Comparison of Perioperative and Oncologic Outcomes with Laparotomy, and Laparoscopic or Robotic Surgery for Women with Endometrial Cancer.

PURPOSE: To compare perioperative outcomes and oncologic outcomes in endometrial cancer patients treated with laparotomy, and laparoscopic or robotic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endometrial cancer patients who underwent primary surgery from January 2011 to December 2014 were retrospectively reviewed. Perioperative outcomes, including estimated blood loss (EBL), operation time, number of lymph nodes retrieved, and intra and postoperative complications, were reviewed. Recovery time, disease free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared. RESULTS: Of the total of 218 patients, 143 underwent laparotomy, 47 laparoscopy, and 28 robotic surgery. The laparotomy group had the highest EBL (300, 200, 200 ml, p<0.05) while the robotic group had the longest operative time (302 min) as compared with laparoscopy (180 min) and laparotomy (125 min) (p<0.05). Intra and postoperative complications were not different with any of the surgical approaches. No significant difference in number of lymph nodes retrieved was identified. The longest hospital stay was reported in the laparotomy group (four days) but there was no difference between the laparoscopy (three days) and robotic (three days) groups. Recovery was significantly faster in robotic group than laparotomy group (14 and 28 days, p=0.003). No significant difference in DFS and OS at 21 months of median follow up time was observed among the three groups. CONCLUSIONS: Minimally invasive surgery has more favorable outcomes, including lower blood loss, shorter hospital stay, and faster recovery time than laparotomy. It also has equivalent perioperative complications and short term oncologic outcomes. MIS is feasible as an alternative option to surgery of endometrial cancer.

Feasibility and safety of robotic surgery for gynecologic cancers.

BACKGROUND: To determine surgical outcomes, perioperative complications, and patient outcomes in gynecologic cancer patients undergoing robotic surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgical outcomes, including docking time, total operative time, console time, estimated blood loss (EBL), conversion rate and perioperative complications were retrospectively reviewed in 30 gynecologic cancer patients undergoing robotic surgery. Patient outcomes included recovery time and patient satisfaction, as scored by a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 0-10. RESULTS: The operations included 24 hysterectomies with pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLD) and/or para-aortic lymphadenectomy, four radical hysterectomies with PLD, and two radical trachelectomies with PLD. Mean docking time was 12.8 ± 9.7 min, total operative time was 345.5 ± 85.0 min, and console time was 281.9 ± 78.6 min. These times were decreased in the second half of the cases. There was no conversion rate. Three intraoperative complications, including one external iliac artery injury, one bladder injury, and one massive bleeding requiring blood transfusion were reported. Postoperative complications occurred in eight patients, most were minor. Only one patient had port herniation that required reoperation. Mean hospital stay was 3.5 ± 1.7 days, and recovery time was 14.2 ± 8.1 days. Two-thirds of patients felt very satisfied and one-third felt satisfied; the mean satisfaction score was 9.4 +0.9. Two patients with stage III endometrial cancer developed isolated port site metastasis at five and 13 months postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery for gynecologic cancer appears to be feasible, with acceptable perioperative complication rate, fast recovery time and high patient satisfaction.

Human papillomavirus genotypes among infected Thai women with different cytological findings by analysis of E1 genes.

Cervical cytological data may not be sufficient for cervical cancer screening and prevention. In this project, we determined HPV genotype among infected Thai women with different cytological findings by characterization of E1 genes. Five hundred and thirty-five specimens were tested by PCR amplification of the E1 genes. HPV genotypes were determined by sequencing, comparison with the GenBank database and were analyzed in relation to different cytological findings. HPV-DNA by PCR were typed and revealed 32 different genotypes. HR-HPV (HPV16, 18 or 52) was detected in all samples with cervical cancer cytology. HPV16 was most prevalent irrespective of cervical cytology. Moreover, HPV31 and 52 were most prevalent in the HSIL and LSIL groups whereas HPV66 was found mostly in the LSIL group. The LSIL group displayed the highest variation of HPV genotypes. Moreover, HPV31 and 52 predominated in the HSIL and LSIL groups especially HPV52 which was found in cancer samples. We hoped that these data of HPV genotypes can be used as preliminary data of HPV in Thailand and can serve as basic data for future research into the HPV genotype in south-east Asia.

