Robotic Radical Trachelectomy with Primary Vaginal Closure to Spare Fertility in Young Patients with Early-Stage Cervical Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to present the surgical technique of robotic radical trachelectomy (RRT) for early-stage squamous cell cervical cancer in women with a desire to preserve fertility. DESIGN: A surgical case to illustrate the entire surgical technique of RRT and sentinel lymph node dissection. Institutional Review Board approval was not required for this video presentation. SETTING: University hospital. INTERVENTIONS: A 30-year-old patient with one child and no medical history. Pap smear and cervical biopsy were in favor of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, and a conization procedure allowed the diagnosis of a 15 mm squamous cell carcinoma (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics [FIGO] 1B1). An RRT was performed to preserve the fertility of this young patient, after bilateral sentinel lymph node dissection to ensure the absence of nodal metastasis. The trachelectomy specimen was negative at final pathology examination and the disease was confirmed as stage 1B1 (FIGO 2018). There were no surgical complications and no adjuvant treatment was indicated. Fertility-sparing surgery is acceptable for women of childbearing age who want to become pregnant. CONCLUSION: Minimally invasive surgery is safe, effective, and particularly adapted for women who wish to preserve their fertility without compromising oncological outcomes.1-2 This option may be safely proposed in expert centers for tumors smaller than 2 cm, with primary vaginal closure, and without use of a uterine manipulator.3 Complete information about oncological and obstetrical outcomes is mandatory and patients should agree to comply with a close follow-up protocol.

Relationships between pelvic nerves and levator ani muscle for posterior sacrocolpopexy: an anatomic study.

BACKGROUND: The placement of posterior mesh during pelvic organ prolapse laparoscopic surgery has been incriminated as responsible for postoperative adverse outcomes such as digestive symptoms, chronic pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction. These complications may be related to neural injuries that occur during the fixation of the posterior mesh on the levator ani muscle. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to describe the course of the autonomic nerves of the pararectal space and their anatomical relationship with the posterior mesh fixation zone on the levator ani muscle. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty hemi-pelvis specimens from 10 fresh female cadavers were dissected. We measured the distance between the posterior mesh fixation zone on the levator ani, and the nearest point of adjacent structures: the hypogastric nerve, inferior hypogastric plexus, uterosacral ligament, uterine artery, and ureter. Measurements were repeated starting from the inferior hypogastric plexus. RESULTS: Nerve fibers of the inferior hypogastric plexus spread out systematically above the superior aspect of the levator ani muscle. Median distance from the posterior mesh fixation zone and the inferior hypogastric plexus was around 2.8 (range 2.1-3.5) cm. CONCLUSIONS: The inferior hypogastric plexus lies above the superior aspect of the levator ani muscle. A short distance between the posterior mesh fixation zone on the levator ani muscle and inferior hypogastric plexus could explain in part postoperative digestive symptoms. These observations support the development of nerve-sparing procedures for posterior mesh placement in the context of pelvic organ prolapse repair and suggest that postoperative complications could be improved by changing the fixation zone.

Multicenter evaluation of breast cancer patients' satisfaction and experience with oncology telemedicine visits during the COVID-19 pandemic.

INTRODUCTION: During the COVID-19 pandemic, teleconsultation was implemented in clinical practice to limit patient exposure to COVID-19 while monitoring their treatment and follow-up. We sought to examine the satisfaction of patients with breast cancer (BC) who underwent teleconsultations during this period. METHODS: Eighteen centres in France and Italy invited patients with BC who had at least one teleconsultation during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to participate in a web-based survey that evaluated their satisfaction (EORTC OUT-PATSAT 35 and Telemedicine Satisfaction Questionnaire [TSQ] scores) with teleconsultation. RESULTS: Among the 1299 participants eligible for this analysis, 53% of participants were undergoing standard post-treatment follow-up while 22 and 17% were currently receiving active anticancer therapy for metastatic and localised cancers, respectively. The mean satisfaction scores were 77.4 and 73.3 for the EORTC OUT-PATSAT 35 and TSQ scores, respectively. In all, 52.6% of participants had low/no anxiety. Multivariable analysis showed that the EORTC OUT-PATSAT 35 score correlated to age, anxiety score and teleconsultation modality. The TSQ score correlated to disease status and anxiety score. CONCLUSION: Patients with BC were satisfied with oncology teleconsultations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teleconsultation may be an acceptable alternative follow-up modality in specific circumstances.

