Paul F. Kaminski

Arteriovenous malformations of the uterus: an uncommon cause of vaginal bleeding.

Arteriovenous malformations (AVM) are rare entities in gynecology, with only 73 cases reported in the literature. Most commonly they present with vaginal hemorrhage, but other presentations such as congestive heart failure, postmenopausal bleeding, and an asymptomatic mass have been described. These lesions may be congenital or acquired. Acquired lesions are believed to follow trauma or may arise after choriocarcinoma or other gynecologic malignancies. Diagnosis can rapidly be made with color flow Doppler ultrasound or angiography. Additionally, they have been detected using hysteroscopy, hysterosalpingogram, and computerized tomography. Acute management consists of hemodynamic stabilization and possibly placement of a Foley bulb in the uterus or methylergonovine injection. Ultimate treatment depends on the patients desire for fertility. Embolization therapy is variably successful and may allow the preservation of reproductive capacity. To date, five pregnancies after embolization have been reported with varying outcomes. If pregnancy is not desired or embolization fails, hysterectomy remains the treatment of choice.

Detection and patterns of treatment failure in 300 consecutive cases of “early” endometrial cancer after primary surgery

From November 1977 to July 1987, 300 consecutive patients with endometrial carcinoma clinically confined to the uterine corpus underwent primary surgery consisting of at least abdominal hysterectomy and adnexectomy. Patients with aggressive disease characteristics received postoperative radiotherapy. Forty-seven patients (16%) demonstrated recurrent disease from 2 to 125 (median of 12.8) months after surgery. Forty-seven percent of the recurrences were detected within the first year following surgery and 70% by 2 years after hysterectomy. Of the 47 recurrences, 29 were at distant sites, 16 were within the pelvis, and 2 consisted of both local and distant recurrences. Patients treated with pelvic radiotherapy after hysterectomy were more likely to experience distant, rather than local recurrences. Only 7 of the 148 patients (5%) treated with postoperative radiotherapy recurred in the pelvis. Approximately half of the recurrences were detected in asymptomatic individuals; physical examination and chest X-ray were the most useful means to detect disease in patients without symptoms. The combination of history, physical examination, pap smear, and chest X ray detected all of the recurrences. Actuarial survivals at 12, 24, and 36 months after recurrence were 42, 24, and 17%, respectively. The site of recurrence, time interval of surgery to recurrence, and use of postoperative pelvic radiotherapy were statistically related to patient prognosis. The identification of patients at risk of recurrence and more effective adjuvant therapy need to be developed in order to decrease the frequency of recurrence. In order to substantially improve the survival of patients with recurrent disease, more sensitive methods of detection, as well as more effective salvage therapy, will be required.

Extended‐field radiation therapy for carcinoma of the cervix

The survival of cervical carcinoma patients with paraaortic/high common iliac nodal metastases was evaluated by retrospective chart review during a 13‐year interval. Thirty‐three patients with cervical carcinoma and surgically documented nodal metastases received primary, extended‐field radiation therapy. Overall 2‐year and 5‐year actuarial survival rates after diagnosis were 37% and 31%, respectively. Survival was analyzed in terms of the variables patient age, clinical stage, tumor histologic type, the presence of enlarged paraaortic/high common iliac lymph nodes, the extent of nodal involvement (microscopic versus macroscopic), the presence of intraperitoneal disease, and whether intracavitary brachytherapy was administered. The use of intracavitary radiation therapy was associated with improved local control and survival (P = 0.017). None of the other variables were statistically related to patient survival. Twenty‐two of the patients died of cervical cancer and five are surviving without evidence of cancer. Four patients died of intercurrent disease. Two patients developed bowel‐related radiation complications; both patients received chemotherapy concurrent with the radiation therapy. One of the two patients died of radiation enteritis. The use of extended‐field radiation therapy does benefit a small group of patients and may result in extended patient survival.

Peutz-Jeghers syndrome with ovarian sex cord tumor with annular tubules and cervical adenoma malignum

A patient with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, a sex cord tumor with annular tubules, and an initially unrecognized adenoma malignum of the cervix is described. The patient presented with a mucinous adenocarcinoma in the vaginal apex. Review of the hysterectomy slides demonstrated an adenoma malignum of the cervix. In addition to a microscopic sex cord tumor with annular tubules of the right ovary, the left ovary contained mucinous cystadenomas. Adenoma malignum remains a difficult diagnosis and is frequently made only after hysterectomy for a presumed benign indication; pathology frequently demonstrates a deeply invasive, unusually well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Patients with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome need careful clinical and cytologic follow-up to exclude such lesions.

