Changes in dimension of neurovascular canals in the mandible and maxilla: A radiographic finding in patients diagnosed with MRONJ.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this retrospective study was to compare the morphological features of neurovascular canals and foramina of patients with medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ) and healthy individuals by using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The CBCT images of 58 patients under bisphosphonate therapy diagnosed with MRONJ and age gender- matched controls were retrospectively evaluated. The diameter of mandibular and nasopalatine canal and mandibular, mental and lingual foramina were measured on several sections of CBCT. The value of mental index (MI) and panoramic mandibular index (PMI) were also assessed. RESULTS: The mean value of diametric measurements for all neurovascular canals and foramina in MRONJ patients were narrower than controls. Left mandibular foramen was the most affected area (p<0.001). There were significantly difference in all measurements of mental foramen, lingual foramen and mandibular incisive canal between two groups (p<0.05). PMI of MRONJ subjects were also significantly differences in both sides (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In MRONJ patient, neurovascular canals and foramina are affected due to the alterations in bone remodeling. Therefore, the diametric measurement of neurovascular canals and assessment of MI and PMI on CBCT, is a potentially useful method for detection of early changes associated with bisphosphonate therapy and for predict areas where new necrosis may occur.

Serum human epididymis protein 4 can be a useful tumor marker in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses during pregnancy: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate serum concentrations of human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) and cancer antigen 125 (CA 125) in healthy women and their pregnant counterparts to determine the influence of pregnancy on these biomarkers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum concentrations of CA 125 and HE4 were measured in 27 healthy non-pregnant women and 26 healthy pregnant women in the first and second trimesters. RESULTS: Higher concentration of CA 125 was found in pregnants than in non-pregnant women (p = 0.002). There was no difference in CA 125 concentrations between first and second trimesters (p = 0.13). Serum HE4 concentration was not different in pregnant group compared to non-pregnant women (p = 0.510). Likewise, no difference was found in HE4 levels between the trimesters (p = 0.485). There was a positive correlation between increasing parity and CA 125 (p = 0.023), but not HE4 (p = 1.0). CONCLUSION: HE4 serum biomarker is unaffected by pregnancy status and may be useful for evaluation of doubtful pelvic masses in pregnancy. Contrarily, increased serum levels of CA 125 could yield increased number of false-positive results.

Prediction of lymph node metastasis based on tumor size in stage 1A endometrioid endometrium cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Endometrium cancer (EC) is the most prevalent cancer affecting women in developed countries. There is debate about the need to perform lymphadenectomy in cases with a tumor diameter >2 cm. The aim of our study is to research the prediction of lymph node metastasis using tumor size in stage 1A endometrioid endometrium cancer (EEC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled cases operated in the clinic due to stage 1A EEC (FIGO 2009) from December 2010-2021. The correlations of age, age interval, parity, type of operation, tumor diameter, myometrial invasion, histological grade, and lymph node metastasis were statistically analyzed. The cut-off point for tumor size was determined with the ROC curve and Youden index. RESULTS: The study analyzed a total of 292 cases, and the mean age of cases was 62.3±10.0 years. Of the cases, 79.5% had histological grade 1, and 20.5% had grade 2. Myometrial invasion ≤50% was detected in 69.5%, and no myometrial invasion was detected in 30.5%. The mean tumor diameter was 34.0±18.0. Lymph node metastasis was identified in 6 cases (2.1%). Based on the tumor diameter cut-off value of 35 mm, sensitivity was 100%, and specificity was 50.3%. 116 cases with tumor diameter >35 mm and 176 with diameter ≤35 mm, and grade 2 histology and lymph node positivity were found statistically significant between these groups (respectively, p=0.012 and p=0.038). The lymph node metastasis risk was 0% in cases with tumor diameter ≤35 mm, while it was 5.2% in cases with tumor diameter >35 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The general approach in stage 1A EEC is not to perform lymphadenectomy. However, when the tumor diameter is noted, lymphadenectomy may be considered as the lymph node metastasis risk increases in cases with a tumor diameter of 35 mm or more. There is a need for more clinical studies on this topic.

The role of shear wave elastography in predicting endometrial cancer in patients presenting with abnormal uterine bleeding.

OBJECTIVE: Shear Wave Elastography (SWE) is an objective quantitative ultrasound elastography technique that can demonstrate the stiffness of anatomical structures to aid in their detection and characterization. We aimed to evaluate the role of shear wave elastography in differentiating endometrial carcinoma from benign uterine pathologies in women with abnormal uterine bleeding. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This prospective study was conducted at our institution from January 2020 to April 2020. A hundred patients with endometrial sampling planned and SWE due to abnormal uterine bleeding were included in the study. According to the histopathological results of the patients, those with normal and atrophic endometrium results were defined as group I (control group), those with benign results such as polyps and endometrial hyperplasia were defined as group II, and those with endometrial cancers were defined as group III. RESULTS: After adjustment for age, a statistically significant difference was found in Emean (mean and adjusted mean) value between the study groups (F2.96=86.37, p<.001, η2=0.64). The post-hoc analysis was performed with a Bonferroni adjustment. The mean Emean value was found to be statistically significantly higher in group III (17.14±0.40) compared to group I (10.39±0.26) and group II (11.49±0.32) (p<0.001). In addition, a statistically significant difference was found between the benign and normal groups. CONCLUSIONS: As a new diagnostic technique in gynecology, elastography appears to be a valuable tool in differentiating malign endometrial pathologies from normal or benign endometrial pathologies in females with abnormal uterine bleeding.

