Prognostic significance of positive peritoneal cytology in endometrial cancer patients.

Although peritoneal cytology has been shown to be an independant predictor of survival in endometrial cancer, the present international federation of gynaecology and obstetrics (FIGO) staging system does not involve it for risk stratification. This work aimed to assess the prognostic importance of PPC (positive peritoneal cytology) in endometrial cancer patients. The medical profiles of uterine carcinoma patients were reviewed who were referred to Khatam-al- Anbia and Bahman hospital within 2010-2019. The factors possibly affecting peritoneal fluid cytology in all patients were analysed. There was a considerable association between survival and the number of lymph nodes involvement (95% CI = 2.5 - 12.51, OR = 5.59, p < .001), stage 3 (95% CI = 2.95-22.10, OR = 7.12, p < .001), stage IV (95% CI = 2.14 - 30.09, OR = 8.04, p < .001), Grade (95% CI = 4.4-47.7, OR = 14.54, p < .001). Positive peritoneal cytology was revealed in our study, as an independent prognostic factor in patients with endometrial cancer. Impact statementWhat is already known on this subject? Peritoneal cytology is one of the independent risk factors for poor survival for endometrial cancer, but international federation of gynaecology and obstetrics (FIGO) staging system does not involve it for risk stratification.What do the results of this study add? Positive peritoneal cytology was revealed in our study, as an independent prognostic factor in patients with endometrial cancer.What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? It is recommended peritoneal cytology for future FIGO staging reviews. Till now, peritoneal washings need to be still regarded as a key part for precise risk-stratification.

Can primary optimal cytoreduction be predicted in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer preoperatively?

INTRODUCTION: Prediction of optimal cytoreduction in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian caner preoperatively. METHODS: Patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent surgery for the first time from Jan. to June 2008 at gynecologic oncology ward of TUMS (Tehran University of Medical Sciences) were eligible for this study. The possibility of predicting primary optimal cytoreduction considering multiple variables was evaluated. Variables were peritoneal carcinomatosis, serum CA125, ascites, pleural effusion, physical status and imaging findings.Univariate comparisons of patients underwent suboptimal cytoreduction carried out using Fisher's exact test for each of the potential predictors. The wilcoxon rank sum test was used to compare variables between patients with optimal versus suboptimal cytoreduction. RESULTS: 41 patients met study inclusion criteria. Statistically significant association was noted between peritoneal carcinomatosis and suboptimal cytoreduction. There were no statistically significant differences between physical status, pleural effusion, imaging findings, serum CA125 and ascites of individuals with optimal cytoreduction compared to those with suboptimal cytoreduction. CONCLUSIONS: Because of small populations in our study the results are not reproducible in alternate populations. Only the patient who is most unlikely to undergo optimal cytoreduction should be offered neoadjuvant chemotherapy, unless her medical condition renders her unsuitable for primary surgery.

Pelvic mass due to transmigrated IUD.

Intrauterine device (IUD), a conventional method of contraception is rarely associated with uterine perforation and extra uterine dislocation. A 29 years old woman complaining of vaginal bleeding was referred for pelvic mass identified in ultrasound. The mass was confirmed with CT scan. In laparatomy we found an IUD in cul-de-sac and pelvic mass was apparently an organized hematoma. Transmigrated IUD can induce organized hematomas presenting as a pelvic mass.

Term delivery following successful treatment of choriocarcinoma with brain metastases, a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral metastases from choriocarcinoma are a poor prognostic indicator of outcome in both the World Health Organization and FIGO classification systems. Although gestational trophoblastic neoplasia has become the most curable of gynecological malignancies, failure rate among "high-risk" patients is still high despite of the use of aggressive multidrug regimens. CASE: A 27-year-old woman (G(4)P(2)Ab(1)) presented with hemiplegia due to brain metastases of choriocarcinoma 1 year after spontaneous abortion. She underwent craniotomy and was treated with nine courses of multiple agent etoposide, methotrexate, actinomycin- etoposide, and cisplatinum (EMA-EP) regimen combined with whole brain irradiation. She delivered a term healthy child 2 years after termination of treatment. CONCLUSION: Multiagent EMA-EP chemotherapy and whole brain irradiation with craniotomy in selected patients preserves fertility and may improve a patient overall prognosis.