Prevalence and genotypes of human papillomavirus among Thai women.

One of the most common cancers in women worldwide is cervical cancer, with death rates highest in less developed countries, including Thailand. This study was conducted to explore the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and its related cytological abnormalities among women attending cervical screening clinics in Thailand using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). LBC specimens (ThinPrep, Hologic, West Sussex, UK) were subjected to PCR of the E1 region to identify the most prevalent HPV types. Information on age and cytology grade was also collected. Among a total of 1,662 women, 29 different HPV types were found and the overall HPV prevalence was 8.7%. HPV prevalence among the general population amounted to 7.8%. The following HPV types were identified: HPV16 (17.9%), HPV90 (16.6%) and HPV71 (10.3%). The rates of other types were as follows; HPV66 (6.9%), HPV52 (6.2%), HPV34 (5.5%), HPV31 (5.3%), HPV42 (4.8%) and HPV39 (3.4%). HPV infection peaked in women aged around 20-39 years and thereafter gradually declined. As expected, HPV DNA can be found in normal cytology specimens. These results which elucidate HPV distribution in Thailand could be useful for vaccine development and the national cervical cancer prevention program.

Whole-genome sequence analysis of human papillomavirus type 18 from infected Thai women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to attain molecular knowledge of human papillomavirus type 18 (HPV18) by sequencing the whole genome of HPV18 isolated from Thai women at various clinical stages of disease progression. METHOD: Our group analyzed 9 samples of whole-genome HPV18 in infected women ranging from normal to cervical cancer by PCR, a sequencing method and bioinformatics programs. RESULTS: Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome showed that HPV18 samples were more closely related to the European and Asian-American type than the African type. The vaccine strain's L1 nucleotide (US patent 5820870) showed a close relationship to the African type. However, our data cannot indicate the correlation between cytological data and nucleotide or amino acid variation. CONCLUSION: Our group cannot draw any inference between the clinical stage of disease progression and amino acid alterations as there were only 1 or 2 samples available for each clinical trial. However, we hope that these new data on the HPV genome, which are representative of the entire genome of HPV in Southeast Asia, can serve as basis data for future research on the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Additionally, the second-generation HPV18 vaccines should be tested on both HPV18-L1 and HPV18-L2 for increasing potential protection.

Is complete surgical staging necessary in clinically early-stage endometrial carcinoma?

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of pelvic/para-aortic node metastases and the other pathological characteristics from medical records of patients with endometrial carcinoma treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand, between 1996 and 2005. The records of 213 patients with endometrial carcinoma who had complete surgical staging were reviewed. A particular focus was on clinically early-stage disease. Clinical staging could be determined in 206 patients. Of the 206 patients, 182 (88.3%) presented with clinical stage I disease. However, only 142 (78%) of these patients were confirmed as surgical stage I and 22% were upstaged. Preoperative histologic grade was diagnosed inaccurately in 15.9% of patients and 7.7% were upgraded. Of patients with preoperative histologic grade 1, 33% had deep myometrial invasion, 8.2% had pelvic node metastasis, and 3.3% had para-aortic node metastasis. Even in clinical stage IaG1, pelvic node metastasis occurred in 5.6% and para-aortic node metastasis in 1.3%. It has been suggested that complete surgical staging may not be necessary in patients with low-risk endometrial carcinoma who have disease limited to the uterus without grade 3 or deep myometrial invasion. However, proper selection of such low-risk patients remains problematic. In situations where there is limited preoperative and intraoperative assessment of high-risk factors, particularly radiographic imaging and frozen section assessment, the role of complete surgical staging is beneficial.

Safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of quadrivalent human papillomavirus (types 6, 11, 16, 18) recombinant vaccine in women aged 24-45 years: a randomised, double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Although the peak incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection occurs in most populations within 5-10 years of first sexual experience, all women remain at risk for acquisition of HPV infections. We tested the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of the quadrivalent HPV (types 6, 11, 16, 18) L1 virus-like-particle vaccine in women aged 24-45 years. METHODS: Women aged 24-45 years with no history of genital warts or cervical disease were enrolled from community health centres, academic health centres, and primary health-care providers into an ongoing multicentre, parallel, randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Participants were allocated by computer-generated schedule to receive quadrivalent HPV vaccine (n=1911) or placebo (n=1908) at day 1, and months 2 and 6. All study site investigators and personnel, study participants, monitors, and central laboratory personnel were blinded to treatment allocation. Coprimary efficacy endpoints were 6 months' or more duration of infection and cervical and external genital disease due to HPV 6, 11, 16, 18; and due to HPV 16 and 18 alone. Primary efficacy analyses were done in a per-protocol population, but intention-to-treat analyses were also undertaken. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00090220. FINDINGS: 1910 women received at least one dose of vaccine and 1907 at least one dose of placebo. In the per-protocol population, efficacy against the first coprimary endpoint (disease or infection related to HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18) was 90.5% (95% CI 73.7-97.5, four of 1615 cases in the vaccine group vs 41/1607 in the placebo group) and 83.1% (50.6-95.8, four of 1601 cases vs 23/1579 cases) against the second coprimary endpoint (disease or infection related to HPV 16 and 18 alone). In the intention-to-treat population, efficacy against the first coprimary endpoint was 30.9% (95% CI 11.1-46.5, 108/1886 cases vs 154/1883 cases) and against the second coprimary endpoint was 22.6% (-2.9 to 41.9, 90/1886 cases vs 115/1883 cases), since infection and disease were present at baseline. We recorded no vaccine-related serious adverse events. INTERPRETATION: The quadrivalent HPV vaccine is efficacious in women aged 24-45 years not infected with the relevant HPV types at enrolment. FUNDING: Merck (USA).

Entire genome characterization of human papillomavirus type 16 from infected Thai women with different cytological findings.

Global prevalence of human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV16) exceeds that of other types. This project has been aimed at attaining basic molecular knowledge of HPV16 by sequencing the whole genome of HPV16 isolated from Thai women at various clinical stages of disease progression. Our group analyzed seven samples of HPV16 in infected women ranging from normal to cervical cancer and discovered two critical non-synonymous changes within the coding region converting the E2-219P prototype to E2-219T in cervical cancer and the L2-269S prototype to L2-269D in CIN III, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the whole genome with special emphasis on the genes E2, E6, L1, and L2 showed the Thai samples to be more closely related to the European than the non-European strains. The vaccine strain's L1 polypeptides showed close relationship to our samples. The results provide basic data for future research on cervical cancer pathogenesis and representative data of HPV16 genome in Southeast Asia.

Long term complications after radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of long-term complications in stage IB and IIA cervical cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. MATERIAL AND METHOD: A retrospective review on 290 patients who were treated with primary type III radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy between January 1, 1997 and December 31, 2005. Long-term complications were classified in two categories, voiding dysfunction and complication from lymphadenectomy such as lymphocyst and lymphedema. RESULTS: Forty-two patients (14.5%) required urethral catheterization more than four weeks. Only four patients (1.4%) were diagnosed as neurogenic bladder and required permanent self-catheterization. Two hundred forty eight patients (85.5%) returned to normal voiding within 1 month postoperatively. The incidence of lymphocyst was 9.3%; however, almost of them were asymptomatic and resolved spontaneously within a few months. Only four patients (1.4%) had complicated lymphocyst and required hospitalization with intravenous antibiotic and drainage procedure. Six patients (2.1%) were diagnosed as lymphedema after exclusion of deep vein thrombosis and recurrent cervical carcinoma. Pelvic lymph node metastasis and postoperative adjuvant radiation were not significant risk factors for lymphocyst and lymphedema. CONCLUSION: Radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy is the treatment of choice in stage IB and IIA cervical cancer with excellent survival rate. However there are long-term complications such as voiding dysfunction, lymphocyst, and lymphedema. Although these complications are not life threatening, they can affect the quality of life.

