Comparing endometriotic lesions with eutopic endometrium: time to shift focus?

Endometriosis is a heterogeneous disease in terms of patient symptoms, treatment responsiveness and the presentation of endometriotic lesions. This article explores the histological features of endometriotic lesions, highlighting their sometimes underappreciated heterogeneity. We note the variability in evidence for and against the menstrual cycle responsiveness of lesions and consider the utility of drawing parallels between endometriotic lesions and eutopic endometrium. We ask whether histopathologic features beyond just the presence/absence of endometrial-like glands and/or stroma could help improve disease stratification. At the same time, we acknowledge the desire of many clinicians and patients to avoid invasive surgery thereby limiting the ability to histologically phenotype lesions. The ability to derive clinically useful histological information from endometriotic lesions, in association with patient data, would be invaluable to clinicians to help improve treatment options in such a diverse group of patients. However, in suggesting that a shift in focus may enable the development of a better patient stratification system, we recognise that our wish for a single comprehensive stratification system may be beyond reach for a disease of such diverse presentation.

Outcomes of women with positive oncogenic HPV and reflex cytology showing possible high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.

AIM: To examine outcomes in women following cervical screening detection of oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV), with reflex cytology showing possible high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (pHSIL). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective observational study of 523 women seen in the Royal Women's Hospital Colposcopy Clinic from 1 January 2018 to 31 July 2020. RESULTS: Two hundred eighty-two (53.9%) women had histology-confirmed HSIL, encompassing CIN2 or worse (CIN2+), including seven cancers (1.3%) and two adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) (0.4%). In 81.2% (229/282) of women with CIN2+, this was detected on cervical biopsy at initial colposcopy, with another 8.9% (25/282) of CIN2+ detected at cervical excision following initial colposcopy and the remaining 9.9% (28/282) at follow-up colposcopy thereafter. When discordant cervical biopsy results were discussed at multidisciplinary meeting (MDM), 66.7% of women with pHSIL cytology upgraded to definite HSIL were found to have CIN2+, but only 20.8% when pHSIL cytology was retained and none when downgraded to low-grade (LSIL) or normal. No significant difference was found in the proportion of CIN2+ based on patient age above or below 40, HPV16 and/or 18 versus non 16/18, or whether discordant findings were reviewed at MDM. CONCLUSIONS: We propose a pathway for management of women with positive oncogenic HPV and reflex pHSIL cytology. MDM review is recommended when CIN2+ is not identified on cervical biopsy at initial colposcopy. Conservative management is safe with low risk of CIN2+ when LBC prediction of pHSIL is confirmed or downgraded at MDM with no high-grade change on colposcopy or repeat cytology.

Excisional treatment comparison for in situ endocervical adenocarcinoma (EXCISE): A phase 2 pilot randomized controlled trial to compare histopathological margin status, specimen size and fragmentation after loop electrosurgical excision procedure and cold knife cone biopsy.

OBJECTIVE: Adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) of the cervix is a precursor to cervical adenocarcinoma. When AIS is detected by cervical screening an excision biopsy is mandatory to exclude invasion. We aimed to compare margins status, specimen size and fragmentation after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) and 'cold knife cone biopsy' (CKC). METHODS: The EXCISE Trial was an investigator-initiated, multicenter, open-label, parallel-group, phase 2, randomized study. Patients were enrolled at seven hospitals in Australia and New Zealand. We randomly assigned women aged ≥18 to ≤45 years with screen detected AIS to LEEP or CKC. Co-primary endpoints were margin status, specimen size and fragmentation. Analysis was by intention-to-treat. RESULTS: Between August 2, 2017 and September 6, 2019, 40 patients were randomly assigned 2:1 to LEEP or CKC. Margin status was evaluable in 36 cases. The proportion of patients with involved margins did not differ between groups. 25 of 26 LEEP and all 14 CKC biopsies were excised as single specimens (p = 1·00). There were no differences in specimen dimensions. Patients in the CKC group had more post-operative complications (64.3% compared to 15.4% for LEEP p = ·00). There were no differences in grade three complications (p = ·65). CONCLUSIONS: LEEP was not associated with a greater likelihood of positive margins, specimen fragmentation or smaller excision compared to CKC when performed according to a standardized protocol. However, the study was not powered to establish non-inferiority of LEEP and a definitive phase 3 trial to compare margin status and rates of treatment failure after LEEP and CKC is warranted.

Differences in the cellular composition of small versus large uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids are clonally derived from a single cell; however, despite being monoclonal, the cellular phenotypes that make up uterine fibroids are heterogeneous consisting of predominantly smooth muscle cells (SMC) and fibroblasts. This raises the question as to when clonal cell differentiation occurs during fibroid development, and does this information provide clues about possible mechanisms regulating the growth process that leads to fibroids of symptom-causing size? This study investigated the differences in the cellular composition of fibroids by immunohistochemistry (IHC). A tissue microarray (n = 21 hysterectomy cases) was used for the investigation of large uterine fibroids and normal myometrium. An investigation of small fibroids (≤ 5mm) used a separate group of samples (n = 7 hysterectomy cases, total of n = 17 fibroids). A panel of cell phenotypic markers was selected based on our previous in situ investigations and included aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 (ALDH1A1) and vimentin for different fibroblast sub-populations, smooth muscle actin (SMA) as a marker for SMCs, CD31 for endothelial cells and CD45 for leucocytes. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) was also studied to identify proliferating cells. The cellular composition of small fibroids differs significantly from large fibroids. Small fibroids are more cellular (increased cells/mm(2)) than large fibroids, have more blood vessels and also have a higher ratio of SMC to fibroblasts than large fibroids. Large fibroids have more cell proliferation (measured by PCNA) and fewer leucocytes (measured by CD45) than adjacent myometrium, whereas small fibroids are less proliferative and have similar number of leucocytes to myometrium. Different cellular composition between fibroids of different sizes may provide important clues as to the mechanisms that drive fibroid growth.