Prospective Multicenter Study Validate a Prediction Model for Surgery Uptake Among Women with Atypical Breast Lesions.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis of atypical breast lesions (ABLs) leads to unnecessary surgery in 75-90% of women. We have previously developed a model including age, complete radiological target excision after biopsy, and focus size that predicts the probability of cancer at surgery. The present study aimed to validate this model in a prospective multicenter setting. - METHODS: Women with a recently diagnosed ABL on image-guided biopsy were recruited in 18 centers, before wire-guided localized excisional lumpectomy. Primary outcome was the negative predictive value (NPV) of the model. RESULTS: The NOMAT model could be used in 287 of the 300 patients included (195 with ADH). At surgery, 12 invasive (all grade 1), and 43 in situ carcinomas were identified (all ABL: 55/287, 19%; ADH only: 49/195, 25%). The area under the receiving operating characteristics curve of the model was 0.64 (95% CI 0.58-0.69) for all ABL, and 0.63 for ADH only (95% CI 0.56-0.70). For the pre-specified threshold of 20% predicted probability of cancer, NPV was 82% (77-87%) for all ABL, and 77% (95% CI 71-83%) for patients with ADH. At a 10% threshold, NPV was 89% (84-94%) for all ABL, and 85% (95% CI 78--92%) for the ADH. At this threshold, 58% of the whole ABL population (and 54% of ADH patients) could have avoided surgery with only 2 missed invasive cancers. CONCLUSION: The NOMAT model could be useful to avoid unnecessary surgery among women with ABL, including for patients with ADH. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02523612.

Anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis associated with ovarian tumor: the gynecologist point of view.

BACKGROUND: Anti-NMDA receptor antibody (anti-NMDAr) encephalitis, although still a rare condition, is well known to neurologists as it is the leading cause of non-infectious acute encephalitis in young women. However, this is less well known to gynecologists, who may have a decisive role in etiological management. Indeed, in 30-60% of cases in women of childbearing age, it is associated with the presence of an ovarian teratoma, whose removal is crucial in the resolution of symptomatology. OBJECTIVES: Primary objective of our work was to present a review in a very schematic and practical way for gynecologists, about the data on anti-NMDAr encephalitis in terms of epidemiology, clinical symptomatology, treatment and prognosis. The second objective was to propose a decision tree for gynecologists to guide them, in collaboration with neurologists and anesthesiologists, after the diagnosis of NMDAr encephalitis associated with an ovarian mass. METHOD: We conducted an exhaustive review of existing data using PubMed and The Cochrane Library. Then, we illustrated this topic by presenting two typical cases from our experience. RESULTS: Anti-NMDA antibody encephalitis association with an ovarian teratoma is common, especially in women of reproductive age. Complementary examinations in search of an ovarian teratoma must therefore be systematic to envisage a possible surgical excision that may improve patient prognosis. CONCLUSION: Anti-NMDA antibody encephalitis should not be ignored by gynecologists whose role in management is central.

How to perform a laparoscopic pelvic sentinel lymph node dissection using near-infrared fluorescence with indocyanine green in gynecological cancers.

The role of pelvic sentinel lymph node dissection (SLND) is increasing in oncological pelvic surgery, especially in the management of cervical and endometrial cancer.SLND using indocyanine green (ICG) is safe and effective, and its sensitivity is higher than with other detection methods. The advantages of ICG are its low toxicity, its confinement within the vascular compartment, its rapid excretion, and the rarity of allergic reaction. These advantages confer to this fluorescent dye a superiority over blue, which can cause anaphylactic reactions. Using ICG does not require advance planning involving nuclear protection and delayed surgery, as are mandatory when using 99Tc detection. ICG allows the surgeon to visualize the lymph nodes through the peritoneum and thus avoid wide dissection.According to European guidelines,1 the indications for SLND in cervical cancer are for patients with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) IA1-IA2 disease, lymphovascular space involvement - positive status, without systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy - and patients with FIGO IB1-IIA1 disease, prior to systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy. Guidelines1 2 for endometrial cancer management state that SLND is indicated in cases of low-risk endometrial cancer (FIGO IA, grade 1-2), without systematic lymphadenectomy in cases of non-detection, with the technique being preferable to systematic lymphadenectomy in cases of intermediate-risk endometrial cancer (FIGO IB, grade 1-2, or FIGO IA, grade 3).2 Our objective is to review the technique of ICG injection and the real-time detection of pelvic SLNs using near-infrared imaging by means of a step-by-step explanation of the procedure using an instructional Video 1.

