Donald G. Gallup

Preoperative chemoradiation for advanced vulvar cancer: a phase II study of the Gynecologic Oncology Group.

PURPOSE To determine the feasibility of using preoperative chemoradiotherapy to avert the need for more radical surgery for patients with T3 primary tumors, or the need for pelvic exenteration for patients with T4 primary tumors, not amenable to resection by standard radical vulvectomy. METHODS AND MATERIALS Seventy-three evaluable patients with clinical Stage III-IV squamous cell vulvar carcinoma were enrolled in this prospective, multi-institutional trial. Treatment consisted of a planned split course of concurrent cisplatin/5-fluorouracil and radiation therapy followed by surgical excision of the residual primary tumor plus bilateral inguinal-femoral lymph node dissection. Radiation therapy was delivered to the primary tumor volume via anterior-posterior-posterior-anterior (AP-PA) fields in 170-cGy fractions to a dose of 4760 cGy. Patients with inoperable groin nodes received chemoradiation to the primary vulvar tumor, inguinal-femoral and lower pelvic lymph nodes. RESULTS Seven patients did not undergo a post-treatment surgical procedure: deteriorating medical condition (2 patients); other medical condition (1 patient); unresectable residual tumor (2 patients); patient refusal (2 patients). Following chemoradiotherapy, 33/71 (46.5%) patients had no visible vulvar cancer at the time of planned surgery and 38/71 (53.5%) had gross residual cancer at the time of operation. Five of the latter 38 patients had positive resection margins and underwent: further radiation therapy to the vulva (3 patients); wide local excision and vaginectomy necessitating colostomy (1 patient); no further therapy (1 patient). Using this strategy of preoperative, split-course, twice-daily radiation combined with cisplatin plus 5-fluorouracil chemotherapy, only 2/71 (2.8%) had residual unresectable disease. In only three patients was it not possible to preserve urinary and/or gastrointestinal continence. Toxicity was acceptable, with acute cutaneous reactions to chemoradiotherapy and surgical wound complications being the most common adverse effects. CONCLUSION Preoperative chemoradiotherapy in advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva is feasible, and may reduce the need for more radical surgery including primary pelvic exenteration.

Carcinoma of the vulva in young women

Objective To determine if young women with carcinoma of the vulva have a different risk factor history and outcome compared with older women. Methods We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records of 78 women treated at the Medical College of Georgia for squamous carcinoma of the vulva during 1979–1993. Women younger than 45 years were compared with those 45 and over for historic risk factors, treatment modality, and outcome. Results Over the study interval, the average presenting age of these patients decreased from 69 to 55 years. Women under 45 were found to have a stronger history of condyloma (P < .001, 95% confidence interval [CI] 3.69–87.96). There was no significant difference by age in the duration of symptoms before presentation, smoking history, or tumor size. Women 45 and over were more likely to have advancedstage disease (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] stage III or IV) (P = .03,95% CI 0.43–0.91). Treatment did not differ significantly with age. In a univariate analysis, advanced FIGO stage, presence of metastases, and tumor size were associated with shorter survival. There was no detected difference in survival for women in either age group. Conclusion There appears to be a trend in our patient population toward younger women presenting with squamous carcinoma of the vulva. Human papillomavirus infection appears to be more common in younger women with vulvar carcinoma. There may be a difference in the etiologies producing squamous carcinomas of the vulva. Education encouraging the early detection and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases might alter the rising incidence of this disease in younger women.

Use of a subcutaneous closed drainage system and antibiotics in obese gynecologic patients

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of subcutaneous closed drainage systems and prophylactic antibiotics on the wound breakdown rate in obese patients undergoing gynecologic surgery. STUDY DESIGN A prospective study was performed on 197 obese patients who were randomly selected to have a subcutaneous drain. Incision closure technique was standardized. Antibiotic usage was not randomized. Demographic data, perioperative data, and postoperative complications were noted and analyzed by X2 test and 2 x 2 contingency tables. RESULTS The overall complication rate was 25%, with 20% (22/109) among the group receiving a drain versus 31% (27/88) without a drain. Seventeen patients (8.6%) had wound breakdowns: 7 of 109 (6.4%) with drains and 10 of 88 (11.4%) without drains. Prophylactic antibiotics were given to 46% (50/109) in the drain group and 51% (45/88) without a drain. Fewer patients (2%) with a drain receiving antibiotics had wound breakdowns. The group with the most breakdowns had neither a drain nor antibiotics (14%). CONCLUSION We suggest the use of subcutaneous drains plus prophylactic antibiotics may decrease morbidity when operating on obese gynecologic patients.

Hidradenitis suppurativa of the anogenital region: Response to isotretinoin

Hidradenitis suppurativa, a chronic relapsing disease of apocrine gland-bearing areas, most frequently occurs in the axillae, groin, perineal, and perianal regions. Hidradenitis of vulva is frequently misdiagnosed and inadequately treated. The case of a 15-year-old nulliparous black female adolescent referred for evaluation of multiple draining fistulas of the anogenital region is presented. Diagnostic studies for granulomatous disease were negative. Results of a barium enema were normal and biopsies were compatible with the diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa. She was treated for 22 weeks with isotretinoin, 1 mg/kg daily, with an excellent response. Side effects were minor and included cheilitis, mild xerosis, and a transient elevation of serum alkaline phosphatase levels. Few patients with severe hidradenitis have been responsive to this synthetic vitamin A derivative. A review of the literature indicates that the results of treatment with isotretinoin for hidradenitis have been at best equivocal. Isotretinoin should never be used during pregnancy because of known teratogenic effects. Women of childbearing age must use effective contraception during treatment.

Neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix complicated by pregnancy: case report and review of the literature

&NA; A case report of neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix complicating pregnancy is presented. This represents the fourth reported case. Clinical staging was FIGO IB, and treatment consisted of radical surgery and aggressive chemotherapy. Electron microscopy confirmed the diagnosis of neuroendocrine carcinoma. The pregnancy‐associated cases and a review of neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma are discussed. (Obstet Gynecol 67:80S, 1986)

Wide local excision in the treatment of vulvar carcinoma in situ: A reappraisal☆☆☆

A retrospective study of 56 patients treated for carcinoma in situ of the vulva over a 24-year period has shown a relative increase in the occurrence of this neoplasm. Only 6.7% of patients in the first 14 years of the study period were less than 35 years of age, as compared with 29.3% in the last decade. In the earlier years of the study, simple vulvectomy was the primary treatment, and 81.3% of the patients were disease-free at 5 years. Wide local excision, used in the later years, resulted in a rate of 46.2% with no evidence of disease. Involvement of surgical margins played a significant role in this increased incidence of recurrence. Only one patient, originally treated by simple vulvectomy, later developed early stromal invasion. A wide local excision technique should be strongly considered as initial management of this multifocal neoplasm. Close follow-up is mandatory. Recurrence of disease may be treated with appropriate wide excision.

Another look at the second- assessment procedure for ovarian epithelial carcinoma

Over a 10-year period, 65 of 196 patients (33%) with ovarian epithelial malignancy, previously treated with chemotherapy, had a second-look operation if the disease was clinically absent. All procedures were done by one of three gynecologic oncologists, and 48% of the patients had a positive second-look procedure. Of patients with original stage I, II disease, 25% had a positive second-look operation, contrasting with 61% of patients with stage III, IV. Significant perioperative morbidity occurred: one patient had intraoperative vascular collapse; 15% had prolonged ileus; 17% had small bowel resections at the time of the second-look operation or in the postoperative period. Of all patients with negative second-look operations, 24% have had recurrent disease from 5 to 23 months after the procedure. These recurrences were in the liver or distant sites in 63% of the patients. Second-look operations, if still indicated by negative noninvasive techniques, should be performed in tertiary care centers under study situations in a standard fashion.

A phase II trial of 5-fluorouracil and high-dose leucovorin in patients with recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix: a Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

The addition of leucovorin to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has been shown to improve the response rate in recurrent colon cancer. The combination of low-dose leucovorin and 5-FU was previously tested by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) and did not produce response rates greater than rates using 5-FU alone. From June 1990 to April 1992, 55 patients with unresectable recurrent squamous cervical cancer received high-dose leucovorin at 200 mg/m2 i.v. bolus, followed by 5-FU at 370 mg/m2 i.v. bolus daily for 5 days every 4 weeks for the first two courses. Subsequent courses were given every 5 weeks. The median number of courses delivered was two (range 1-15). Fifty patients were evaluable for toxicity and 45 for response. Prior radiotherapy had been given to 43 patients and prior chemotherapy to 38. The overall response rate was 8.8% (95% confidence interval, 2.5-21.2%). There were two complete responses (4.4%) and two partial responses (4.4%). One response was in the pelvis and three were outside the pelvis. None of the extrapelvic responses had received irradiation at the site of measurable disease. The major adverse effect was granulocytopenia, with 15/50 (30%) experiencing GOG grade 3 or 4 granulocytopenia. The median white blood count for patients experiencing leukopenia was 2,000 (range 400-3,800). Grade 3 or 4 gastrointestinal toxicity was seen in 12 patients (24%). In this pretreated population, patients receiving high-dose leucovorin with 5-FU had moderate toxicity but only minimal activity.

Computed tomography in evaluation of gynecologic malignancies: A retrospective analysis

The results of preoperative computed tomography and operative findings were assessed retrospectively in 52 patients with cervical, uterine, and ovarian neoplasms. Overall sensitivity and specificity for all disease states was 57% and 79%, respectively. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 69%. The use of computed tomography was felt to be helpful in evaluation of lymphadenopathy due to cervical cancer and in patients with suspected ovarian neoplasms. In uterine neoplasms, however, computed tomography did not add useful information.

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix in women under age 40

Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix, traditionally associated with a poor prognosis, occurs in postmenopausal patients in the vast majority of cases reported. Only four cases have been reported in women less than age 40, and none in women less than age 30. Three new cases of adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix are reported in women aged 24, 27, and 38 years. All three patients were treated with radical pelvic surgery; lymph node metastases and vascular involvement were prominent. Adjuvant chemotherapy with cisplatin was used in two patients, one of whom has had long-term survival. A review of the literature is also presented.