C. Bensaid

Complications of lymphadenectomy for gynecologic cancer

INTRODUCTION Symptomatic postoperative lymphocysts (SPOLs) and lower-limb lymphedema (LLL) are probably underestimated complications of lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancies. Here, our objective was to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of SPOLs and LLL after pelvic and/or aortocaval lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancies. METHODS Single-center retrospective study of consecutive patients who underwent pelvic and/or aortocaval lymphadenectomy for ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, or cervical cancer between January 2007 and November 2008. The incidences of SPOL and LLL were computed with their 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs). Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent risk factors for SPOL and LLL. RESULTS We identified 88 patients including 36 with ovarian cancer, 35 with endometrial cancer, and 17 with cervical cancer. The overall incidence of SPOL was 34.5% (95%CI, 25-45) and that of LLL was 11.4% (95% confidence interval [95%CI], 5-18). Endometrial cancer was independently associated with a lower risk of SPOL (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.09; 95%CI, 0.02-0.44) and one or more positive pelvic nodes with a higher risk of SPOL (aOR, 4.4; 95%CI, 1.2-16.3). Multivariate logistic regression failed to identify factors significantly associated with LLL. CONCLUSION Complications of lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignancies are common. This finding supports a more restrictive use of lymphadenectomy or the use of less invasive techniques such as sentinel node biopsy.

Role of video-assisted thoracoscopy in patients with ovarian cancer and pleural effusion.

Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility of video-assisted thoracoscopy (VAT) for staging advanced ovarian cancer, to measure the performance of preoperative computed tomography (CT) for diagnosing pleural metastases, to assess the correlation between pleural and abdominal involvement, and to measure the impact of VAT on patient management. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 16 VAT procedures in 15 patients with advanced ovarian malignancies and pleural effusions. The reason for VAT was either to evaluate unilateral or bilateral pleural effusions (n = 15) or to evaluate pleural metastases after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (n = 1). Preoperative CT was performed routinely, and findings were compared with those of VAT. The rates of involvement of the hepatic pedicle, mesentery, and right side of the diaphragm were compared with the rate of pleural involvement. Results: The right side of the chest was examined 12 times; and the left side, 4 times. There were no complications; 1 procedure was stopped because of ventilatory intolerance. Video-assisted thoracoscopy identified metastases smaller than 1 cm in 5 patients and larger than 1 cm in 2 additional patients; there was no evidence of pleural involvement in 6 patients. Computed tomography had 14% sensitivity and 25% specificity for pleural status determination, using VAT biopsy as the reference standard. Pleural involvement did not correlate with involvement of the hepatic pedicle, mesentery, or right side of the diaphragm. Conclusions: Video-assisted thoracoscopy performs better than CT for evaluating pleural involvement in ovarian cancer. Video-assisted thoracoscopy supplies accurate data on thoracic involvement, which does not seem predictable from the peritoneal involvement. Video-assisted thoracoscopy may impact patient management.

Prise en charge des masses annexielles organiques : résultats d'une enquête de pratique

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was first to describe the adnexal masses diagnoses and their management and secondly to assess the oncological relevance of these strategies. PATIENTS AND METHODS A prospective multicentric observational study of organic adnexal masses was conducted between June and November 2005. All patients presenting an organic adnexal tumor and for which a definitive histological diagnosis was subsequently available were eligible. Baseline characteristics, mode of discovery, preoperative assessment, peroperative findings, surgical treatment and pathological findings were collected. RESULTS Among the 278 patients treated for an adnexal mass during the study-period, 166 were included. Mean age was 42.8 years with a 25.3% menopause rate. The radiological assessment comprised an ultrasound examination in 98.8% of cases and an MRI in about one-fourth. The CA 125 marker was measured in half the patients and the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) marker in 19.9%. In all, 83.1% of tumors were found benign, 12.7% were malignant and 4.2% were borderlines on definitive histological examination. The surgical procedure comprised a cystectomy in 88 cases and an adnexectomy in 64 cases. Among those treated by cystectomy, one borderline tumor was found, whereas in those treated by adnexectomy, five borderline and 12 malignant masses were discovered. Peroperative conversion rates were 16% and 50% in borderline and malignant tumors. Accidental rupture of the cyst occurred in 29% of cases. A minimal preoperative assessment was defined, based upon the dimensions of the tumor and the dosage of at least one marker. These minimal criteria were met in only 28% of initial assessments. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Ovarian borderline tumors and carcinomas are an important contingent of this study (16.9%). Twenty percent of them are diagnosed in an emergency situation. The management observed in this study is adapted to benign lesions. On the other hand, the rate of inappropriate procedures as well as incomplete staging in case of borderline or carcinomas is quite high.