Characteristics of patients with cervical cancer during pregnancy: a multicenter matched cohort study. An initiative from the International Network on Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy.

BACKGROUND: Treatment of cervical cancer during pregnancy is often complex and challenging. This study aimed to analyze current patterns of practice in the management of pregnant patients diagnosed with cervical cancer. METHODS: This was a matched cohort study comprising patients managed for cervical cancer during pregnancy from six European centers. Patient information was retrieved from the dataset of the International Network for Cancer, Infertility and Pregnancy from 1990 to 2012. Each center matched its patients with two non-pregnant controls for age (±5 years) and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 stage. Information on age, histological type, grade, lymphovascular space invasion, stage, tumor size, method of diagnosis, site of recurrence, delivery, date of recurrence, and date of death was recorded. Progression-free survival was compared using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: A total of 132 pregnant patients and 256 controls were analyzed. The pregnant patients (median age 34 years, range 21-43) were diagnosed at a median gestational age of 18.4 weeks of pregnancy (range 7-39). Stage distribution during pregnancy was 14.4% for stage IA, 47.0% for IB1, 18.9% for IB2, and 19.7% for II-IV. For treatment during pregnancy, 17.4% of the patients underwent surgery, 16.7% received neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 26.5% delayed their treatment, 12.9% had a premature delivery, and 26.5% had their pregnancy terminated. Median follow-up was 84 months (67 months for pregnant and 95 months for non-pregnant patients). The unadjusted hazard ratio of pregnancy for progression-free survival was 1.18 (95% confidence interval 0.74 to 1.88). CONCLUSION: Surgery and chemotherapy is increasingly used in the management of pregnant patients with cervical cancer and prognosis is similar to that of non-pregnant patients.

Identification of micro-RNA expression profile related to recurrence in women with ESMO low-risk endometrial cancer.

BACKGROUND: Actual European pathological classification of early-stage endometrial cancer (EC) may show insufficient accuracy to precisely stratify recurrence risk, leading to potential over or under treatment. Micro-RNAs are post-transcriptional regulators involved in carcinogenic mechanisms, with some micro-RNA patterns of expression associated with EC characteristics and prognosis. We previously demonstrated that downregulation of micro-RNA-184 was associated with lymph node involvement in low-risk EC (LREC). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether micro-RNA signature in tumor tissues from LREC women can be correlated with the occurrence of recurrences. METHODS: MicroRNA expression was assessed by chip analysis and qRT-PCR in 7 formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) LREC primary tumors from women whose follow up showed recurrences (R+) and in 14 FFPE LREC primary tumors from women whose follow up did not show any recurrence (R-), matched for grade and age. Various statistical analyses, including enrichment analysis and a minimum p-value approach, were performed. RESULTS: The expression levels of micro-RNAs-184, -497-5p, and -196b-3p were significantly lower in R+ compared to R- women. Women with a micro-RNA-184 fold change < 0.083 were more likely to show recurrence (n = 6; 66%) compared to those with a micro-RNA-184 fold change > 0.083 (n = 1; 8%), p = 0.016. Women with a micro-RNA-196 fold change < 0.56 were more likely to show recurrence (n = 5; 100%) compared to those with a micro-RNA-196 fold change > 0.56 (n = 2; 13%), p = 0.001. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the great interest of micro-RNA-184 as a prognostic tool to improve the management of LREC women.

Multicenter prospective evaluation of the reliability of the combined use of two models to predict non-sentinel lymph node status in breast cancer patients with metastatic sentinel lymph nodes: the MSKCC nomogram and the Tenon score. Results of the NOTEGS study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to prospectively evaluate the combined use of The Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center nomogram and Tenon score to select, in patients with metastatic sentinel lymph node (SN), those at low risk of metastatic non-SN for whom additional axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) could be avoided. METHODS: From January 2011 to July 2012, a prospective non-interventional nationwide study was conducted (NCT01509963). We sought to identify the false reassurance rate (FRR, a negative test result is false) in patients with both a ⩽10% probability of metastatic non-SN with the MSKCC nomogram and a Tenon score ⩽3.5 (low risk): the proportion of patients with metastatic non-SN at additional ALND. Our hypothesis was that these patients would have a FRR⩽5%. RESULTS: Data on 2822 patients with breast cancer from 53 institutions were prospectively recorded. At least one SN was metastatic (isolated tumour cells, micro- or macrometastases) in 696 patients (24.7%). Among patients with ALND and complete data to calculate combined risk (n=504), 67 and 437 patients had low and high combined risk, respectively. Patients at low risk had less ALND (47%) compared to patients at high risk (P<0.001). This study did not meet its primary objective because the FRR in patients with low risk was 16.4% (11 out of 67) (95% confidence interval (CI): 9.7-23.1%). In the high-risk group, 33.9% (148 out of 437) (95% CI: 29.6-38.4%) had non-SN metastases (P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: In this controlled prospective study, metastatic SN patients with both a ⩽10% probability of metastatic non-SN with the MSKCC nomogram and a Tenon score ⩽3.5 failed to identify patients at low risk of metastatic non-SN when completion ALND was not systematic.

