Willie A. Andersen

Serous surface papillary carcinoma. A clinicopathologic study of 10 cases and comparison with stage III-IV ovarian serous carcinoma.

We compared 10 patients with serous surface papillary carcinoma (SSPC) to a control group of 16 patients with serous ovarian papillary carcinoma (SOPC). By definition, the ovaries were of normal size and shape in SSPC. In six cases, however, at least one ovary had focal surface irregularities. Microscopically, SSPC and SOPC differed only in the nature of their ovarian involvement. SSPC was confined to the ovarian surface or showed focal minimal invasion. Four patients with SSPC had coexistent, nonperitoneal serous-type carcinomas; three had superficial endometrial adenocarcinomas; and one had intramucosal adenocarcinoma of the fallopian tube. There were no associated carcinomas in the SOPC group. SSPC had a significantly worse prognosis than SOPC, as measured by median disease-free interval (SSPC: 3 months, SOPC: 9 months), median survival (SSPC: 12 months, SOPC: 24 months), and predicted 5-year survival (SSPC: all dead at 52 months, SOPC: 22.7%). SSPC is a clinicopathologically distinctive variant of serous carcinoma. Because of its more aggressive clinical course, it should be distinguished from conventional SOPC with peritoneal implants.

Randomized Phase III Trial of Standard Timed Doxorubicin Plus Cisplatin Versus Circadian Timed Doxorubicin Plus Cisplatin in Stage III and IV or Recurrent Endometrial Carcinoma: A Gynecologic Oncology Group Study

PURPOSE To determine if circadian timed (CT) chemotherapy results in improved response, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and lower toxicity, when compared with standard timed (ST) chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eligibility criteria were stage III, IV, or recurrent endometrial cancer with poor potential for cure by radiation therapy or surgery; measurable disease; and no prior chemotherapy. Therapy was randomized to schedules of ST doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 plus cisplatin 60 mg/m2, or CT doxorubicin 60 mg/m2 at 6:00 am plus cisplatin 60 mg/m2 at 6:00 pm. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks to a maximum of eight cycles. RESULTS The ST arm included 169 patients, and the CT arm included 173 patients. The objective response rate (complete responses plus partial responses) was 46% in the ST group compared with 49% in the CT group (P =.26, one tail). Median PFS and OS were 6.5 and 11.2 months, respectively, in the ST group; and 5.9 and 13.2 months, respectively, in the CT group (PFS: P =.31; OS: P =.21, one tail). Median total doses were 209 mg/m2 doxorubicin and 349 mg/m2 cisplatin in the ST group, versus 246 mg/m2 doxorubicin and 354 mg/m2 cisplatin in the CT group. Grade 3 or 4 leukopenia occurred in 73% of patients in the ST arm and in 63% of patients in the CT arm. There were eight treatment-related deaths. CONCLUSION In this trial, no significant benefit in terms of response rate, PFS or OS, or toxicity profile was observed with CT doxorubicin plus cisplatin in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial carcinoma.

Minimizing the risk of neurologic injury in gynecologic surgery.

OBJECTIVE: The association of intraoperative neurologic injuries with gynecologic surgical procedures is well established. The sequelae of such injuries are usually transient and resolve with minimal intervention, although long-term disability can and does occasionally occur. The purpose of this study was to examine the mechanisms by which these injuries occur in order to reduce the risk of their occurrence. DATA SOURCES: A MEDLINE search was performed cross-referencing the index terms “neurological injury” and “gynecological surgery,” from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 2002. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: This article, based on the data and results (Level I–III) obtained from the MEDLINE search, examined the most common neurologic injuries that occur in association with abdominal and vaginal surgical procedures routinely performed by gynecologists. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Neurologic injuries after pelvic surgery all generally share a common etiology, specifically injury to one or more components of the lumbosacral nerve plexus. Three major factors that predispose to neurologic injury at the time of gynecological surgery are 1) the improper placement or positioning of self-retaining or fixed retractors, particularly those with deep lateral retractor blades; 2) improper positioning of patients in lithotomy position preoperatively; and 3) radical surgical dissection resulting in autonomic nerve disruption. Level I data strongly implicate the improper placement of self-retaining or fixed retractors as the most common cause of femoral nerve injury arising in association with abdominal surgical procedures. CONCLUSION: A thorough understanding of the anatomy of the lumbosacral nerve plexus and the mechanisms by which operative injuries to this plexus occur will enable the gynecologic surgeon to reduce the subsequent risk of their occurrence in his or her own surgical practice.

