The effectiveness of subcutaneously implanted epidural ports for relief of severe pain in patients with advanced-stage gynecological cancer: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of subcutaneously implanted epidural ports (SIEP) in the management of patients with advanced-stage gynecologic cancer-related severe chronic pain who do not respond to intravenous tramadol infusion, transdermal fentanyl, and oral morphine administration or who cannot tolerate the unacceptable and unmanageable side effects of these drugs. METHODS: In this prospectively designed study, SIEP to permit the administration of morphine were implanted for relief of severe chronic pain in 21 cases with stage IV gynecological cancer (ovarian [n=6], endometrium [n=3], cervix [n=10], vaginal [n=1], and vulvar [n=1]). In order to define the level of pain, visual analogue scale (VAS) and patient satisfaction score (PSS) were used before and on the 5th, 15th, and 30th days after epidural port application. RESULTS: The mean overall survival period of the cases undergoing epidural port application was 80 days (range: 31-560). In terms of pain parameters, values at the end of the 5th, 15th and 30th days (VAS2, VAS3 and VAS4) were significantly lower than the value before morphine application via SIEP (VAS1) (p<0.01). PSSs at the 5th, 15th and 30th days were significantly higher than the PSS before port implantation (p<0.05). Pain management was started with 2 mg morphine with a maximum of 4 mg morphine administered into the epidural space per day. No clinically detected infectious condition or morphine-related side effects that required treatment occurred during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: Morphine administration via SIEP provided excellent pain relief without creating side effects, increased patient quality of life, and contributed to the patient's ability to enjoy life.

HPV types in Turkey: multicenter hospital based evaluation of 6388 patients in Turkish gynecologic oncology group centers.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prevalence of HPV DNA and cervical cytological abnormalities, to compare cervical cytology results and HPV DNA and to define HPV types distribution in a large series of Turkish women who have undergone HPV analysis in hospitals that are members of the Turkish Gynecological Oncology Group. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Between 2006 and 2010, a total of 6388 patients' data was retrospectively evaluated at 12 healthcare centers in Turkey. Demographic characteristics, cervical cytology results, HPV status and types were compared. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 38.9±10.2. Overall, 25% of the women were found to be HPV positive. Presence of HPV-DNA among patients with abnormal and normal cytology was 52% and 27%, respectively. There was significant difference with respect to decades of life and HPV positivity (p < 0.05). HPV was positive in (within the HPV (+) patients) 37%, 9%, 27%, 20%, 22%, and 41% of the ASCUS, ASC-H, LSIL HSIL, glandular cell abnormalities, and SCC cases respectively The most common HPV types in our study were as follows; HPV 16 (32%), HPV 6 (17%), HPV 11 (9%), HPV 18 (8%), HPV 31 (6%), HPV 51 (5%), HPV 33 (3%). CONCLUSION: In this hospital based retrospective analysis, HPV genotypes in Turkish women with normal and abnormal cytology are similar to those reported from western countries. Further population based prospective multicenter studies are necessary to determine non-hospital based HPV prevalence in Turkish women.

The prevalence and risk factors of human papillomavirus in female sex workers.

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus virus (HPV) is the major causative factor for cervical cancer, and sex workers are at high risk for HPV infection. In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence and risk factors of HPV infection among female sex workers (FSWs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 239 brothel-based FSWs who work in Izmir, Turkey. A self-administered questionnaire for risk factors was completed, and cervical brush samples were taken for HPV detection and typing. HPV detection and typing were performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and reverse hybridization methods. The risk factors related to HPV infection were determined by multivariate analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of HPV among FSWs was 20.1%. HPV18 was the most common type (40%), followed by HPV16 (17%) and HPV50 (15%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that being less than 30 years of age, having a high frequency of sexual contacts, smoking, and lack of condom use were significantly associated with HPV infection. CONCLUSION: FSWs have a high prevalence of HPV infection and are at increased risk for cervical cancer. As they are a priority group for active follow-up, national strategies for reducing HPV among FSWs and regular cervical cancer screening programs should be implemented for this population.

