Maria Dolores Diestro

Conservative treatment of early stage ovarian cancer: Oncological and fertility outcomes

BACKGROUND Ovarian cancer may appear in young women during their reproductive age. As a result of late childbearing nowadays, fertility preservation has become a major issue in young women with gynecological cancer. The aim of this review is to update the current knowledge on conservative treatment and fertility preservation of women affected of early stage epithelial ovarian cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS A web-based search in Medline and CancerLit databases on conservative treatment for early stage ovarian cancer has been carried out. All relevant information has been collected and analyzed. RESULTS Less than 40% of ovarian cancers are diagnosed at early stages. Conservative treatment may be considered in young patients with a relapse rate that ranges from 9% to 29%, and a 5-year survival ranging from 83% to 100%. Recurrences in the controlateral ovary has been reported to be less than 5%, with most of these patients being alive after savage treatments. Moreover, it has been reported good fertility outcomes after conservative treatment with a successful conception rate that ranges from 60% to 100%, with an abortion rate under 30% in all series reported. CONCLUSIONS Conservative treatment for early epithelial ovarian cancers could be a safe option for women younger than 40 years who wish to preserve their childbearing potential. We need a strict case selection such as FIGO stage I grade 1 and 2, although grade 3 cases could be considered.

From Conventional Radiotracer Tc-99 m with Blue Dye to Indocyanine Green Fluorescence: A Comparison of Methods Towards Optimization of Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Early Stage Cervical Cancer for a Laparoscopic Approach

AbstractBackground The credibility of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping is becoming increasingly more established in cervical cancer. We aimed to assess the sensitivity of SLN biopsy in terms of detection rate and bilateral mapping in women with cervical cancer by comparing technetium-99 radiocolloid (Tc-99m) and blue dye (BD) versus fluorescence mapping with indocyanine green (ICG).MethodsData of patients with cervical cancer stage 1A2 to 1B1 from 5 European institutions were retrospectively reviewed. All centers used a laparoscopic approach with the same intracervical dye injection. Detection rate and bilateral mapping of ICG were compared, respectively, with results obtained by standard Tc-99m with BD.ResultsOverall, 76 (53 %) of 144 of women underwent preoperative SLN mapping with radiotracer and intraoperative BD, whereas 68 of (47 %) 144 patients underwent mapping using intraoperative ICG. The detection rate of SLN mapping was 96 % and 100 % for Tc-99m with BD and ICG, respectively. Bilateral mapping was achieved in 98.5 % for ICG and 76.3 % for Tc-99m with BD; this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.0001).ConclusionsThe fluorescence SLN mapping with ICG achieved a significantly higher detection rate and bilateral mapping compared to standard radiocolloid and BD technique in women with early stage cervical cancer. Nodal staging with an intracervical injection of ICG is accurate, safe, and reproducible in patients with cervical cancer. Before replacing lymphadenectomy completely, the additional value of fluorescence SLN mapping on both perioperative morbidity and survival should be explored and confirmed by ongoing controlled trials.

Prognostic factors associated with local recurrence in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva

Objective To analyze the prognostic factors related to the recurrence rate of vulvar cancer. Methods Retrospective study of 87 patients diagnosed of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed at a tertiary hospital in Madrid between January 2000 and December 2010. Results The pathological mean tumor size was 35.1±22.8 mm, with stromal invasion of 7.7±6.6 mm. The mean free margin after surgery was 16.8±10.5 mm. Among all patients, 31 (35.6%) presented local recurrence (mean time 10 months; range, 1 to 114 months) and 7 (8%) had distant metastases (mean time, 5 months; range, 1 to 114 months). We found significant differences in the mean tumor size between patients who presented a relapse and those who did not (37.6±21.3 mm vs. 28.9±12.1 mm; p=0.05). Patients with free margins equal or less than 8 mm presented a relapse rate of 52.6% vs. 43.5% of those with free margin greater than 8 mm (p=0.50). However, with a cut-off of 15 mm, we observed a local recurrence rate of 55.6% vs. 34.5%, respectively (p=0.09). When the stromal invasion cut-off was >4 mm, local recurrence rate increased up to 52.9% compared to 37.5% when the stromal invasion was ≤4 mm (p=0.20). Conclusion Tumor size, pathologic margin distance and stromal invasion seem to be the most important predictors of local vulvar recurrence. We consider the cut-off of 35 mm of tumor size, 15 mm tumor-free surgical margin and stromal invasion >4 mm, high risk predictors of local recurrence rate.

Assisted reproductive techniques after fertility-sparing treatments in gynaecological cancers

BACKGROUND The trend toward late childbearing has made fertility preservation a major issue for women who face gynecological cancer. New techniques in assisted reproductive medicine enable conception after primary treatment of these cancers. Here, we aimed to review the efficacy and safety of assisted reproductive techniques (ART) after fertility-preserving treatment of gynaecological cancers. METHODS We conducted a systematic literature review of both prospective and retrospective studies in the PubMed, EMBASE, CENTRAL and SciSearch databases. In the retrieved studies, we evaluated live births, clinical pregnancies, overall survival and disease-free survival. RESULTS We identified many prospective and retrospective studies on this topic, but no relevant randomized clinical trials. Fertility-sparing treatments with safe oncological outcomes are feasible in endometrial, cervical and ovarian cancer cases. After cancer treatment, ART seem safe and show variable obstetrical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS After fertility-preserving treatment for gynaecological cancers, ART can enable pregnancy to be achieved with apparent oncological safety. The success of such procedures should directly impact clinical practice and management of those patients who require fertility-sparing treatment.

