Comparison of current staging systems and a novel staging system for uterine leiomyosarcoma.

OBJECTIVES: Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) was traditionally staged by modified 1988 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging criteria for endometrial adenocarcinoma. Contemporary methods of staging include the 2009 FIGO system for uterine LMS and the 2010 American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) soft tissue sarcoma system. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of these 3 staging systems and a novel system in predicting disease-specific survival for patients with uterine LMS. METHODS: Patients, evaluated at our institution with uterine LMS from 1976 to 2009, were identified. Stage was assigned retrospectively based on operative and pathology reports. Staging systems performance was compared using confidence indices. RESULTS: We identified 244 patients with uterine LMS with sufficient information to be staged by all 3 systems. For each staging method, lower stage was associated with significantly improved disease-specific survival, P < 0.001. Patients with 2010 AJCC stage IA disease (low-grade, ≤5 cm) experienced no disease-specific deaths. We created a novel staging system, which used size and grade to stratify patients with disease confined to the uterus and/or cervix and combined the remaining patients with extrauterine disease as stage IV. Based on confidence index, the 2010 AJCC system and our novel system provided more accurate prognostic information than either of the 2 FIGO systems. CONCLUSIONS: Uterine LMS remains a clinically aggressive malignancy. Size and grade provided accurate prognostic information for patients with disease confined to the uterus and/or cervix. Patients with small, low-grade uterine LMS do not benefit from adjuvant therapy.

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.

Analysis of racial disparities in stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer care and outcomes in a tertiary gynecologic oncology referral center.

OBJECTIVE: To examine disparities in delivery of care and survival according to racial classification among White and African-American women with Stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer undergoing initial treatment in a tertiary referral center setting. METHODS: All consecutive patients diagnosed with Stage IIIC epithelial ovarian cancer between 1/1/95 and 12/31/08 were identified and clinic-pathologic variables retrospectively collected. Differences in initial treatment paradigm, surgical and adjuvant therapy, and overall survival according to racial classification were assessed by univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: A total of 405 patients (White, n=366; African-American, n=39) were identified. There were no significant differences according to racial classification in age, CA125, ASA class, histology, tumor grade, the frequency of initial surgery (90.4% vs 82.1%, p=0.06), optimal residual disease (73.0% vs 69.2%, p=0.28), no gross residual disease (51.4% vs 53.8%, p=0.49), and platinum-taxane chemotherapy (88.3% vs 87.2%, p=0.55). The median overall survival for White patients was 50.5 months (95%CI=43.2-57.9 months), compared to 47.0 (95%CI=36.2-57.8) months for African-Americans (p=0.57). On multivariate analysis, age, tumor grade 3, serum albumin <3.0 g/dl, platinum-based chemotherapy, and no gross residual disease were independently associated with overall survival, while African-American race was not (HR=1.06, 95%CI=0.61-1.79). CONCLUSIONS: Among women undergoing initial treatment for ovarian cancer at a tertiary referral center, African-American patients were as likely as White patients to undergo cytoreductive surgery, be left with minimal post-surgical residual disease, and receive appropriate chemotherapy. With equal access to gynecologic oncology care and multidisciplinary cancer resources, the survival disparities according to race observed in population-based studies are largely mitigated.

Surgical technique of diaphragm full-thickness resection and trans-diaphragmatic decompression of pneumothorax during cytoreductive surgery for ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique and short-term post-operative outcomes associated with diaphragm full-thickness resection (FTR) and intraoperative trans-diaphragmatic decompression of the resultant pneumothorax (TDDP). METHODS: All patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery for primary or recurrent ovarian cancer between 8/1/98 and 7/30/09 were retrospectively identified from the tumor registry database. Patients undergoing diaphragm FTR were selected for detailed review of the operative technique and post-operative outcomes. The operative technique of TDDP using a fenestrated Robinson catheter is described. RESULTS: A total of 45 patients met study inclusion criteria. Diaphragm FTR surgery was performed exclusively by gynecologic oncologists in 73.3% of cases. The median patient age was 60 years, and the majority (75.6%) of cases were performed for primary cytoreduction of Stage IIIC (n=27) or Stage IV (n=18) disease. The two-dimensional surface area of tumor involvement ranged from 9 cm(2) to 192 cm(2). The right hemi-diaphragm alone was involved in 71.1% of cases, while both the right and left hemi-diaphragms were involved in 24.4%. TDDP was performed in 41 of the 45 patients undergoing diaphragm FTR, while 4 patients had intraoperative thoracostomy tubes placed. Among the 41 TDDP patients, post-operative days 3-4 radiographic imaging revealed that 56% had a small residual pleural effusion and 9.8% had a residual pneumothorax; however, only 2 patients (4.9%) required post-operative thoracostomy tube placement or thoracentesis. CONCLUSION: The technique of TDDP eliminates the need of intraoperative and post-operative thoracostomy tube/thoracentesis in 95.1% of patients undergoing diaphragm FTR as a component of ovarian cancer cytoreductive surgery.