Effect of lymph node sampling type on oncologic outcomes in endometrial cancers: comprehensive pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy vs. sentinel lymph node mapping with indocyanine green.

OBJECTIVE: Sentinel lymph node biopsy refers to an innovative and minimalist surgical approach that has been introduced to reduce both complications and morbidity. A definitive answer to the question of whether lymphadenectomy is performed for staging or curative purposes in endometrial cancer has not yet been found. The aim of this study is to compare patients who underwent sentinel lymph node biopsy with indocyanine green and those who underwent laparoscopic complete surgical staging in terms of survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 182 patients was included in the study. The patients were divided into two groups according to the lymph node sample type. The two groups were compared in terms of oncological outcomes. RESULTS: 92 patients underwent sentinel lymph node mapping (SLNM cohort) and 90 patients underwent extensive pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy (SCL cohort). Considering only patients with negative lymph nodes, the Sentinel cohort was associated with a reduced DFS and OS (p=0.008 and p=0.005, respectively). This difference may be due to the longer follow-up times of patients with comprehensive lymph node sampling. On the other hand, There was no difference in survival in lymph node positive cases. CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node dissection has no negative effect on survival in lymph node positive patients.

Is HPV-negative cervical carcinoma a different type of cervical cancer?

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus (HPV), which is known to play a very important role in genital area (vulva, vagina, and cervix) cancers in women, is responsible for almost all cervical cancers. However, a significant proportion of cervical carcinomas (approximately 7%) is HPV-negative. Therefore, there are still two important questions to be answered: 1. Why is HPV  Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) not found in all cervical carcinomas? 2. Are HPV-DNA-negative cervical cancers a specific subgroup of cervical cancers with different biological behavior (worse prognosis)? In this article, we aimed to evaluate the clinicopathological characteristics and survival of patients with confirmed HPV-negative tumors in order to answer these two questions. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 97 patients who underwent HPV-DNA testing and received a histological diagnosis of cervical cancer were included in the study. 14 HPV-DNA negative and 83 HPV-DNA positive cervical carcinoma patients were detected. Demographic profiles, clinicopathological characteristics, progression-free, and overall survival of all patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Women with HPV-negative tumors were diagnosed at an older age range (p=0.05), and their demographic data other than age range were similar to HPV-positive tumors. P16 staining pattern was not observed in any of the HPV-negative tumors (p=0.001), and a positive P53 staining pattern was detected in 35.7% of the HPV-negative tumors. Although disease-free survival (PFS) (p=0.224) and overall survival (OS) (p=0.219) were worse in the HPV-negative patient group, this difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: HPV-negative cervical cancers do not have a poor prognosis unlike their counterparts in other anatomical regions where HPV-associated tumors are present.

Lymph node size detected by magnetic resonance imaging for prediction of lymph node involvement in locally advanced cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate lymph node (LN) size detected by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for prediction of LN involvement in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 55 cases diagnosed with LACC (IIB-IVA FIGO 2018) between 28 December 2010 and 30 October 2020 were evaluated in this retrospective study. LN involvement was evaluated in patients who underwent surgical staging and MRI. The prediction of LN involvement based on LN size on MRI was calculated statistically. RESULTS: The mean age of 55 patients was 56 (33-78) years. For the cases, 76.4% were stage IIB, 12.7% were stage III, and 10.9% were stage IVA. Squamous cell histological type was detected with a rate of 90.9%. The cut-off value for pelvic LN diameter on MRI in predicting pelvic LN involvement was 18.5 mm, and the sensitivity and specificity values were calculated as 50.0% and 93.6%, respectively (p=0.027). The cut-off value for pelvic and para-aortic LN diameter on MRI in predicting pelvic and para-aortic LN involvement was 17.0 mm with a sensitivity of 41.7% and specificity of 88.4% (p=0.081). CONCLUSIONS: In LACC, prediction of LN involvement by LN diameter detected on MRI has moderate sensitivity and high specificity with a cut-off value of 17.0 mm.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphism and risk of premature myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma homocysteine level is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. A common mutation (nucleotid 677C-T) in the gene coding for methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) has been reported to reduce the enzymatic activity of MTHFR and is associated with elevated plasma levels of homocysteine, especially in subjects with low folate intake. HYPOTHESIS: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase T/T genotype may be a risk factor for premature MI in Turkish population who are known to have low folate levels. METHODS: The study group was comprised of 96 men (aged <45 years) with premature myocardial infarction (MI) and 100 age- and gender-matched controls who had no history or clinical evidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and/or MI. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction, restriction mapping with HinfI, and gel electrophoresis. Conventional risk factors for CAD were prospectively documented. RESULTS: Allele and genotype frequencies among cases and control subjects were compatible with Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The frequencies of T/T, C/T, and C/C genotypes among patients with MI and control subjects were 15.6, 40.6, and 43.8%, and 5, 35, and 60%, respectively. Multivariate analyses identified smoking, MTHFR C/T polymorphism, diabetes mellitus, family history of CAD, and hypertension as the independent predictors of premature MI. Defining patients with non-T/T genotype (C/C and C/T combined) as reference, the relative risk of MI for subjects with T/T genotype was 5.94 (95% confidence interval: 1.96-18.02, p = 0.0016). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that C677T transition in the MTHFR gene may be a risk factor for premature MI in Turkish men.