Laparoscopy vs robotics in surgical management of endometrial cancer: comparison of intraoperative and postoperative complications.

STUDY OBJECTIVE To compare the rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications of robotic surgery and laparoscopy in the surgical treatment of endometrial cancer. DESIGN Unicentric retrospective study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2). SETTING Tertiary teaching hospital. PATIENTS The study was performed from January 2002 to December 2011 and included patients with endometrial cancer who underwent laparoscopic or robotically assisted laparoscopic surgical treatment. Data collected included preoperative data, tumor characteristics, intraoperative data (route of surgery, surgical procedures, and complications), and postoperative data (early and late complications according to the Clavien-Dindo classification, and length of hospital stay). Morbidity was compared between the 2 groups. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The study included 146 patients, of whom 106 underwent laparoscopy and 40 underwent robotically assisted surgery. The 2 groups were comparable in terms of demographic and preoperative data. Intraoperative complications occurred in 9.4% of patients who underwent laparoscopy and in none who underwent robotically assisted surgery (p = .06). There was no difference between the 2 groups in terms of postoperative events. CONCLUSION Robotically assisted surgery is not associated with a significant difference in intraoperative and postoperative complications, even when there were no intraoperative complications of robotically assisted surgery.

Performance of laparoscopy in identifying malignant ovarian cysts.

BackgroundPeroperative identification of malignancy is crucial to management planning for ovarian cysts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of laparoscopy in identifying malignant ovarian cysts.MethodsPatients undergoing laparoscopy for ovarian cysts from 1998 to 2001 were enrolled prospectively. Physical findings, Doppler ultrasonography, and serum CA 125 served to compute two risk-of-malignancy indexes (RMI-1 and RMI-2), and laparoscopy findings served to categorize lesions as benign, possibly malignant, or malignant. Frozen sections were examined as needed. Final histology was the reference.ResultsOf 313 patients, 294 had benign cysts, six borderline lesions, and 13 malignancies. Sensitivity and specificity were respectively 84 and 93% for RMI-1, 92 and 80% for RMI-2, 100 and 99% for laparoscopy, 91 and 100% for frozen sections, and 100 and 100% for laparoscopy plus frozen sections, which had 100% negative predictive value. Six (1.8%) adverse events occurred.ConclusionsLaparoscopy reliably identifies ovarian cancer and borderline disease. Morbidity is low compared to oncologic surgery.

Value of three-dimensional contrast-enhanced power Doppler ultrasound for characterizing adnexal masses

Aims:  The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic performance of 3‐D contrast‐enhanced power Doppler ultrasonography (3‐D CEPDUS) for differentiating benign and malignant adnexal masses.

Diagnostic accuracy of hand-assisted laparoscopy in predicting resectability of peritoneal carcinomatosis from gynecological malignancies

