Teresa P. Díaz-Montes

Impact of surgeon and hospital ovarian cancer surgical case volume on in-hospital mortality and related short-term outcomes

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the impact of surgeon and hospital case volume, and other related variables, on short-term outcomes after surgery for ovarian cancer. METHODS The Maryland Health Service Cost Review Commission database was accessed for ovarian cancer surgical cases including both oophorectomy and any staging/cytoreductive surgical procedure from 2001 to 2008. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and multiple linear regression models were used to evaluate for significant associations between surgeon and hospital case volume, as well as other independent variables, and the risk of in-hospital death, extent of surgery, length of hospital stay, and hospital-related cost of care. RESULTS Overall, 1894 primary ovarian cancer operations were performed by 352 surgeons at 43 hospitals. After controlling for the effects of all variables, the only independently significant factors associated with the risk of in-hospital death were surgery by a high-volume surgeon and an APR-DRG mortality risk score of 4. Ovarian cancer surgery performed by a high-volume surgeon was associated with a 69% reduction in the risk of in-hospital death. Surgery at a high-volume hospital was an independent positive predictor of a cytoreductive procedure. A statistically significant negative correlation was observed between surgery at a high-volume hospital and both length of hospital stay and hospital-related cost. CONCLUSIONS After controlling for other factors, ovarian cancer surgery performed by a high-volume surgeon is associated with a 69% reduction in the risk of in-hospital death, while high-volume hospital care is associated with increased likelihood of cytoreduction, shorter length of stay, and lower hospital-related cost of care.

Centralization of care for patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the cost‐effectiveness of centralized referral of patients with advanced‐stage epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent primary cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy.

Surveillance for the detection of recurrent ovarian cancer: Survival impact or lead-time bias?

OBJECTIVE To compare the survival impact of diagnosing recurrent disease by routine surveillance testing versus clinical symptomatology in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who have achieved a complete response following primary therapy. METHODS We identified all patients who underwent primary surgery for EOC at two institutions between 1/1997 and 12/2004 and were diagnosed with recurrent disease following a complete clinical response to primary chemotherapy. Survival and post-recurrence management were compared between asymptomatic patients in which recurrent disease was diagnosed at a scheduled visit by routine surveillance testing and symptomatic patients in which recurrent disease was diagnosed based on clinical symptomatology at an unscheduled office visit or hospitalization. RESULTS Of the 121 patients that met inclusion criteria, 22 (18.2%) were diagnosed with a symptomatic recurrence. Median primary PFS was similar for asymptomatic and symptomatic patients (24.8 versus 22.6 months, P = 0.36); however, post-recurrence survival was significantly greater in asymptomatic patients (45.0 versus 29.4 months, P = 0.006). Secondary cytoreductive surgery (SCRS) was attempted equally in both groups (41% versus 32%, P = NS); however, optimal residual disease (<or=5mm) was more often achieved in asymptomatic patients (90% versus 57%, P = 0.053). On multivariate analysis, detection of asymptomatic recurrence was a significant and independent predictor of improved overall survival (P = 0.001). Median OS was significantly greater for asymptomatic patients (71.9 versus 50.7 months, P = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS In patients with platinum-sensitive EOC, detection of asymptomatic recurrences by routine surveillance testing was associated with a high likelihood of optimal SCRS in operative candidates and extended overall survival.

Secondary cytoreductive surgery including rectosigmoid colectomy for recurrent ovarian cancer: Operative technique and clinical outcome

