M. Lahousen

Prognostic factors and operative treatment of stages IB to IIB cervical cancer

Between 1971 and 1985, a total of 325 cases of cervical cancer, Stages IB to IIB, in which operation was performed were evaluated with a view toward prognostic factors and survival rates. In radical abdominal operations, a complete resection of parametrial tissue was the goal. Extensive lymphadenectomy of the pelvis was performed. Operative specimens were processed by giant sections comprising cervix, lateral parametria, and vaginal cuff. Lymph nodes were cut by step-serial sections. Exact measurements of tumor sizes were done along with investigations of parametrium and lymph nodes. Tumors were classified according to a ratio of tumor size to size of cervix. Incidence of lymph node involvement increased with tumor size, reaching a maximum of 68.3% in the group with a ratio from 70% to 80%. Direct spread into the parametrium was rarely found, even in larger tumors occupying the entire cervix. parametrial lymph nodes were most often involved; these were scattered over the entire ligament. Five-year survival rates reached 88.1% in patients with no nodal involvement and 60.9% with nodal involvement. In the latter, the results depended on the number of nodal groups involved and the diameter of metastases. Parametrial involvement alone had no influence on healing rates, but when pelvic nodes were simultaneously involved, the results were less satisfactory. Survival rates based on tumor size differed only between the group with a ratio up to 20% and the large-tumor groups, with rates ranging from 97.5% to 70.9%. There was no statistical difference between Stages IB (31.1% positive nodes) and IIB (44.1% positive nodes) with regard to survival rates (82.2% and 76.9%, respectively).

Expression of oestrogen and progesterone receptors in low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas

We analysed oestrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) expression in a retrospective series of 21 low-grade endometrial stromal sarcomas (LGSSs). Archival formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded material was analysed by immunohistochemistry. ER and PR were measured with monoclonal antibodies and the peroxidase-antiperoxidase method and a score was calculated as for breast carcinoma based on both the percentage of positive tumour cell nuclei and the staining intensity. ER were seen in 15 (71%) and PR in 20 (95%) of tumours respectively. ER expression was scored as high in three (14%), moderate in four (19%), and low in eight (38%) tumours. Six (29%) tumours did not stain for ER and all of these were positive for PR. PR expression was scored as high in eight (38%), moderate in ten (47%) and weak in two (10%) LGSSs. Only one (5%) LGSS did not stain for PR (this tumour was positive for ER). ER and PR expression in LGSS is heterogeneous. This may have implications for hormone therapy in the management of these tumours. These results suggest that ER and PR should be routinely quantified in LGSSs by immunohistochemical methods.

Pelvic lymphadenectomy in operative treatment of ovarian cancer

From the end of 1979 to September, 1985, radical pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed at the Graz Clinic in 123 cases of Stages IA to IV ovarian cancer following maximum debulking procedure. In 97 patients lymphadenectomy was done primarily. In 26 it was performed during a follow-up operation to chemotherapy. The frequency of pelvic node involvement was 61.8% in the total material and 78.0% in 82 cases of Stage III disease only; 75.0% positive nodes were found in Stage III after chemotherapy. Aortic nodes were positive in 41.4%, but only when pelvic nodes were also positive. The 5-year actuarial survival rate for Stage III disease was 53.0% after pelvic lymphadenectomy compared with 13.0% without. In cases with negative nodes the survival rate was 74.7%; with positive nodes the survival rate was 45.9%.

Nongenital cancers metastatic to the ovary

Abstract We review our experience with 82 patients with nongenital cancers metastatic to the ovary. All patients were referred for evaluation of an ovarian mass. The patients had primary carcinoma of the breast ( n = 28), colon ( n = 23), stomach ( n = 22), pancreas ( n = 7), or gallbladder ( n = 2). The overall actuarial 5-year survival rate was 10%. Five-year survival in patients with metastatic colon cancer was significantly higher (23%) than that in patients with metastatic cancer of the breast, stomach, gallbladder, or pancreas, all of whom died within 58 months ( P p = 0.003). Five-year survival in patients with disease limited to the pelvis was significantly higher than that in those with abdominal spread (22% vs 6%; P 2 cm in diameter was 18% or 4%, respectively ( P = 0.002). This pattern applied mainly to differences in patients with primary cancer of the breast or colon ( P

Microinvasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage IA).