Borderline ovarian tumors: a study of 100 cases from a Tertiary Care Hospital.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of the study was to evaluate patients with borderline ovarian tumors. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinical features, treatment and survival status of 100 patients with borderline ovarian tumors were retrospectively evaluated between 1998 and 2007. RESULTS: Patients' mean age was 37.75 years (range: 15-72); 22 of them were postmenopausal. Histopathological diagnoses were serous, mucinous, endometrioid and clear cell in 54%, 41%, 2% and 3% of the patients, respectively; 70 patients had stage IA disease, 8 were at stage IB, 16 at stage IC, 2 at stage IIIA, 3 at stage IIIB and 1 at stage IIIC. Restaging laparotomies were performed on 19 patients; fertility-sparing surgery was performed on 52 patients; 2 patients received chemotherapy because of advanced-stage disease. All patients are currently alive. The 5-year disease-free survival rate for 71 cases was 100%. CONCLUSIONS: Borderline ovarian tumors have excellent prognoses, and fertility-conserving surgery can be performed in young patients with early-stage disease.

Prothrombin G20210A mutation in cases with recurrent miscarriage: a study of the mediterranean population.

BACKGROUND: Thrombophilic predisposition may be one of the underlying causes of recurrent miscariage (RM). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Prothrombin G20210A mutation in cases with history of RM. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 104 cases, 55 with diagnosis of RM and 49 control cases, were included in this controlled study. In all cases, in addition to full examination tests, Prothrombin 20210A mutation analysis was carried out by means of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). RESULTS: Mean number of the abortion was 3.51 +/- 0.74 in the RM group and 0.08 +/- 0.27 in the control group (p < 0.05). As a consequence of comprehensive examinations, in 24 (43.6%) of 55 RM cases at least one etiologic factor was put forth. Prothrombin G20210A mutation was observed in six (10.9%) cases of the RM group and one (2.04%) in the control group (p < 0.05). Four of the six cases (66.7%) of Prothrombin G20210A mutation had a subsequent pregnancy. Among these four pregnancies, there was one spontaneous loss at 14 weeks of gestation and one severe pre-eclampsia. CONCLUSION: Our data together with literature suggest that Prothrombin G20210A mutation may be associated with RM. We recommend this genetic testing as a screening tool for women with history of RM.

Adenosarcoma of the uterus: a case report.

Adenosarcomas of the uterus are very rarely observed and diagnosed. In this report, we present a case of a uterine adenosarcoma that was diagnosed in February 2002.

Complex Müllerian malformation: report of a case with a hypoplastic non-cavitated uterus and two rudimentary horns.

Various classifications have been used for congenital anomalies of the Müllerian system. We report a case of a previously unknown anomaly of the uterus, and propose its possible embryological causes. The patient presented with primary amenorrhoea and infertility, and during laparoscopy three distinct uterine horns were observed. The tubes were connected to the two most lateral horns, each juxtaposed to a normal ovary. The middle horn had a seemingly normal attachment to the right uterosacral ligament, whereas its attachment to the left uterosacral ligament appeared attenuated and less normal. Furthermore, the right horn was immediately attached to the middle horn, whereas the left horn was, like its ipsilateral uterosacral ligament, attached to the middle horn by a more attenuated, stretched fibrous bridge. Only the middle horn, with its uterosacral ligaments, had an attached, although obstructed, cervix. Ultrasonographic examination revealed no endometrium echogeneity in any of these uterine bulbs. No etiologic factors were noted in the patient's history; her mother denied known ingestion of estrogens or other drugs while carrying her daughter. The pathogenesis of this anomaly cannot be clearly defined, but may involve sequential embryological errors of duplication of the Müllerian tracts, failure of fusion of each set of the Müllerian tracts with expected failed canalization of each tract and, finally, agenesis of the medial horn of the left duplicated tracts.