New Pointers for Surgical Staging of Borderline Ovarian Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Surgical management of borderline ovarian tumors (BOTs) is similar to that of ovarian cancer apart from lymphadenectomy. However, the complete procedure including peritoneal washing, infracolic omentectomy and random peritoneal biopsies remains a subject of controversy especially in presumed early stage BOTs. To evaluate the prognostic value of complete surgical staging on recurrence rates, recurrence free (RFS) and overall survival (OS) in a multicentre cohort of BOTs. METHODS: This retrospective multicentre study included 428 patients with BOTs diagnosed from January 1980 to December 2008. Survival estimates were based on Kaplan-Meier calculations and RFS defined as the time from the date of surgery to the date of recurrence. RESULTS: The median time of follow-up was 94.9 months (range: 60.00-207.3). The overall recurrence rate was 23.8 %. There was no difference in 5-year RFS between patients with and without complete surgical staging 78.1 % (95 % CI 68.9-88.6) and 70.9 % (95 % CI 64.6-77.8), (p = 0.0806). In the whole cohort, 5-year OS was higher for patients with complete surgical staging 98.4 % (95 % CI 96.8-1.0) and 93.8 % (95 % CI 88.1-1), (p = 0.0182) but this difference was not significant for patients with FIGO stage I 98.6 % (95 % CI 96.7-1) and 92.7 % (95 % CI 83.4-1.0), p = 0.1275, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Complete staging surgery should be considered as a cornerstone treatment for patients with advanced stage BOT but not for those with stage I disease.

Fertility-sparing surgery in epithelial ovarian cancer.

Since the last two decades, the feasibility of fertility-sparing surgery in early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer has been explored by several teams. Despite the impossibility of conducting a randomized trial to validate this management, evidence-based data suggest that in selected cases, the preservation of the uterus and at least one part of the ovary does not lead to a high risk of relapse. Conservative surgery maintains organ function, enables patients of childbearing age to preserve their fertility and improves their quality of life. In this review, we analyze the main series in the literature on this topic in order to highlight the selected criteria for conservative management and to summarize oncological and fertility outcomes.

Diagnostic Performance of MR-guided Vacuum-Assisted Breast Biopsy: 8 Years of Experience.

Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has demonstrated increased sensitivity over conventional imaging in identifying and characterizing in situ and invasive, multifocal, and multicentric disease. A histologic diagnosis is required for any enhancing lesion displaying suspicious features, especially in the presence of lower and often variable reported specificity values. Breast MRI findings occult on mammography and ultrasound should undergo an MR-guided biopsy. We retrospectively evaluate our 8 years' experience with this procedure. Our study included 259 lesions in 255 consecutive patients referred for MR-guided breast biopsy. MRI screening of women at a high risk for developing breast cancer accounted for 84 lesions, 54 lesions were detected on MRI staging for multifocal and multicentric disease, and 115 were incidental findings or lesions that presented diagnosis related issues on conventional imaging. Six procedures were cancelled due to lack of visualization. MR-guided breast biopsy was performed for 100 mass and 153 nonmass enhancements. Pathology results were classified into benign (113 lesions), high risk (47 lesions), and malignant (40 ductal carcinoma in situ, 38 invasive ductal carcinoma, 15 invasive lobular carcinoma). Subsequent surgery for high risk and malignant findings revealed an underestimation rate of 34% (16/47) for high risk lesions and of 7.5% for ductal carcinoma in situ (3/40). The overall positive predictive value (PPV) was calculated at 43.1% (33.3% for high-risk women, 70.3% for cancer staging, and 37.4% for incidental/undetermined lesions). The PPV was higher for mass (57%) versus nonmass enhancements (34%). MR-guided breast biopsy proved to be a reliable procedure for the diagnosis and management of occult breast MRI findings, or lesions that preclude biopsy under conventional guidance. The PPV displayed significant variation between patient subgroups, correlating higher values with a higher associated breast cancer prevalence.