Ovarian carcinoma associated with pregnancy: a clinicopathologic analysis of 23 cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to analyze and describe cases of ovarian cancer in pregnant women treated at our center and to review the literature concerned, and to discuss the rationale for therapy. METHODS: Twenty-Three patients of ovarian malignancies during pregnancy were treated at Vali- Asr Hospital between 1991 and 2002. Data on treatment and follow-up were evaluated. RESULTS: The incidence of ovarian carcinoma associated with pregnancy in our series was 0.083/1000 deliveries. Eleven (47.8%) were found with ovarian malignant germ cell tumors, five (21.7%) with low malignant potential tumors, four (17.4%) with invasive epithelial tumors, and three (13%) with sex cord stromal tumors. Seventeen (73.9%) of the patients were diagnosed in stage I and had complete remission. Five of the six in advanced stage died. The mean follow-up was 36.3 months. The prognosis was significantly related with stage and histological type (P < 0.05). Sixteen healthy live babies were recorded in this group, and two premature newborn died of respiratory distress syndrome. Chemotherapy was administered to 44% of the patients, in two cases during pregnancy. Overall survival at 5 years was 61%. In most of case conservative surgical treatment could be performed with adequate staging and debulking. CONCLUSION: Early finding of ascitis by ultrasound and persistent large ovarian mass during pregnancy may be related to malignancy and advanced stage. Pregnant women in advanced stage of ovarian cancer seem to have poor prognosis.

Radical hysterectomy in the elderly.

BACKGROUND: The considerable increase in life expectancy on one hand and an increase in cervical cancer among Iranian patients on the other, brings out the importance of investigating whether radical surgery can be performed safely and effectively on patients above 60 years of age. METHODS: In a study of historical cohort, all 22 patients 60 years and above who have undergone a Wertheim radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer from 1999 to 2005 were compared with 128 matched cases under 60 years of age who had undergone a Wertheim hysterectomy during the same calendar year. All patients were analyzed for preexisting medical comorbidities, length of postoperative stay, morbidity, and postoperative mortality. RESULTS: There was no operative mortality in either group, morbidity (minor, p = 0.91; major, p = 0.89) were statistically not different in the two groups despite the patient's above 60 years having significantly higher comorbidity prior to surgery than the younger cohort (minor, P < 0.05; major, P < 0.05). The mean postoperative hospital stay was significantly longer in the older patients (5 days vs. 3 days, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Wertheim Radical hysterectomy is a safe surgical procedure in the selected population of patients 60 years and over. No differences in operative mortality or morbidity were found when compared to a cohort of patient's aged 60 years or younger.

Clinical assessment, gross examination, frozen section of ovarian masses: do patients benefit?

OBJECTIVE: The overall risk of malignancy in ovarian neoplasm is 13% in premenopausal women and 45% in postmenopausal women. Differentiating benign and malignant disease with frozen section is possible during operation; however, information on patients' history, physical examination, paraclinical criteria (tumour markers, imaging) and gross examination of tumour can also be helpful in planing the surgery. METHODS: This study was conducted on 150 women who underwent laparotomy due to adnexal mass between April 2003 and October 2005 at Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran, Iran. Sensitivity and specificity of clinical assessment (history, tumour marker and imaging), gross examination and frozen section were calculated. RESULTS: Based on our findings frozen section had the highest sensitivity for diagnosing malignant tumour comparing with other methods of diagnosis (88.9%). Sensitivity was 71.3% for preoperative clinical examination, 83% for ultrasonography, 89.8% for CT scan, 70% for CA125 and 84.1% for gross examination, likewise the highest specificity was seen for frozen section (93.5%). CONCLUSION: This data confirm that frozen section diagnosis is a reliable method for the surgical management of patients with an ovarian mass, but history of disease, Para clinical criteria and gross examination can help to surgeon to perform on appropriate operation in the areas where frozen section is not possible.

Dysgerminoma in three patients with Swyer syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Dysgerminoma is the most common malignant germ cell tumor of the ovary. This malignancy can be associated with pure gonadal dysgenesis or Swyer syndrome, mixed gonadal dysgenesis and partial gonadal dysgenesis. CASE PRESENTATION: Dysgerminoma developed in 3 phenotypic female patients with 46 XY pure gonadal dysgenesis. All patients presented first with abdominopelvic mass. Laparatomy was done. 46 XY karyotype was made by lymphocyte culture. Then these patients underwent gonadectomy that histopathology results were streak ovaries without evidence for malignancy. Two patients received postoperative adjuvant therapy. CONCLUSION: In Patients with Swyer syndrome the risk of dysgerminoma is high and gonadectomy is recommended. Also 5% of dysgerminomas are discovered in phenotypic female and 46 XY karyotype, thus in adolescent with dysgerminoimas and amenorrhea, karyotype should be done.

Low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma of uterine corpus, a clinico-pathological and survey study in 14 cases.