Uterine Papillary Serous Carcinoma: A Single-Institution Review of 62 Cases.

OBJECTIVE: Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is a rare variant of endometrial carcinoma responsible for up to 40% of endometrial cancer deaths. Controversy remains regarding optimal adjuvant therapy for UPSC, with lack of randomized trials to date. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate clinicopathological factors and determine event-free survival and overall survival (OS) in patients with UPSC managed within a single institution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Medical and pathological records between 1987 and 2004 were reviewed at the Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia. Cox regression analysis was used to analyze effects of clinical and histopathological variables on patient survival and survival times following adjuvant therapy. Event-free survival and OS were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier survival curve. RESULTS: Sixty-two patients were included; 96.8% were managed surgically and 56.5% were completely surgically staged. Myoinvasion was present in 72.6% (n = 45) of the patients.In patients with stage I disease, recurrence rate was 41.4% with a 5-year OS of 46%. In stage II, recurrence rate was 20% with a 5-year OS of 67%. In stage III, recurrence rate was 58.8% with a 5-year OS of 34%. In stage IV, recurrence rate was 71.4% with a 5-year OS of 29%.There was no significant difference in survival based on the presence of positive peritoneal cytology, positive lymphovascular space invasion or positive lymph nodes at diagnosis, and no significant difference in survival based on the type of adjuvant therapy administered. Depth of myometrial invasion was a significant determinant of poor prognosis (P = 0.027). CONCLUSIONS: Uterine papillary serous carcinoma is an aggressive variant of endometrial cancer associated with a high proportion of advanced-stage disease at diagnosis, high recurrence rates, and low OS. In our patients, prognosis was determined by myometrial invasion and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage at diagnosis. Randomized trials in this area are required to clarify optimal adjuvant therapy for patients with UPSC.

Expression status and mutational analysis of the PTEN and P13K subunit genes in ovarian granulosa cell tumors.

Granulosa cell tumors (GCT) are a unique subset of ovarian tumors which have a molecular phenotype resembling that of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated pre-ovulatory granulosa cells. FSH acts via its receptor to stimulate signaling pathways including the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT pathway. Activation of this pathway occurs in solid tumors, including ovarian epithelial tumors, through mutation of the PI3K subunit genes or inactivation of the tumor suppressor, PTEN. Activation of this pathway would be predicted to be tumorigenic in granulosa cells.Expression of the 2 PI3K subunit genes, PIK3CA, which encodes the catalytic subunit, and PIK3R1, which encodes the regulatory subunit, together with the PTEN gene was determined in a panel of GCT, 2 human GCT-derived cell lines, COV434 and KGN, and normal ovary. Direct sequence analysis was used to screen for mutations. Expression of all 3genes was observed in the GCT without evidence of overexpression for the PI3K subunit genes or loss of expression for PTEN. Sequence analysis of amplicons spanning exons 9and 20, in which greater than 75% of mutations occur in the PIK3CA gene did not identify any missense mutations. Similarly, the previously reported deletions in exons 12 and 13 of the PIK3R1 were not found in the GCT. Three amplicons spanning the entire coding sequence of the PTEN gene were sequenced; neither deletions nor mutations were identified.These findings suggest that activation of PI3K signaling through PI3K/PTEN mutation or altered expression, in contrast to many other types of solid tumor, is not associated with GCT.

Bilateral congenital adrenal agenesis: a rare disease entity and not a result of poor autopsy technique.

Congenital adrenal agenesis is an extremely rare condition wherein the adrenal glands fail to develop. The absence of adrenal tissue results in the complete absence of hormones produced in the adrenal cortex (cortisol, aldosterone) and medulla (catecholamines), and is not compatible with postnatal life without artificial hormone replacement therapy. To date, 9 cases of adrenal agenesis have been reported, many of which are associated with additional congenital anomalies. Most cases were not detected on antenatal imaging and were detected incidentally at postmortem examination. We present a case of adrenal agenesis, detected incidentally at postmortem examination after termination of pregnancy for suspected fetal hydrops, and review the heterogeneous phenotype of this condition with associated abnormalities and molecular genetics. This case reinforces the role of the perinatal autopsy to investigate cause of perinatal mortality, allowing correlation of pathology with antenatal imaging findings and clinical details.

Detection of Hodgkin lymphoma within ovarian tissue.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the detection of Hodgkin lymphoma within ovarian tissue taken at the time of harvest for cryopreservation. DESIGN: Case report. SETTING: University-affiliated women's hospital. PATIENT(S): A 19-year-old woman diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. INTERVENTION(S): Laparoscopic removal of ovarian tissue for cryopreservation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation of ovarian tissue harvested for fertility preservation. RESULT(S): Histologic and immunohistochemical identification of Hodgkin lymphoma within ovarian tissue harvested for cryopreservation. CONCLUSION(S): Ovarian cryopreservation and subsequent autografting is a procedure still in an experimental phase that has yielded promising findings. This option is frequently offered to young women with neoplasms such as Hodgkin lymphoma. Although the risk of Hodgkin lymphoma infiltration into the ovary may be low, the identification of lymphoma in this case emphasizes the importance of histologic examination of ovarian tissue before freezing and indicates that there is a possibility of reintroducing tumor.