

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the perioperative outcomes of robotic-assisted extraperitoneal paraaortic lymphadenectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer and to compare to a previous series of patients from our institution undergoing the same procedure by conventional laparoscopy. METHODS 17 patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (FIGO stages IB2, IIA2 and IIB-IVA) underwent pretherapeutic extraperitoneal paraaortic lymphadenectomy by robotic-assisted laparoscopy. Perioperative outcomes including age, BMI, FIGO stage, operating time, blood loss, complications and length of hospital stay were compared to a series of 83 patients from our institution undergoing the same procedure by conventional laparoscopy. RESULTS The median values for operating time and hospital days for the robotic-assisted and conventional laparoscopy groups were 150 vs. 150 min and 2 vs 2 days, respectively. In the robotic group, blood loss was lower (90 vs 20 ml, p<0.05) and more aortic nodes were removed (14 vs 17 nodes, p<0.05). Docking time was 7 min (range 3-15). There were no intraoperative complications. There were no differences for postoperative complications (17.6% vs 8.4%). CONCLUSION Robotic-assisted and conventional laparoscopy provide similar perioperative outcomes other than lower blood loss and higher number of aortic nodes removed (both without clinical impact) in robotic patients for the performance of extraperitoneal paraaortic lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. We believe that robotic surgery is an additional tool to perform the same surgical procedure. HIGHLIGHTS Robotic-assisted and conventional laparoscopic extraperitoneal paraaortic lymphadenectomy provide similar perioperative outcomes.

Sentinel Lymph Node Identification and Radical Hysterectomy with Lymphadenectomy in Early Stage Cervical Cancer: Laparoscopy Versus Laparotomy

STUDY OBJECTIVE To estimate the feasibility and results of sentinel lymph node identification and radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy entirely completed by laparoscopy versus laparotomy in early stage cervical cancer. DESIGN Retrospective, nonrandomized clinical study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING Acute care, teaching hospital. PATIENTS From September 2000 through January 2005, 50 consecutive patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA2, IB1, and IIA disease less than 4 cm underwent radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy with intraoperative sentinel lymph node biopsy. INTERVENTIONS The operation was performed entirely by laparoscopy in 20 patients and using the conventional abdominal approach in 30. Feasibility of sentinel lymph node identification, surgical morbidity, overall survival, and recurrence rate-free survival in both groups were compared. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The overall detection rate of the sentinel lymph node was 100% (false negative 0%). A mean of 2.50 sentinel nodes/patient was detected in the laparotomy group compared with a mean of 2.55 nodes in the laparoscopic group (p=.874). Bifurcation of the right common iliac artery was the most frequent nodal location. Blood loss and length of stay were significantly lower in the laparoscopic group, but surgical time was significantly longer. The median follow-up was 35 months (range 5-57) in the laparotomy group and 22.5 (range 2-52) in the laparoscopic group. Differences in overall survival and disease-free survival were not observed. CONCLUSION Sentinel lymph node identification and radical hysterectomy in the initial treatment of early stage cervical cancer can be performed safely by laparoscopy with lower morbidity and overall survival and recurrence-free survival similar to standard laparotomy.

Location of aortic node metastases in locally advanced cervical cancer

BACKGROUND To assess the location of aortic node metastasis in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer undergoing extraperitoneal aortic lymphadenectomy to define the extent of the aortic lymphadenectomy. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between August 2001 and December 2010, 100 consecutive patients with primary locally advanced cervical cancer underwent extraperitoneal laparoscopic aortic and common iliac lymphadenectomy. The location of aortic node metastases, inframesenteric or infrarenal was noted. RESULTS The mean number±standard deviation (SD) of aortic nodes removed was 15.9 ± 7.8 (range 4-62). The mean number ± SD of inframesenteric (including common iliac) nodes removed was 8.8 ± 4.5 (range 2-41) and the mean number ± SD of infrarenal nodes removed was 7.8 ± 4.1 (range 2-21). Positive aortic nodes were observed in 16 patients, and in 5 (31.2%) of them the infrarenal nodes were the only nodes involved, with negative inframesenteric nodes. CONCLUSION Inframesenteric aortic nodes are negative in the presence of positive infrarenal nodes in about one third of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer and aortic metastases.

Change in clinical management of sentinel lymph node location in early stage cervical cancer: The role of SPECT/CT

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the feasibility of the sentinel lymph node (SLN) identification with SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy imaging in the early stage invasive cervical cancer in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. METHODS Between March 2007 and June 2009, a prospective consecutive study was designed for SLN mapping. Twenty-two patients with cervical cancer FIGO stage IB1 (n=20) or stage IIA1 (n=2) underwent SLN identification with preoperative SPECT/CT and planar images (technetium-99m colloid albumin injection around the tumor) and posterior intraoperative detection with both blue dye and a handheld or laparoscopic gamma probe. Complete pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in all cases by open (n=2) or laparoscopic (n=20) surgery. RESULTS In the present series, a total of 35 SLN were detected with planar images and 40 SLN were identified and well located by SPECT/CT lymphoscintigraphy (median 2.0 nodes per patient). In 5/22 patients (22.7%) SPECT/CT procedure improves the number of localized SLN. Intraoperatively, 57 SLNs were identified, with a median of 3 SLNs per patient by gamma probe (a total of 53 hot nodes) and a median of 2 nodes per patient after blue dye injection (a total of 42 blue nodes). Microscopic nodal metastases (eight nodes, corresponding to four patients) were confirmed in 18.18% of cases; all these lymph nodes were previously detected as SLN. The remaining 450 nodes, including SLNs, following complete pelvic lymphadenectomy, were histologically negative. CONCLUSIONS Sentinel lymph node detection is improved by SPECT/CT imaging because of the increased number of SLN detected and the better tridimensional anatomic location, allowing easier intra-operative detection with gamma probe and showing, in this series, a 100% negative predictive value.