Adjuvant external beam therapy for pathologic stage I and occult stage II endometrial carcinoma

Eighty‐six patients with pathologic Stage I or occult Stage II carcinoma of the endometrium and myometrial invasion and/or Grade 2 or Grade 3 histologic condition received whole‐pelvis external radiation therapy (RT) after extrafascial total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy. Twenty‐one patients received 4250 cGy in 25 daily fractions for 5 weeks (Group 1), 28 received 4500 cGy in 25 daily fractions for 5 weeks (Group 2), and 37 received 5100 cGy in 30 daily fractions for 6 weeks (Group 3). Seventeen patients had intravaginal brachytherapy after whole‐pelvis RT. Local recurrence developed in two patients (2.3%) (one in Group 1 and one in Group 2). Statistical analysis showed that the depth of myometrial invasion significantly influenced survival (P = 0.016). Tumor grade, pathologic stage, whole‐pelvis radiation dose, and the use of brachytherapy did not influence survival. Complications occurred in 9.5% of patients in Group 1, 24.7% in Group 2, and 40.5% in Group 3. Three patients who received brachytherapy had rectal injuries. The authors conclude that 4250 cGy in 25 fractions for 5 weeks of whole‐pelvis RT appears to induce fewer complications than higher doses, and may be sufficient to prevent local recurrence in most patients who require adjuvant RT. A clinical trial is needed to determine the optimum dose—time—fractionation regimen.

Clomiphene citrate stimulation as an adjunct in locating ovarian tissue in ovarian Remnant syndrome

Ovarian remnant syndrome results from residual ovarian tissue after bilateral oophorectomy. The syndrome is associated with chronic pelvic pain and is suspected when premenopausal levels of FSH and LH are present in a patient with documented bilateral oophorectomy. Histologic demonstration of ovarian tissue at operation confirms the diagnosis. We treated a patient with ovarian remnant syndrome with a 10-day course of clomiphene citrate, 100 mg daily, to stimulate the residual ovarian tissue and facilitate localization. Preoperative ultrasound revealed a 5.0 x 3.5 x 6.2-cm cystic mass in the right adnexal region. Exploratory laparotomy easily localized the mass, and it was removed intact. Histologic slides demonstrated normal ovarian tissue with multiple follicles in various stages of development and a corpus luteum cyst. Clomiphene citrate is capable of stimulating an ovarian remnant, producing an enlarged, cystic structure easily localized by ultrasound. The increased size and preoperative knowledge of the location facilitated surgical removal.

A patient with multiple, malignant melanomas of the lower genital tract

Malignant melanomas of the female genital tract are uncommon lesions. A patient with multiple cutaneous, vulvar melanomas and a subsequent malignant melanoma of the cervix is described.

Correction of Massive Vaginal Prolapse in an Older Population: A Four‐Year Experience at a Rural Tertiary Care Center

Objective: To ascertain the success of complex reconstructive vaginal surgery in older women.

Evaluation of preoperative cardiac risk index values in patients undergoing vaginal surgery

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to evaluate the Goldman and the New York Heart Association cardiac risk index values in a female surgical population and to evaluate age, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, glucose intolerance, cardiac arrhythmia, and estrogen replacement therapy as risk factors for perioperative cardiac morbidity in older women undergoing major vaginal surgery. STUDY DESIGN A retrospective analysis was performed of perioperative cardiac morbidity in consecutive patients undergoing elective vaginal surgery between August 1987 and October 1993. RESULTS Four hundred six patients were entered in the study. Eight patients had perioperative cardiac morbidity. The Goldman cardiac risk index and the New York Heart Association functional classification of heart disease were not significant indicators of perioperative cardiac morbidity in this group of patients. In the postmenopausal subgroup of 168 patients hypertension (p = 0.033) and ischemic heart disease (p = 0.004) were statistically significant risk factors for perioperative cardiac morbidity. Glucose intolerance, cardiac arrhythmia, and estrogen replacement therapy were not significant predictors. CONCLUSION The Goldman cardiac risk index and the New York Heart Association functional classification of heart disease are of questionable utility in a female surgical population undergoing elective vaginal surgical procedures. Hypertension and ischemic heart disease are risk factors for perioperative cardiac morbidity in a postmenopausal subgroup of these patients.

Rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterus in a postmenopausal patient

Pure rhabdomyosarcomas of the female genital tract most commonly occur in infancy or childhood as sarcoma botryoides (embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma) and involve the vagina and cervix. Such tumors rarely occur in adults. A pure rhabdomyosarcoma of the uterus that arose in a postmenopausal patient is described. The pertinent literature is discussed.