BACKGROUND: Endometrial stromal sarcoma (ESS) is a rare disease with probably less than 700 new cases in the USA or Europe per year. The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (LGESS) in relation to their clinical and pathological features and to identify possible prognostic factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fourteen patients with histologically proven ESS were included in the analysis. Endometrial stromal sarcoma is characterized by proliferations composed of cells with Endometrial stromal cell differentiation. Low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma has an infiltrating margin and typically show extensive worm-like vessel invasion. RESULTS: The median age was 44.35 +/- 6 years. The most common presenting symptom was vaginal bleeding, occurring in twelve patients (86%). Diagnosis was made through Fractional dilatation and curettage in four patients (28.5%). Eight patients had a total abdominal hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy (57%). Radiotherapy as adjuvant therapy was administered to four patients (28.5%). The median follow-up time was 45.6 months (range 24-84). The median overall survival of the 14 patients was 45.35 +/- 21 months (range 20-83). Three of 14 patients demonstrated a recurrence of disease at 9, 72, and 96 months respectively. The recurrent diseases were treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. No patient died of the disease. Clinico-pathological parameters did not significantly differ between patients with and without recurrence, but patients with no myometrial invasion and low mitotic count < or = 5/HPF showed longer disease-free survival. CONCLUSION: Five-year survival rate was 93%. Survival probabilities were calculated by the product limit method of Kaplan and Meier that showed, patients with no myometrial invasion and low mitotic count < or = 5/HPF have longer disease-free survival, but P value was not significant.

Cervical cancer: screening and prevention.

Cancer of the cervix is the second most common life-threatening cancer among women worldwide and both incidence and mortality rates are likely to be underestimated in developing countries. HPV high risk strains play at least the major if not an absolutely necessary role in the etiology. The concept of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) was introduced in 1968 as an equivalent to the term dysplasia, which means abnormal maturation. Cervical cancer progresses slowly from preinvasive CIN to invasive cancer and therefore screening for dysplasia is an important public health effort worldwide, given the accessibility of the primary organ site, the acceptability of current screening methods, and the long preinvasive period in which to detect disease and successfully intervene. It is widely accepted that detection and treatment of HPV-related dysplastic epithelial change in the form of CIN-2 and CIN-3 can prevent the development of invasive cervical cancer in individual patients. The mainstay of screening programs has been the Pap smear, introduced originally by George Papanicolaou in 1941. However, considerable numbers of false-negative Pap smears may occur with the traditional Pap technique, mostly due to sampling error. More recently, the use of liquid-based technologies such as ThinPrep and AutoCyte Prep have gained popularity, in part because of evidence suggesting reduction in the incidence of inadequate smears. It is also hoped that the ability to identify patients with oncogenic HPV types will lead to improved detection in women more likely to have squamous intraepithelial lesions. Hybrid Capture 2 is the latest refinement of HPV tests and has been described as having enhanced sensitivity. HPV DNA testing can be used as an adjunct to cytology in routine cervical disease screening programs. Establishment of the link between HPV and cervical cancer has further provided the impetus for research into prophylactic vaccination against the most common HPV types associated with the disease, HPV 16 and 18. Initial studies have provided evidence that L1 virus-like particle vaccines against HPV types (as monovalent, bivalent, or quadrivalent vaccines) prevent at least 90% of incident and persistent infections and their associated precursors of cervical cancer. This vaccine has sustained long-term vaccine efficacy against incident and persistent infections and in the long term should provide an answer to the cervical cancer problem. For the vast majority of women who have already been infected, however, continued screening and resection need to be emphasized.

Long term remission of metastatic placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT): Case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is a rare and unique form of gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD). This tumor represents a neoplastic transformation of intermediate trophoblastic cells. We document a case of long term remission in a patient with metastatic PSTT. CASE PRESENTAION: A 27-year-old patient with metastatic PSTT was treated with combination therapy (chemotherapy and surgery). Patient is alive after 10 years without any evidence of recurrence. Literature on PSTT was searched using Medline and cross references, and pertinent articles were reviewed. CONCLUSION: With surgery and chemotherapy it is possible to achieve long-term remission in metastatic PSTT. Only a handful of previously reported cases with prolonged remission had been treated with the described combined chemotherapy and surgical approach. We suggest that this approach may be recommended for metastatic PSTT.

A case-control study to evaluate urinary tract complications in radical hysterectomy.