OBJECTIVE To describe the operative technique and associated clinical outcomes of patients undergoing rectosigmoid colectomy as a component of secondary cytoreductive surgery for recurrent ovarian cancer. METHODS Consecutive patients undergoing rectosigmoid colectomy for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer between 1/01 and 12/07 were retrospectively identified and clinical data abstracted from the medical record. The surgical technique, associated morbidity, and clinical outcomes are described. RESULTS Fifty-six patients were identified. The median age at secondary surgery was 56 years; 78.6% had advanced-stage disease at initial diagnosis; 69.6% had grade 3 tumors; 73.2% had serous histology. Complete cytoreduction to no gross residual disease was achieved in 85.7% of cases. Concurrent distal ureterectomy/partial cystectomy was required in 8 cases (14.3%). The median number of regional cytoreductive procedures outside the pelvis was 1 (range=0-4). A stapled coloproctostomy was performed in 98.2% of patients; a protective colostomy/ileostomy was constructed in 7 cases (12.5%), and one patient (1.8%) underwent end colostomy. The median EBL was 500 cm(3) and the median operative time was 225 min. Blood transfusion was administered to 48.2% of patients. Post-operative morbidity occurred in 23.2% of patients, with a bowel fistula rate of 5.4% and a mortality rate of 1.8%. The median LOS was 9 days. Post-operative platinum-based chemotherapy was administered in 73.2% of patients. The median overall survival time from secondary surgery was 38.4 months. CONCLUSIONS Rectosigmoid colectomy can contribute significantly to a maximal cytoreductive surgical effort for recurrent ovarian cancer. Despite technical differences, including a frequent requirement for resection of the distal urinary tract, morbidity is comparable to rectosigmoid colectomy performed for primary cytoreduction and the associated survival outcome appears favorable.

Surgical management of mesenteric lymph node metastasis in patients undergoing rectosigmoid colectomy for locally advanced ovarian carcinoma

BackgroundWe sought to determine the incidence of mesenteric lymph node metastases in patients undergoing rectosigmoid resection for epithelial ovarian carcinoma and to evaluate the potential contribution of sigmoid mesocolectomy toward achieving complete surgical cytoreduction.MethodsPathology results for patients undergoing rectosigmoid colectomy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma from August 1998 through September 2005 were retrospectively reviewed. Fifty-three patients with pathological documentation of mesenteric lymph nodes were selected for further review. A focused analysis was performed on cases with an adequate surgical sampling of mesenteric lymph nodes (more than one positive or five total mesenteric lymph nodes) to determine the overall incidence of nodal metastases. χ2 analysis was used to identify clinicopathologic factors associated with mesenteric lymphatic spread.ResultsA total of 39 (73.6%) of 53 patients had an adequate mesenteric resection suitable for nodal analysis. In this subgroup, 32 (82.1%) of 39 patients had one or more mesenteric lymph nodes containing metastatic ovarian carcinoma. Invasion beyond the serosa of the rectosigmoid colon was present in 31 (79.5%) of 39 of cases; however, increasing depth of invasion was not associated with risk of mesenteric nodal disease. In addition to bowel wall involvement, the only clinical factor that correlated with mesenteric lymph node involvement was concurrent tumor spread to retroperitoneal lymph nodes (P = .025).ConclusionsLocally advanced ovarian carcinoma involving the rectosigmoid colon is associated with a high incidence of mesenteric nodal metastasis. Standard surgical technique should include a sigmoid mesocolectomy with resection of the associated lymphatic tributaries at the time of rectosigmoid colectomy if the surgical objective is complete cytoreduction of occult nodal disease.

Stage I noninvasive and minimally invasive uterine serous carcinoma: Comprehensive staging associated with improved survival

Objective The aim of this study was to determine if comprehensive surgical staging is a better predictor of outcome than incomplete staging for women with stage I noninvasive or minimally invasive (⩽3 mm) uterine serous carcinoma (USC). Methods Retrospective chart review was used to identify patients undergoing hysterectomy at the Johns Hopkins Hospital from 1989 to 2010. Relevant clinical and pathologic data were extracted. Patients with noninvasive and minimally invasive (⩽3-mm myometrial invasion) USC were identified. Stage was assigned based on the 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics endometrial cancer criteria. Survival curves were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results We identified 63 patients with noninvasive or minimally invasive (⩽3 mm) USC. Stages I, II, III, and IV disease were noted in 65% (41/63), 6% (4/63), 14% (9/63), and 14% (9/63) of the patients, respectively. Lower stage was associated with a significantly improved disease-specific survival (P = 0.001). Comprehensive staging, including total hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy, omentectomy, and peritoneal biopsies, was completed in 29% (12/41) of the patients with stage I disease. There were no disease-specific deaths in the comprehensive staging group. Compared with incomplete staging, comprehensive staging was associated with a significantly improved disease-specific survival (P = 0.039). Conclusions Patients with stage I noninvasive and minimally invasive USC on comprehensive staging have an excellent prognosis. Adjuvant therapy may not benefit this patient population.