OBJECTIVES Residual disease after excision surgery is the main prognostic factor in advanced ovarian cancer. Open surgery can delay neoadjuvant chemotherapy initiation. Therefore, a minimally invasive method for evaluating resectability would be of great interest. Aim of our study is to evaluate a new technique for assessing the extent of peritoneal carcinomatosis, combining manual palpation and standard laparoscopy. METHODS Prospective single-center study from October 2008 to January 2010. Patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gynecological malignancies were investigated by standard laparoscopy followed by laparoscopy plus manual palpation using Lapdisc(®) (Ethicon Inc.), at 43 abdominopelvic sites. When both techniques indicated resectability, standard cytoreduction surgery was performed via a midline laparotomy. The Fagotti, modified Fagotti, and Sugarbaker scores were computed. The diagnostic performance of each evaluation criterion was assessed by computing sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (ROC-AUCs). RESULTS Of the 29 included patients, 18 (62.1%) were considered to have resectable disease. Fourteen (14/18, 77.8%) had macroscopically complete cytoreduction. With Lapdisc(®), sensitivity was 100%, specificity 73.3%, PPV 77.8%, NPV 100%, and ROC-AUC 0.87. Corresponding values were as follows: laparoscopy, 100%, 40%, 60.9%, 100%, and 0.70; Fagotti and modified Fagotti scores, 100%, 46.7%, 63.6%, 100%, and 0.73; Sugarbaker score, 64.3%, 93.3%, 90%, 73.7%, and 0.79. The ROC-AUCs showed significantly better performance of Lapdisc(®) than of standard laparoscopy (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION Hand-assisted laparoscopy may perform better than laparoscopy alone for predicting the resectability of peritoneal carcinomatosis by increasing the number of sites evaluated.

Ganglion sentinelle dans les cancers du col de faible stade. Données actuelles. Assurance qualité. Perspectives

Sentinel node biopsy appears as a promising technique for the assessment of nodal disease in early cervical cancers. Selection of a population with a low risk of nodal metastasis, a minimal training, and simple rules allow a low false negative rate. Sentinel node biopsy provides supplementary information, such as anatomical information (nodes outside of routine lymphadenectomy areas) and histological information (isolated tumors cells and micrometastases).

Is complete cytoreductive surgery feasible in this patient with ovarian cancer

BACKGROUND Post-operative residual tumor size is the main prognostic factor in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. Our objective was to develop a score for predicting the feasibility of complete cytoreductive surgery in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS Using data from a retrospective cohort of 123 patients with advanced ovarian cancer, we developed a score for predicting complete cytoreductive surgery, by performing multiple logistic regression after a jackknife procedure. RESULTS Three criteria were independently associated with incomplete cytoreductive surgery confirmed by surgery: age >60 years (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 6.37; 95% confidence interval [95%CI], 1.9-21.3), diaphragmatic carcinomatosis by computed tomography (aOR, 3.34; 95%CI, 1.1-9.9), and a Peritoneal Cancer Index >10 by diagnostic laparoscopy (aOR, 3.8; 95%CI, 1.4-10.2). A 10-point score was developed based on these three criteria. The area-under-the-curve of the score was 0.76 (95%CI, 0.67-0.86). The score discriminated between groups with low and high risks of incomplete cytoreductive surgery (4.4% [95% CI, 0-10.5] and 42.9% [95% CI, 26.3-59.4], respectively). Using a cutoff of 4, sensitivity of the score was 92.8% (95%CI, 83.2-100) and specificity was 77% (95%CI, 67.1-84.9) for predicting incomplete cytoreductive surgery. CONCLUSION This easy-to-calculate score may prove useful to identify patients with ovarian peritoneal carcinomatosis in whom complete cytoreductive surgery is feasible.

Risk of port-site metastases in pelvic cancers after robotic surgery

OBJECTIVE To assess the risk of occurrence of port-site metastases after robotic surgery for pelvic cancer. METHODS Retrospective study from June 2007 to March 2013 of patients with gynecologic cancer who underwent robot-assisted surgery. We collected preoperative data, including characteristics of patients and FIGO stage, intraoperative data (surgery performed, number of ports), and postoperative data (occurrence of metastases, occurrence of port-site metastases). RESULTS 115 patients were included in the study: 61 with endometrial cancer, 50 with cervical cancer and 4 with ovarian cancer. The surgical procedures performed were: hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, radical hysterectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, para-aortic lymphadenectomy and omentectomy. All surgical procedures required the introduction of 4 ports, 3 for the robot and 1 for the assistant. With a mean follow-up of 504.4 days (507.7 days for endometrial cancer, 479.5 days for cervical cancer, and 511.3 for ovarian cancer), we observed 9 recurrences but no port-site metastasis. CONCLUSION No port-site metastasis has occurred in our series. However, larger, prospective and randomized works are needed to formally conclude.