Evaluation of paclitaxel in previously treated leiomyosarcoma of the uterus: a gynecologic oncology group study

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this phase II trial was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous paclitaxel in patients with recurrent or advanced leiomyosarcoma of the uterus. METHODS To be eligible, patients with recurrent or persistent leiomyosarcoma of the uterus were to have measurable disease not previously treated with paclitaxel and adequate hematologic (WBC >or=3000/microl, platelet count >or=100000/microl), renal (serum creatinine <or=2.0 mg%), and hepatic (bilirubin <or= 1.5 x institutional normal) functions. Paclitaxel was given at a dose of 175 mg/m(2) (135 mg/m(2) for patients with prior radiotherapy) intravenously over 3 h every 3 weeks. RESULTS Fifty-three patients were entered on this study; 48 were evaluable for toxicity and response. Fifteen had prior irradiation and 39 had prior chemotherapy. A median of 2 (range: 1-12) courses was given. Grade 4 neutropenia occurred in 3 (6.3%) patients. No grade 4 thrombocytopenia was reported and no deaths were attributable to therapy. Four (8.4%) patients had a complete or partial response and 22.9% had stable disease. CONCLUSIONS Although toxicity was minimal, this regimen demonstrated modest activity in patients with previously treated advanced or recurrent leiomyosarcoma of the uterus.

Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance: A five-year retrospective histopathologic study

OBJECTIVE Our purpose was to ascertain the types and frequency of pathologic conditions associated with atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance on Papanicolaou smears. STUDY DESIGN A 5-year retrospective review of screening cervical cytologic examinations diagnosed as atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance was performed at the University of Virginia to determine pathologic findings associated with atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance on Papanicolaou smears stratified by subtype and overall. RESULTS Pathologic findings for the respective Papanicolaou smears with the diagnosis of atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance not otherwise specified, favor benign, squamous intraepithelial lesions, and favor neoplasia through the follow-up interval were as follows: squamous intraepithelial lesions in 11%, 8%, 38%, and 20%; adenocarcinoma in situ in 3%, 0%, 0%, and 10%; endometrial hyperplasia in 3%, 5%, 1%, and 2%; and cancer in 8%, 3%, 1%, and 7%. Overall, 63 patients (32%) had preinvasive or invasive lesions. CONCLUSIONS Atypical glandular cells of undetermined significance on Papanicolaou smears were correlated with significant findings in 45% of patients (32% with preinvasive or invasive lesions and 13% with benign lesions). A prompt and aggressive workup is recommended.

Vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and papilloma viruses: Two separate entities?

Vulvar squamous precancers (vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia) are associated with sexual factors, cigarette smoking, and human papillomaviruses. However, epidemiologic studies of invasive carcinoma of the vulva have produced conflicting evidence for these associations, in part because of a strong association with vulvar inflammatory disease (dystrophies) in older women. We analyzed a series of 42 vulvar invasive carcinomas for papillomavirus nucleic acids by deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid in situ hybridization and correlated their presence with age, smoking history, and morphologic type. The carcinomas were divided into well-differentiated, moderately and poorly differentiated, and intraepithelial-like growth patterns, the latter composed of nests of invasive neoplastic epithelium with preserved cell polarity, similar to intraepithelial disease. Of the lesions studied, 28% were human papillomavirus deoxyribonucleic acid-positive. Intraepithelial-like neoplasms segregated in women with a younger mean age (64 versus 73 years) than that of women with conventional squamous cell carcinoma and they more frequently had a history of cigarette smoking (88% versus 28%). Moreover, intraepithelial-like lesions contained human papillomavirus nucleic acids more frequently (67% versus 13%) when analyzed by in situ hybridization. These observations confirm the diverse nature of vulvar squamous cell carcinoma and may explain in part why conflicting results are obtained from studies investigating the role of sexual and viral factors in the genesis of vulvar cancer. They suggest that many invasive vulvar cancers may not be linked to papillomaviruses.

Uterine smooth-muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential.