Surgical Outcomes After Debulking Surgery for Intraabdominal Ovarian Growing Teratoma Syndrome: Analysis of 38 Cases.

BACKGROUND: The goal, methods, and results of surgery for growing teratoma syndrome (GTS) in men after testicular cancer have been well described. The main surgical challenge relates to the need for vascular or thoracic procedures. But little is known about GTS in women, particularly regarding the optimal management of intraabdominal disease. This study aimed to evaluate the surgical management and outcomes (recurrences and fertility) for a large series of ovarian GTS. METHODS: This study retrospectively analyzed patients treated for an ovarian immature teratoma (IT) who subsequently experienced abdominal GTS requiring surgery. RESULTS: Between 1983 and 2014, 196 cases of IT were referred to the authors' institution or treated there, and 38 patients (19 %) subsequently experienced a GTS, including 10 cases of gliomatosis peritonei (containing exclusively pure mature glial tissue). The median age at diagnosis was 26 years (range 8-41 years), and the mean delay between IT and GTS diagnosis was 7 months (range 3-84 months). Surgical resection included peritonectomy (n = 22), diaphragmatic peritoneal resection (n = 14), bowel resection (n = 8), and splenectomy (n = 5). Conservative surgery was possible for 20 patients. Complete cytoreductive surgery was achieved for 25 patients. The mean follow-up period was 73 months (range 3-263 months). At least one recurrence developed for 10 patients (in the form of mature disease in all, and 8 of these patients had an initial complete resection. Five patients had a pregnancy. One patient died of complications from the disease (pulmonary embolism in a patient with bowel obstruction). CONCLUSIONS: The overall prognosis of abdominal GTS is good. The surgical procedures for GTS are similar to those used in debulking surgery for epithelial cancer. Whenever technically possible, a conservative surgery should be performed because spontaneous fertility is possible. Recurrent GTS is frequent even after complete surgery.

Contribution of lymphoscintigraphy to intraoperative sentinel lymph node detection in early cervical cancer: Analysis of the prospective multicenter SENTICOL cohort.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the contribution of preoperative lymphoscintigraphy to intraoperative lymphatic mapping (ILM) in early cervical cancer METHODS: We conducted an ancillary analysis of the multicenter prospective SENTICOL study in early cervical cancer. Radiocolloid was injected intracervically on the day before (long protocol) or morning of (short protocol) surgery, lymphoscintigraphy was performed, and the results of a centralized image review were communicated to the surgeons. ILM was performed on combined radioactivity/patent blue detection. Sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) were electively sampled before routine bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy by laparoscopy. RESULTS: Of 139 patients in the modified intention-to-diagnose analysis, 114 had centrally reviewed lymphoscintigrams, which showed 352 SLNs in 100 patients. Lymphoscintigraphy and ILM detection rates were 87.8% and 97.8%, respectively. Agreement between lymphoscintigraphy and ILM was low for the number of SLNs (κ=0.23; -0.04; 0.49) and bilateral SLNs (κ=0.36; 0.2; 0.52). No patient without SLNs by ILM had SLNs by lymphoscintigraphy. Lymphoscintigraphy identified substantial proportions of unusual drainage pathways. No patients with metastatic nodes had SLNs by lymphoscintigraphy but not by ILM in the relevant territory. In 1 of the 2 patients with false-negative SLN results, SLNs were bilateral by lymphoscintigraphy and unilateral by ILM. CONCLUSION: Although the detection rate was lower by lymphoscintigraphy than by ILM, the substantial proportions of SLNs in unusual territories provided valuable guidance for the surgical exploration. Awareness of the limited agreement between lymphoscintigraphic and surgical detection might help surgeons decrease the false-negative rate.