A clinical pathway for patients undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery with rectosigmoid colectomy for advanced ovarian and primary peritoneal cancers.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety, feasibility, and economic impact of a clinical pathway, including rapid diet advancement, for patients undergoing rectosigmoid colectomy as part of cytoreductive surgery for advanced ovarian and primary peritoneal cancers. METHODS: Between 8/1/98 and 6/30/06, 64 consecutive patients met study inclusion criteria. Using case-control methodology, post-operative management was dictated by a prescribed clinical pathway in 19 patients (Group A) and directed by individual surgeon preference in 45 patients (Group B). Critical elements of the clinical pathway included: rapid diet advancement, early discontinuance of nasogastric suction, criteria-based utilization of parenteral nutrition, selective laboratory testing, and deferring initiation of chemotherapy until after discharge. RESULTS: Stage IIIC/IV disease was present in 94% of all patients. The median time to flatus was 6 days for both groups (p=0.95); however, the median time to tolerance of diet was 3 days for Group A and 6 days for Group B (p=0.013). Compared to Group B, patients in Group A had a significantly shorter median length of hospital stay (7 days vs 10 days, p=0.014) and lower median 30-day post-operative hospital cost ($19,700 vs $25,110, p=0.028), with no significant difference in 30-day readmission rate (21% vs 33%, p=0.379). Clinical pathway-directed management was associated with a median reduction in hospital cost of $5410 per patient. CONCLUSIONS: A critical pathway incorporating rapid diet advancement for patients undergoing primary cytoreductive surgery with rectosigmoid colectomy for ovarian and primary peritoneal cancers is feasible, safe, and associated with a significant reduction in length of hospital stay and hospital-related costs.

Introduction of checklists at daily progress notes improves patient care among the gynecological oncology service.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the impact of the introduction of checklists at the daily progress note to improve patient care among gynecologic oncology patients. METHODS: A progress note incorporating checklists that were pertinent for our patient population was developed with input obtained from all staff involved on patients care. The form was approved by the hospital. The average length of stay, compliance with prophylactic guidelines (anticoagulation, peptic ulcer disease), reason for admission, and readmission rate were compared among the preimplementation and postimplementation periods. RESULTS: A total of 492 discharge summaries were evaluated through the study period (267 for the preimplementation period and 225 for the postimplementation period). The mean length of stay was of 4.46 days for the preimplementation and 3.46 days for the postimplementation period (P = 0.007). TEDs/SCDs were not used in 9.3% of the patients in the pre group versus 0.6% in the post group (P < 0.001). DVT prophylaxis was given to 30.1% of the pre group versus 34.8% of the post group (P = 0.0013). The administration of PUD prophylaxis also increased from 28.3% in the pre group to 40.2% of the post group (P < 0.001). There was a decrease in the nonsurgical admissions from 22.2% in the pre group versus 14.6% in the post group (P = 0.049). CONCLUSIONS: The use of checklists in daily progress notes enhances patient care by improving the delivery of routine care that is often overlooked in the light of major medical issues.

Late onset hemorrhage caused by ruptured uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after robotic-assisted total hysterectomy.

Robotic surgery has been used increasingly for the management of benign or malignant gynecologic conditions. Vaginal hemorrhage after hysterectomy is fairly uncommon. Uterine artery pseudoaneurysm is a rare phenomenon causing late onset hemorrhage that could be potentially life-threatening. This case describes the management of vaginal bleeding due to ruptured uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after robotic-assisted total hysterectomy. This is the first known reported case of a ruptured uterine artery pseudoaneurysm after a robotic-assisted hysterectomy.