Relationship between hybrid capture II ratios and DNA amplification of E1, E6 and L1 genes used for the detection of human papillomavirus in samples with different cytological findings.

The hybrid capture II (HCII) assay is widely used in the detection of human papillomavirus virus (HPV). However, due to the limited number of HPV genotypes, it does not permit a comprehensive typing of viruses and "grey zone" (borderline negative or positive results) are often difficult to interpret. As such, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) should be used in parallel with HCII assays, and consensus PCR detection is capable of covering a wider detection range than with the HCII method. We examined the relationship between HCII relative light unit/cutoff (RLU/CO) ratios and PCR amplification results. This was done using previously described primer sets (MY/GP) as well as with our primers for HPV E1, L1 and E6 gene amplification, and performed on samples exhibiting different cytological findings. Together, 243 samples were divided into three groups having RLU/CO ratios of < 0.4 (n = 21), 0.4-4 (n = 64) and > or = 4 (n = 158), respectively. All samples were subjected to PCR amplification using MY/GP and the newly designed E1, L1 and E6 primers. Results were verified by direct sequencing. PCR amplification sensitivities were higher when using the E1 primers than for the MY/GP, E6 or L1 primers. The E1 assay can be used for HPV detection with a sensitivity of 10(2) copies microl(-1). Samples with RLU/CO ratios exceeding 4, and grey zone samples of 0.4-4, were amplified using E1 primers in 79.74% and 26.56% of the total cases, respectively. Cytological data of grey zone samples were primarily found to be normal (77%) whereas those with RLU/CO ratios > 4 were found in any of the cytological data categories. We concluded that HPV screening by HCII for grey zone samples should be analyzed together with cytological data, as well as with a PCR screening tool that incorporates the E1 primers.

Prevalence of BRCA1 expression in epithelial ovarian cancer: immunohistochemical study.

The 99 formalin fxed paraffin-embedded ovarian tissue specimens of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) patients treated at the Gynecologic Oncology Unit, King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 1999, were immuno-stained with BRCA antibody using the immunohistochemical method. According to the criteria for BRCA1 immunohistochemical evaluation (neoplastic nuclear staining more than 10%), 12 (12.1%) of the 99 specimens showed positive BRCA1 expression. No associated statistical significance between clinicopathological variables and BRCA expression was detected. Survival analysis was performed in 87 patients who were followed-up for more than 6 months and recent status were available. During a median follow-up of 43 months, median survival time was 46 months (range 6-84 months). No association between BRCA1 expression and survival outcomes was found (Disease free survival and overall survival) in the presented patients.

Lack of prognostic significance of HER-2/neu in early epithelial ovarian cancer.

A total of 74 patients with apparent early stage epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent exploratory laparotomy at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital or other hospitals and were referred for further treatment, were evaluated. Formalin fixed paraffin-embedded ovarian tissue specimens were collected and immuno-stained with HER-2/neu antibodies for comparison with clinicopathologic data after median follow up of 46 months (range 3 - 83 months). The prevalence of HER-2/neu overexpression in these patients was 10.2%. No significant correlation between HER-2/neu overexpression and clinicopathological parameters (stage, ascites, capsular rupture, capsular adherence, histological subtype and histological grade) was found. Disease free survival and overall survival did not statistically differ between those with lesions positive or negative for HER-2/neu overexpression.

Transient cortical blindness during chemotherapy (PVB) for ovarian germ cell tumor.

A 17 year-old female with stage IIIc endodermal sinus tumor of the ovary developed transient cortical blindness and severe hypertension after 5 cycles of PVB regimen consisting of cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin. Clinical and radiological findings were compatible with Posterior LeukoEncephalopathy (PLE). Her visual acuity and blood pressure completely recovered within a few days after supportive treatment with antihypertensive drug. This condition is unpredictable but it can be reversible without long term sequelae. Most reports suggested that this rare toxicity was from cisplatin therapy. However, the exact pathophysiogenesis of this condition was not known precisely. Prompt reduction in blood pressure and withdrawal of immunosuppressive agents might lead to rapid reversal of this syndrome and prevent permanent brain damage.