Van wyk and grumbach syndrome: an unusual case and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND The syndrome consisting of primary hypothyroidism, precocious puberty, and massive ovarian cysts was termed Van Wyk and Grumbach syndrome in 1960. Little is known about the effect of the cysts on ovarian tumor markers. CASE A 12-year-old Caucasian female presented with headaches and fatigue. Imaging to evaluate her headaches revealed a pituitary macroadenoma. Soon after her macroadenoma was discovered, she presented to the emergency room with abdominal pain. Imaging at that time revealed massive bilateral ovarian masses with the left measuring 17 × 13 × 8.5 cm and the right measuring 18 × 11 × 10 cm. Ovarian tumor markers were drawn at this time, most of which were highly elevated. Subsequent evaluation revealed extreme hypothyroidism. Given these findings of a pituitary macroadenoma, bilateral ovarian masses, and severe hypothyroidism, the patient was diagnosed with Van Wyk and Grumbach syndrome. We followed the cyst conservatively and the ovaries and tumor markers returned to normal after adequate thyroid replacement. COMMENTS This case supports conservative treatment as the first-line approach to massive ovarian cysts caused by hypothyroidism. In addition this case shows that tumor markers can be abnormal in the absence of a malignancy in this setting. Before proceeding with surgical evaluation, exclusion of hypothyroidism to exclude this rare but treatable syndrome should be undertaken. The most important diagnostic clue that the cyst may be caused by an endocrine source is the finding of bilateral ovarian cysts rather than one ovary affected as seen in most ovarian malignancies in this age group.

The Central America Gynecologic Oncology Education Program (CONEP): Improving gynecologic oncology education and training on a global scale

• 85% of cervical cancer cases occur in developing countries where it is the first or second cause of cancer-related death.

Primary uterine cancer in maryland impact of distance on access to surgical care at high-volume hospitals

Objective To evaluate the influence of distance on access to high-volume surgical treatment for patients with uterine cancer in Maryland. Methods The Maryland Health Services Cost Review Commission database was retrospectively searched to identify primary uterine cancer surgical cases from 1994 to 2010. Race, type of insurance, year of surgery, community setting, and both surgeon and hospital volume were collected. Geographical coordinates of hospital and patient’s zip code were used to calculate primary independent outcomes of distance traveled and distance from nearest high-volume hospital (HVH). Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios and confidence intervals. Results From 1994 to 2010, 8529 women underwent primary surgical management of uterine cancer in Maryland. Multivariable analysis demonstrated white race, rural residence, surgery by a high-volume surgeon and surgery from 2003 to 2010 to be associated with both travel 50 miles or more to the treating hospital and residence 50 miles or more from the nearest HVH (all P < 0.05). Patients who travel 50 miles or more to the treating hospital are more likely to have surgery at a HVH (odds ratio, 6.03; 95% confidence interval, 4.67–7.79) In contrast, patients, who reside ≥50 miles from a HVH, are less likely to have their surgery at an HVH. (odds ratio, 0.37; 95% confidence interval, 0.32–0.42). Conclusion In Maryland, 50 miles or more from residence to the nearest HVH is a barrier to high-volume care. However, patients who travel 50 miles or more seem to do so to receive care by a high-volume surgeon at an HVH. In Maryland, Nonwhites are more likely to live closer to an HVH and more likely to use these services.

Importance and Timing of End-of-Life Care Discussions Among Gynecologic Oncology Patients:

Objectives: To assess the importance and desired timing of end-of-life care (EOLC) discussions among women with gynecologic cancer. Methods: A questionnaire related to EOLC issues was distributed to patients with gynecologic cancer. Answers were analyzed via SPSS using descriptive statistics. Contingency analysis was done to evaluate for differences among disease status and age regarding preferences for timing of discussions. Results: Patients expressed that addressing EOLC is an important part of their treatment. Most patients were familiar with advanced directives (73.0%), do not resuscitate/do not intubate (88.5%), and hospice (97.5%). Designating someone to make decisions was significantly related to disease status (P = .03) and age (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Patients are familiar with basic EOLC with optimal timing for discussions at disease progression or when treatment is no longer available.