The role of surgery in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Nowadays, the standard management of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer is correct surgical staging and optimal tumour cytoreduction followed by platinum and taxane-based chemotherapy. Standard surgical staging consists of peritoneal washings, total hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, inspection of all abdominal organs and the peritoneal surface, biopsies of suspicious areas or randomised biopsies if they are not present, omentectomy and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. After this complete surgical staging, the International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for ovarian cancer is applied to determine the management and prognosis of the patient. Complete tumour cytoreduction has shown an improvement in survival. There are some criteria to predict cytoreduction outcomes based on serum biomarkers levels, preoperative imaging techniques, and laparoscopic-based scores. Optimised patient selection for primary cytoreduction would determine patients who could benefit from an optimal cytoreduction and might benefit from interval surgery. The administration of intraperitoneal chemotherapy after debulking surgery has shown an increase in progression-free survival and overall survival, especially in patients with no residual disease after surgery. It is considered that 3–17% of all epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) occur in young women that have not fulfilled their reproductive desires. In these patients, fertility-sparing surgery is a worthy option in early ovarian cancer.

Pelvic Exenteration in Gynecologic Cancer: La Paz University Hospital Experience.

Background Pelvic exenteration is an ultraradical surgery involving the en bloc resection of the pelvic organs, including the internal reproductive organs, the distal urinary tract (ureters, bladder, urethra), and/or anorectum. It is mainly applied as a salvage surgery for recurrent gynecologic tumors of any origin (vulva, vagina, cervix, uterine, and also ovary). Our aim was to establish the most favorable cases for this type of surgery by means of a review of our institution experience. Methods Retrospective analyses of all patients treated with pelvic exenteration for recurrent gynecologic cancer from 2008 to 2014 at La Paz University Hospital. Results Ten patients underwent pelvic exenteration for recurrent gynecologic cancers including uterine, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and ovarian cancer. All patients had received prior treatment: surgery, radiotherapy, and/or chemotherapy. Eight patients underwent total pelvic exenteration, one anterior and one posterior pelvic exenteration. Urinary diversions technique consisted of ileal conduits in all cases. Permanent colostomy was performed in all cases. Postoperative complications were related to the urinary diversion in 50% of the cases, to the reconstructive technique in 30%, and to systemic or pelvic infections in 20%. Conclusions Despite the high morbidity and mortality rates, pelvic exenteration is feasible, and in selected cases of cancer recurrence is the last possible treatment.

Vaginal laparoscopically assisted radical trachelectomy in cervical clear cell adenocarcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of the cervix is a rare condition that has shown an increase in incidence, especially in the 20- to 34-year-old group. Adenocarcinoma represents about 5-10% of all tumours in this area, and, among these, the clear cell type accounts for 4-9%. This type of tumour affects mainly postmenopausal women but also occurs in young women with a history of prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES). The prognosis for adenocarcinoma of the cervix is poor overall and worse for the clear cell variety. This article discusses a case of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix, unrelated to intrauterine exposure to DES, in a woman of childbearing age who wished to preserve her fertility and was therefore treated by radical vaginal trachelectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy.

Laparoscopic Removal of an Intramyometrial Fetus After Uterine Curettage

STUDY OBJECTIVE To show the removal of an intramyometrial fetus after uterine curettage using laparoscopy as a safe surgical technique that offers excellent results and fewer complications than laparotomy. DESIGN Presentation of the clinical case and step-by-step explanation of the technique. SETTINGS Uterine curettage is a frequently performed gynecologic abortion procedure. Dilatation and curettage is considered to be a safe surgical technique, with a low percentage of complications. The most common is uterine perforation, with higher risks in advanced gestational age, retroflexed uterus, or uterine leiomyomas. INTERVENTIONS After institutional review board approval, we present the case of a 29-year-old women referred to our hospital from another clinic with a suspected uterine perforation after an elective curettage for a 14-week pregnancy. She presented with moderate abdominal pain. Vaginal ultrasound revealed intramyometrial fetal parts on isthmus and right parametrium and minimal free fluid in the pouch of Douglas. A laparoscopic approach was chosen. After a complete revision of the abdominal cavity, the right paravesical space was dissected, confirming no right uterine artery or ureter injury. One cavity was objectified in the posterior leaf of the broad ligament related to a uterine perforation and containing fetal bone parts, which were removed. The myometrial defect and the peritoneum were closed with intracorporeal sutures. The removal of fetal parts was done with a surgical glove thimble. After the procedure, the patient was treated with clindamycin and gentamycin, with a satisfactory recovery. CONCLUSION The presence of an intramyometrial fetus is not a common complication of curettage. The use of laparoscopy is feasible and offers excellent results and advantages versus laparotomy regarding its treatment.