Outcome of recurrent and persistent disease of malignant ovarian germ cell tumor: a retrospective analysis at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumor has one of the most successful treatment outcomes in gynecological malignancy. More than 80% of the patients can be cured from this rare type of tumor However, patients with recurrent and persistent disease after primary treatment are still the problem of management. The present study has reviewed the treatment outcome of this cancer in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital during the 12 years periodfrom 1993 to 2004. The overall cases of malignant ovarian germ cell tumor were 71 cases, 8 cases had recurrent disease after primary treatment and all cases received platinum-based chemotherapy for the salvage treatment. All patients in this group received long-term survival with median survival time of 87 months. In patients with persistent disease, 10 cases that resisted to first line adjuvant chemotherapy. Cisplatin and Etoposide regimen was applied as second line treatment, but none of these patients received long term response. The survival outcomes in these 2 groups are significantly different. The overall survival from the treatment of malignant ovarian germ cell tumor in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital was 85.1%. In conclusion, the outcome of treatment in patients with recurrent disease after non-platinum chemotherapy is excellent. Salvage therapy in this group should contain platinum-based regimen. Patients whose disease persisted after platinum-containing regimen had a poor survival outcome.

Cyclin A1 promoter hypermethylation in human papillomavirus-associated cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to evaluate epigenetic status of cyclin A1 in human papillomavirus-associated cervical cancer. Y. Tokumaru et al., Cancer Res 64, 5982-7 (Sep 1, 2004)demonstrated in head and neck squamous-cell cancer an inverse correlation between cyclin A1 promoter hypermethylation and TP53 mutation. Human papillomavirus-associated cervical cancer, however, is deprived of TP53 function by a different mechanism. Therefore, it was of interest to investigate the epigenetic alterations during multistep cervical cancer development. METHODS: In this study, we performed duplex methylation-specific PCR and reverse transcriptase PCR on several cervical cancer cell lines and microdissected cervical cancers. Furthermore, the incidence of cyclin A1 methylation was studied in 43 samples of white blood cells, 25 normal cervices, and 24, 5 and 30 human papillomavirus-associated premalignant, microinvasive and invasive cervical lesions, respectively. RESULTS: We demonstrated cyclin A1 methylation to be commonly found in cervical cancer, both in vitro and in vivo, with its physiological role being to decrease gene expression. More important, this study demonstrated that not only is cyclin A1 promoter hypermethylation strikingly common in cervical cancer, but is also specific to the invasive phenotype in comparison with other histopathological stages during multistep carcinogenesis. None of the normal cells and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions exhibited methylation. In contrast, 36.6%, 60% and 93.3% of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, microinvasive and invasive cancers, respectively, showed methylation. CONCLUSION: This methylation study indicated that cyclin A1 is a potential tumor marker for early diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer.

Prevalence and prognostic significance of COX-2 expression in stage IB cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prevalence of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), correlation with various clinicopathologic factors and prognostic significance of COX-2 in stage IB cervical cancer patients. METHODS: 89 paraffin-embedded specimens of patients with stage IB cervical cancer underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital during 1 January 1997-31 December 2002 and were stained with polyclonal goat antiserum against COX-2 using immunohistochemical method. Medical records were reviewed; clinicopathological variables were retrieved and used for analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of positive COX-2 expression in stage IB cervical cancer in this study was 49.4%. Positive COX-2 expression in cervical adenocarcinoma was higher than squamous cell carcinoma (86.7% versus 40.6%, P < 0.05) and significantly expressed when lymph node metastasis was presented (100% versus 46.4%, P < 0.05). However, COX-2 expression was possibly associated with parametrial involvement (80% versus 47.6%, P > 0.05). There was no correlation between COX-2 expression and patient's age, tumor size, depth of stromal invasion and lymphovascular space invasion. Five-year disease free survival and 5-year overall survival in patients with positive COX-2 expression were 81% and 98% which were not differed from patients with negative COX-2 expression (92% and 95%, P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Strong correlation was found in cervical adenocarcinoma and lymph node metastasis. However, COX-2 expression failed to demonstrate as a significant prognostic factor in stage IB cervical cancer.