Gliomatosis peritonei: a particular entity with specific outcomes within the growing teratoma syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: Ovarian immature teratoma may be associated with peritoneal spread that could, after adjuvant chemotherapy, develop into disease exclusively composed of mature implants (growing teratoma syndrome) and/or gliomatosis peritonei (GP), defined as the presence of pure mature glial tissue. However, very few specific series are devoted to the outcomes of pure GP. This was the aim of the present study. PATIENTS: From 1997 to 2013, data concerning patients treated for stage II/III immature teratoma were reviewed. All slides were reviewed by an expert pathologist. Patients with ovarian cancer associated with peritoneal spread in the form of pure GP (initially if patients were treated without adjuvant treatment or after adjuvant chemotherapy if done) were analyzed. RESULTS: Ten patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. The median age of patients at diagnosis was 36 years (range, 14-41 years). Six patients had undergone a conservative treatment. Five patients had macroscopic residual disease at the end of surgery.The median duration of follow-up from the diagnosis of GP was 39 months (range, 6-114 months). Six patients had undergone secondary surgery. Among them, 5 had incompletely resected macroscopic GP. No patients had died of their disease. All patients were asymptomatic at the time of the last consultation (1 of them with abnormal radiologic imaging). CONCLUSIONS: Gliomatosis peritonei is a particular entity of the condition described as growing teratoma syndrome because residual peritoneal disease can be asymptomatic totally stable over a long period which raises the question of a more conservative surgical approach in patients with massive peritoneal spread.

Outcome of patients with advanced-stage borderline ovarian tumors after a first peritoneal noninvasive recurrence: impact on further management.

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to report the outcome of patients with advanced-stage serous borderline ovarian tumors (SBOT) after a first noninvasive recurrence and the impact of conservative treatment in that context and to define the best management for those patients. STUDY DESIGN: From 1973 to 2006, 168 patients were treated at or referred to our institution for an SBOT with peritoneal implants. Their slides were reviewed by the same expert pathologist. Selection criteria were as follows: advanced stage (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics ≥ II), with at least 1 recurrence (only noninvasive ones) and more than 5 years of follow-up. RESULTS: Twenty patients met the inclusion criteria. The median duration of follow-up was 12 years (range, 6-23 years). Median age was 26 years (14-61 years). Initial surgical management was conservative for 14 patients and radical for 6. In the study population, 4 patients recurred, all with invasive disease. Time to invasive recurrence was at least 3 years for 3 of 4 patients. None of those 4 patients had a second-look surgery initially or after the first recurrence. Two patients had small-sized residual disease after initial management; only 1 of these 4 patients is currently alive and disease-free. There was no significant difference between conservative and radical treatment of the risk of second recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: This study emphasizes the need for a long follow-up after recurrence of advanced-stage SBOT and the risk of a new invasive recurrence after a first noninvasive peritoneal recurrence. Conservative treatment does not seem as a risk factor and is still justified after a first noninvasive recurrence for young patients who desire to preserve fertility.

Cost-Effectiveness of Conventional vs Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopy in Gynecologic Oncologic Indications.

OBJECTIVE: Robotic surgical techniques are known to be expensive, but they can decrease the cost of hospitalization and improve patients' outcomes. The aim of this study was to compare the costs and clinical outcomes of conventional laparoscopy vs robotic-assisted laparoscopy in the gynecologic oncologic indications. METHODS: Between 2007 and 2010, 312 patients referred for gynecologic oncologic indications (endometrial and cervical cancer), including 226 who underwent conventional laparoscopy and 80 who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopy, were included in this prospective multicenter study. The direct costs, operating theater costs, and hospital costs were calculated for both surgical strategies using the microcosting method. RESULTS: Based on an average number of 165 surgical cases performed per year with the robot, the total extra cost of using the robot was €1456 per intervention. The robot-specific costs amounted to €2213 per intervention, and the cost of the robot-specific surgical supplies was €957 per intervention. The cost of the surgical supplies specifically required by conventional laparoscopy amounted to €1432, which is significantly higher than that of the robotic supplies (P < 0.001). Hospital costs were lower in the case of the robotic strategy (€2380 vs €2841, P < 0.001) because these patients spent less time in intensive care (0.38 vs 0.85 days). Operating theater costs were higher in the case of the robotic strategy (€1490 vs €1311, P = 0.0004) because the procedure takes longer to perform (4.98 hours vs 4.38 hours). CONCLUSIONS: The main driver of additional costs is the fixed cost of the robot, which is not compensated by the lower hospital room costs. The robot would be more cost-effective if robotic interventions were performed on a larger number of patients per year or if the purchase price of the robot was reduced. A shorter learning curve would also no doubt decrease the operating theater costs, resulting in financial benefits to society.