Objective: To determine whether tumors meeting the criteria of Hendrickson and Kempson for uterine smooth‐muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential have a natural history different from those of leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas. Methods: Tumors with five to ten mitoses per ten high‐power fields and with mild or moderate cellular atypia were classified as tumors of uncertain malignant potential. Tumors with two to four mitoses per ten high‐power fields and severe cellular atypia would also be classified as tumors of uncertain malignant potential, but we had no tumors that fell into this latter group. Forty‐seven women with leiomyosarcoma or smooth‐muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential were identified. Paraffin‐embedded blocks were recut, and hematoxylin and eosin‐stained sections were studied for mitotic counts and cellular atypia. Statistical analysis used X2, Fisher exact test, Student t test, and Kaplan‐Meier life table analysis. Results: Fifteen tumors were classified as uncertain malignant potential and 32 as leiomyosarcomas. The patients with leiomyosarcoma were significantly older and more likely to present with extrauterine disease. Those with tumors of uncertain malignant potential had a 5‐year disease‐free survival of 66% and overall survival of 92%, compared to 28 and 40%, respectively, for leiomyosarcomas; these differences were statistically significant. Patients with tumors of uncertain malignant potential tended to have a protracted clinical course after development of recurrence, and several survived longer than 5 years with metastatic disease. Conclusions: Patients with five to ten mitoses per ten high‐power fields and mild to moderate cellular atypia had a prognosis significantly better than that of patients with leiomyosarcomas. In this group, only 27% developed a recurrence, and after recurrence they tended to have a protracted course. Some of these tumors do have a very aggressive course, and the term “uncertain malignant potential” is appropriate. (Obstet Gynecol 1994;83:1015‐20)

Sensitivity and specificity of endocervical curettage and the endocervical brush for the evaluation of the endocervical canal.

A series of 87 consecutive conization specimens was studied to evaluate the accuracy of endocervical curettage for the detection of dysplasia in the endocervical canal and to investigate the role of the endocervical brush for the outpatient management of patients with atypical Papanicolaou smears. For patients having cervical intraepithelial neoplasia within the endocervical canal in conization specimens, the false-negative rate observed for endocervical curettage was 45% and the false-positive rate for the detection of endocervical involvement was 25%. The false-negative rate for the endocervical brush was only 8.4%, but the false-positive rate for endocervical involvement was 62.5%. The false-negative rate of endocervical curettage could be reduced to 16.7% if an abundant volume of endocervical material (as determined by point counting) was required. The utility of endocervical curettage to detect cervical intraepithelial neoplasia in the endocervical canal appears to be dependent on the adequacy of the specimen. The determination of adequacy is a critical factor for the proper interpretation of specimens obtained by endocervical curettage.

Papillary squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a clinicopathologic study of nine cases

SummaryPapillary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) of the uterine cervix is an infrequently described subtype of cervical malignancy. Nine cases of PSCC encountered at the University of Virginia Medical Center are reviewed. The clinical course of these patients, including a propensity for late metastases and recurrences, appears distinctive. The papillae of PSCC are lined by dysplastic cells, unlike verrucous carcinoma. PSCC may exist in an in situ state, and demonstration of invasion, when present, requires deep biopsies or cervical conization. Therapy for PSCC appears to be the same as for ordinary squamous cell carcinoma of equivalent clinical stage.

Effects of Adjunctive Swedish Massage and Vibration Therapy on Short-Term Postoperative Outcomes: A Randomized, Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE To examine the effects of adjunctive postoperative massage and vibration therapy on short-term postsurgical pain, negative affect, and physiologic stress reactivity. DESIGN Prospective, randomized controlled trial. The treatment groups were: (1) usual postoperative care (UC); (2) UC plus massage therapy; or (3) UC plus vibration therapy. SETTING The University of Virginia Hospital Surgical Units, Gynecology-Oncology Clinic, and General Clinical Research Center. SUBJECTS One hundred and five (N = 105) women who underwent an abdominal laparotomy for removal of suspected cancerous lesions. INTERVENTIONS All patients received UC with analgesic medication. Additionally, the massage group received standardized 45-minute sessions of gentle Swedish massage on the 3 consecutive evenings after surgery and the vibration group received 20-minute sessions of inaudible vibration therapy (physiotones) on the 3 consecutive evenings after surgery, as well as additional sessions as desired. OUTCOME MEASURES Sensory pain, affective pain, anxiety, distress, analgesic use, systolic blood pressure, 24-hour urine free cortisol, number of postoperative complications, and days of hospitalization. RESULTS On the day of surgery, massage was more effective than UC for affective (p = 0.0244) and sensory pain (p = 0.0428), and better than vibration for affective pain (p = 0.0015). On postoperative day 2, massage was more effective than UC for distress (p = 0.0085), and better than vibration for sensory pain (p = 0.0085). Vibration was also more effective than UC for sensory pain (p = 0.0090) and distress (p = .0090). However, after controlling for multiple comparisons and multiple outcomes, no significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS Gentle Swedish massage applied postoperatively may have minor effects on short-term sensory pain, affective pain, and distress among women undergoing an abdominal laparotomy for removal of suspected malignant tissues.