Malignant ovarian germ cell tumor in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the frequency, characteristics, treatment and outcome of patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumor (MOGCT) in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital during the period January 1992 - December 2000. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective descriptive study MATERIAL AND METHOD: All patients with malignant ovarian germ cell tumor in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital during the period January 1992 - December 2000 were analyzed by the characteristics of patients, treatment and outcome. RESULTS: Sixty-six patients with MOGCT were demonstrated in that period with a mean age of 22.6 years old. Most of the patients were nulliparous and premenopausal status. Primary surgery was done in all patients. Forty-two patients (63.6%) received conservative surgery. Eight patients received no adjuvant treatment after surgery due to stage 1A dysgerminoma and immature teratoma stage I grade I. Fifty-six patients received chemotherapy for adjuvant treatment. VAC regimen was given in 27 cases (40.9%) and PVB regimen was given in 25 cases (37.9%). Salvage therapy in the patients with persistent and recurrent disease was treated in 9 patients, who received a platinum-base of regimen. Two-year survival was 88% with the median time to follow up 24 months. Overall five-year survival in the present study was 85%. CONCLUSION: MOGCT in King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital had clinical characteristics similar to other studies in malignant ovarian germ cell tumor Treatment by VAC regimen still has benefit in selected group.

Phase III randomized trial comparing LDR and HDR brachytherapy in treatment of cervical carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Intracavitary brachytherapy plays an important role in the treatment of cervical carcinoma. Previous results have shown controversy between the effect of dose rate on tumor control and the occurrence of complications. We performed a prospective randomized clinical trial to compare the clinical outcomes between low-dose-rate (LDR) and high-dose-rate (HDR) intracavitary brachytherapy for treatment of invasive uterine cervical carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A total of 237 patients with previously untreated invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital were randomized between June 1995 and December 2001. Excluding ineligible, incomplete treatment, and incomplete data patients, 109 and 112 patients were in the LDR and HDR groups, respectively. All patients were treated with external beam radiotherapy and LDR or HDR intracavitary brachytherapy using the Chulalongkorn treatment schedule. RESULTS: The median follow-up for the LDR and HDR groups was 40.2 and 37.2 months, respectively. The actuarial 3-year overall and relapse-free survival rate for all patients was 69.6% and 70%, respectively. The 3-year overall survival rate in the LDR and HDR groups was 70.9% and 68.4% (p = 0.75) and the 3-year pelvic control rate was 89.1% and 86.4% (p = 0.51), respectively. The 3-year relapse-free survival rate in both groups was 69.9% (p = 0.35). Most recurrences were distant metastases, especially in Stage IIB and IIIB patients. Grade 3 and 4 complications were found in 2.8% and 7.1% of the LDR and HDR groups (p = 0.23). CONCLUSION: Comparable outcomes were demonstrated between LDR and HDR intracavitary brachytherapy. Concerning patient convenience, the lower number of medical personnel needed, and decreased radiation to health care workers, HDR intracavitary brachytherapy is an alternative to conventional LDR brachytherapy. The high number of distant failure suggests that other modalities such as systemic concurrent or adjuvant chemotherapy might lower this high recurrence, especially in Stage IIB and IIIB.

Posterior leukoencephalopathy following cisplatin, bleomycin and vinblastine therapy for germ cell tumor of the ovary.

A 31-year-old female developed multiple episodes of grand mal seizures after combination chemotherapy with cisplatin, vinblastine and bleomycin for germ cell ovarian cancer stage Ic. The clinicoradiologic features in this patient were consistent with posterior leukoencephalopathy, which is a rare complication of chemotherapy. Seizures were controlled by the anticonvulsive agent Dilantin (Pfizer, Khet Klongtoey, Bangkok) and she returned home without any permanent neurologic deficits. Follow-up magnetic resonance imaging 2 weeks later showed complete resolution of the abnormalities. This syndrome has been previously reported following cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Physicians should remain alert to the potential hazards of chemotherapy to the central nervous system. Risks and benefits should be seriously considered before starting treatment.