Impact of extraperitoneal lymphadenectomy on treatment and survival in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer

During the last years, and coinciding with the beginning of the concomitant treatment with radio-chemotherapy, a better control of local cervical cancer has been reached, although failures in the systemic control of the illness have been more frequent. One of the main causes is not treating the illness at the level of the para-aortic lymph nodes, basically because their affectation is unknown and because imaging tests have a high percentage of false negative results. At this time, it is when laparoscopic para-aortic lymphadenectomy arises, in order to be able to know the extension of the illness better before treatment. A extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach is described in order to reduce complications derived from a possible extended irradiation. Between August 2001 and October 2007, a total of 69 patients with bulky and locally advanced cervical cancer (FIGO stages IB2, IIA > 4 cm and IIB-IVA) underwent extraperitoneal laparoscopic lymphadenectomy for surgical staging. Extraperitoneal aortic lymphadenectomy by laparoscopic approach is a technique with low morbidity. Special laparoscopic material is not required and if it is performed by a team trained in technical endoscopics it is not difficult. Radio-chemotherapy treatment began immediately after laparoscopy because of its minimal aggression.

MicroRNAs as prognostic markers in ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal gynecological malignancy among women. Over 70% of women with OC are diagnosed in advanced stages and most of these cases are incurable. Although most patients respond well to primary chemotherapy, tumors become resistant to treatment. Mechanisms of chemoresistance in cancer cells may be associated with mutational events and/or alterations of gene expression through epigenetic events. Although focusing on known genes has already yielded new information, previously unknown non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), also lead insight into the biology of chemoresistance. In this review we summarize the current evidence examining the role of miRNAs as biomarkers of response and survival to therapy in OC. Beside their clinical implications, we also discuss important differences between studies that may have limited their use as clinical biomarkers and suggest new approaches.

Nerve sparing technique in robotic‐assisted radical hysterectomy: results

This work assessed the role of robotic‐assisted lapararoscopic radical hysterectomy in the treatment of early invasive cervical cancer with special regard to nerve sparing technique.

Sentinel lymph node identification in a primary ductal carcinoma arising in the vulva

Primary or metastasic breast-like carcinoma of the vulva is a rare event. Because of the similarity with breast ductal carcinoma, we think that the same principles used for treatment of orthotopic breast cancer can be applied, as well as the use of sentinel lymph node technique, which is widely accepted in the management of early-stage breast cancer. We report a 49-old-year postmenopausal woman who was referred to our institution after small biopsy of a 3.5- × 3-cm right vulvar tumor. Histopathologically, infiltration of the vulvar dermis by a ductal carcinoma of mammary gland type was reported. At operation, the sentinel node technique revealed two sentinel nodes in the right inguinal area. Although these nodes proved negative for malignancy, the patient underwent wide local excision of tumor and complete ipsilateral inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy. The remaining excised nodes were negative. Surgical specimen proved estrogen- and progesterone-positive receptors, the reason for which the patient received tamoxifen adjuvant therapy. This report represents the first case in the world literature of primary breast carcinoma arising in the vulva in which sentinel lymph node identification has been possible. Because of the rarity of this condition, the pathologic similarity of this tumor along with currently accepted guidelines for the management of breast cancer supports the possibility of local excision and sentinel lymph node identification as a possible alternative to inguinofemoral lymphadenectomy

Usefulness of extraperitoneal laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy for lymph node recurrence in gynecologic malignancy

Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of extraperitoneal laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy for suspected lymph node recurrence of gynecological cancers. Design. Descriptive study. Setting. Unit of Gynecologic Oncology of an acute‐care teaching hospital in Barcelona, Spain. Population. Between December 2002 and October 2007, eight women underwent extraperitoneal laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy for suspected lymph node recurrence, detected by magnetic resonance image (MRI), computed tomography (CT) scan or 18F‐fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (PET) scanning. The suspicious nodes were removed through an extraperitoneal laparoscopic approach. Resuts. The median age of patients was 66.5 years (range: 54–74). The median operating time was 157.5 minutes (range: 120–240). The median blood loss was 112.5 mL (range: 50–150). The mean nodal yield was 9.4±4.72 (range: 1–16). There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The median hospital stay was two days. Histological examination revealed metastasis in seven of eight patients. Conclusions. The extraperitoneal laparoscopic paraaortic lymphadenectomy for lymph node recurrence of gynecological cancers is a safe and feasible procedure which should be considered where there is isolated involvement of retroperitoneal lymph nodes. This procedure is a minimally invasive technique that allows an excellent approach to the paraaortic lymph nodes.

Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer in prolapsed uterus

PurposeThe association between cervical cancer and uterine prolapse is rare and sparsely represented in literature, despite the high incidence of the latter. The suitable treatment in this clinical situation is not defined. The objective of this article is to review published cases about this clinical condition.MethodsWe report a case of cervical cancer in prolapsed uterus treated with radical hysterectomy performed totally by laparoscopic approach, and review other case reports published about this clinical condition.ResultsWe present the first case reported in literature in our knowledge of cervical cancer in prolapsed uterus treated with radical hysterectomy performed totally by laparoscopic approach. Treatments previously reported are vaginal hysterectomies with adjuvant radiotherapy or concomitant chemo-radiotherapy.ConclusionsRadical hysterectomy can be correctly performed totally by laparoscopic approach even when cervical cancer is associated with severe uterine prolapse.