In 1985 the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) subdivided Stage IA cervical cancer and specified metric criteria to demarcate Stage IA from Stage IB. Early stromal invasion (Stage IA1) denotes the first invasive protrusions of a carcinoma in situ into the stroma. Microcarcinomas (Stage IA2) are small cancers a number of orders of magnitude larger than Stage IA1 lesions and with a maximum depth of invasion of 5 mm and a maximum horizontal spread of 7 mm; larger lesions are classified as Stage IB. This study reviews 486 patients previously classified as having Stage IA disease. This yielded 344 Stage IA1 and 101 Stage IA2 lesions; 41 cancers were reclassified as Stage IB. Three hundred nine, 89, and 38 patients were followed for ± 5 years. One (0.3%) patient with Stage IA1 disease re‐presented with Stage IIB disease 12 years after conization. Five (5.6%) patients with Stage IA2 lesions developed invasive recurrences; three died. None of the 38 patients reclassified as having a Stage IB lesion, including 16 who were treated conservatively, developed a recurrence. The FIGO classification is not a guideline for treatment. Stage IA1 lesions can be treated conservatively, but treatment in Stage IA2 must be individualized. Risk factors such as vascular space involvement and confluency are of high sensitivity but low specificity.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III: long-term follow-up after cold-knife conization with involved margins.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the long‐term outcome of patients with severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III or squamous carcinoma in situ after cold‐knife conization with involved margins. METHODS A total of 390 patients (median age 39 years, range 20–69) with positive margins after cold‐knife conization for CIN III were followed expectantly for a mean of 19 (range 6–30) years. Follow‐up consisted of colposcopy, cytology, histology, and pelvic examination. RESULTS Overall, 306 (78%) patients remained free of CIN III, and 84 (22%) had persisting or recurrent CIN III (n = 78) or developed invasive carcinoma (n = 6). Fifty‐three patients had persisting CIN III (diagnosed within 1 year of conization), 25 developed recurrent CIN III after a median of 3 (range 2–28) years, five developed microinvasive carcinomas (at 3, 6, 7, 12, and 23 years), and one developed a stage IB carcinoma at 8 years. Persisting or recurrent disease was more common in patients in whom both the endocervical and the ectocervical cone margins were involved than in those in whom only the ectocervical or the endocervical margin was positive (52% versus 17% and 21%, respectively, P < .001). CONCLUSION Expectant management is reasonable for patients with CIN III and positive margins after cold‐knife conization. However, these patients require careful follow‐up, particularly during the first year.

Primary carcinoma of the fallopian tube--a retrospective analysis of 115 patients. Austrian Cooperative Study Group for Fallopian Tube Carcinoma.

Incidence and prognostic factors of primary carcinoma of the Fallopian tube were studied in a retrospective multi-centre analysis of 115 women during the period 1980 to 1990. Data of 28 departments (university as well as general hospitals) were included in the present study which was designed to evaluate the current diagnosis and treatment of carcinoma of the Fallopian tube in Austria, and to compare the results with those from the literature. Stages were classified according to the modified FIGO-system for ovarian cancer; grading followed the criteria of Hu et al. (1950). The mean age of the patients was 62.5 years. Forty-seven (40.9%) tumours were found to be in stage I, 20 (17.4%) in stage II, 34 (29.6%) in stage III, and 14 (12.1%) in stage IV. In 82 patients, the tumour could be completely removed. The surgical method applied in 95 cases was removal of the uterus, the adnexa, and/or the omentum, or lymph nodes. Postoperatively patients underwent adjuvant therapy which was either irradiation (n = 40; 34.8%), or chemotherapy (n = 49; 42.6%); 26 women (22.6%) had no therapy after operation. The 5-year survival rate for all stages was 36.5%. In stages I and II the 5-year survival was 50.8% compared to 13.6% in stages III and IV. FIGO-stage I and II and a residual tumour less than 2 cm in advanced disease had a prognostically favourable impact, which was proven in univariate as well as multivariate analysis.

Pelvic and paraaortic lymphocysts after radical surgery because of cervical and ovarian cancer

To determine the incidence and clinical import of lymphocysts after radical gynecologic surgery including lymphadenectomy, we reviewed the records of 173 patients with cervical cancer and 135 patients with ovarian cancer who were followed up by computed tomography. Lymphocysts were found in 35 (20%) and 43 (32%) of the patients, respectively. Patients with cervical cancer and positive lymph nodes had a significantly higher rate of lymphocyst formation than did those with negative nodes (29% versus 14%, respectively, p less than 0.02). Age, type of lymphadenectomy, volume of fluid furthered by postoperative drains, disease stage, and tumor histology were not related to lymphocyst development. We saw no complications strictly attributable to lymphocysts. The clinical import and treatment possibilities are discussed.

Tumor angiogenesis as a prognostic factor in ovarian carcinoma

The growth of a malignant tumor requires the formation of new capillaries. Quantification of these microvessels is difficult. The purpose of this study was to establish an objective technique for quantifying angiogenesis and to evaluate whether microvessel quantity may predict tumor aggressiveness in patients with ovarian carcinoma.

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia III: long-term outcome after cold-knife conization with clear margins

Objective To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients with severe cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or squamous cell carcinoma in situ (CIN III) after cold-knife conization with clear margins. Methods A total of 4417 women (mean age 36, range 18–72 years) with histologically confirmed CIN III had cold-knife conization with clear margins at our institution between 1970 and 1994. All patients were followed up with colpos-copy, cytology, and pelvic examination for a mean of 18 years (range 5–30years). Results New high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (SILs) (CIN II and III) developed in 15 (0.35%) patients (mean age 35, range 25–65 years) after a median of 107 (range 40–201) months. A total of 4402 (99.65%) patients (mean age 36, range 18–72 years) were free of high-grade SILs after a mean follow-up of 18 (range 5–30) years. High-grade glandular intraepithelial lesions developed in two (0.05%) patients 14 and 17 years after conization. Twelve (0.3%) patients had metachronous vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN) grade III or vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) grade III, and one (0.02%) patient had invasive vaginal carcinoma 10 years after conization. Conclusion Cold-knife conization with clear margins was an adequate method to definitively treat CIN III.