BACKGROUND: This study has evaluated urinary tract injuries and dysfunction after Radical Hysterectomy (RH) performed in patients with cervical cancer and has compared the cystometric parameters and urinary complications occurring in these patients with those occurring in patients who had undergone Simple Hysterectomy (SH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective case-control study was conducted to evaluate urinary tract injuries (intra-operative and post-operative) and dysfunction in 50 patients undergoing RH for cervical cancer and to compare them with the same parameters in 50 patients who underwent SH for benign disease. RESULTS: Mean age in the RH group was 46.3 years and in the SH group was 50.1 (p = 0.63). There were no bladder and urethral injuries in either group of patients. There was one intra-operative ureteral injury in the RH patients but none in those who underwent SH. (p < 0.05). In the two weeks after surgery, 15% of RH patients and 11% of SH patients had experienced a urinary tract infection urinary tract infection (p = 0.61). Two week after surgery 62% of RH patients had no urinary symptoms, compared to 84% in the SH group who did (p < 0.02). Urinary residual volume, first urinary sensation and maximal bladder capacity were higher in the RH group, but this was not statistically significant. The only case of a urinary fistula appeared in a patient who received 5000 cGy radiation therapy pre-operatively, but this spontaneously healed after 3 weeks of catheterization. CONCLUSIONS: Intra-operative and post-operative urinary tract complications are comparable in patients undergoing RH and SH and an expert gynaecological oncologist might be able to further decrease complications. However, radiation therapy before surgery may increase the risk of complications.

The importance of re-examination with deep biopsies in diagnosing cervical malignancies despite multiple negative pathology reports: A case report.

INTRODUCTION: Clinical symptoms of female genital tract lymphoma are often non-specific, and mimic other more common gynecological malignancies. Diagnosis can only be confirmed by histology. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of a 48-year-old multiparous woman who underwent subtotal hysterectomy because of enlarged myomatous uterus and persistent heavy vaginal bleeding. "2 months later", postoperative pelvic and abdominal CT scan performed because of flank pain, revealed bilateral hydronephrosis. Pelvic and colposcopic exam and cervical biopsy under anesthesia showed benign histology, as reported by two pathologists. Referral to a third pathologist and immunohistochemical (IHC) exam revealed malignant lymphoproliferative disorder. CONCLUSION: Despite multiple negative pathology reports of the cervical biopsies, bimanual pelvic exam with deep biopsies by a gynecologist, allowed accurate final diagnosis of this unusual case.

The WHO score predicts treatment outcome in low risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia patients treated with weekly intramuscular methotrexate.

BACKGROUND: Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) includes a spectrum of disease ranging from hydatidifrom mole to choriocarcinoma. Low risk GTN is defined as persistent molar pregnancy with a WHO score lower than seven. The optimal chemotherapeutic regimen still remains controversial. AIM: The objectives of this study was to determine efficacy and safety of weekly intramuscular methotrexte in the treatment of low risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia.(LRGTN) and also identify prognostic factors associated with treatment failure, necessitating second line chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty-six women with LRGTN from 2001 to 2009 were treated with weekly intramuscular methotrexate at 40 mg/m 2 as first line therapy.Monitoring of treatment was done with weekly checking of ßhCG level. Three consecutive negative ßhCG measurements showed complete response. After first negative ßhCG measurement, one additional dose was administered for consolidation. RESULTS: Of 66 patients, who started the treatment five continued their treatment in other medical centres and were excluded from final analysis for treatment evaluation, and seven discontinued first line therapy because of hepatotoxicity. Of the remaining 54, complete remission occurred in 43 (79.6%) and eleven were resistant to first line therapy. Mean WHO score prior to starting chemotherapy was significantly different between two groups of response and resistance according to our data. Change of treatment to second line Actinomycin-D was necessary in eighteen cases because of resistance to first line in eleven and liver enzyme elevation in seven patients. Sixteen of these 18 responded to Actinomycin-D as second line and one needed hysterectomy for complete response. One patient received multiagent chemotherapy for complete remission. CONCLUSION: We recommend this effective and safe method of chemotherapy for women with LRGTN. According to our data, lower mean WHO score predicts a better outcome for this regimen.

Risk factors and clinical aspects of recurrent invasive cervical carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Recurrence of cervical cancer is one of the important and plausible discussions in oncology especially in patients with advanced stages. The purpose of this study was to introduce probability invasive cervical carcinoma recurrence as well as determining characteristics and the prognostic factors of this entity. METHODS: A retrospective study was designed to identify risk factors and pattern of uterine cervical carcinoma recurrence evaluating the outcome of 36 registered patients. Recurrence was defined based on clinical or para-clinical documentation over at least 6 months after complete remission following surgery or radiotherapy. Treatment consisted of a radiosurgical combination and exclusive radiotherapy. RESULTS: Mean age in selected patients is 54.8 ± 12.0 years. The pathological reports of primary diagnosis are squamous cell carcinoma in 94.44 % and adenocarcinoma in remaining patients. Mean duration of recurrence among patients is 2.75 ± 1.5 years after the initial treatment. Metrorrhagia is mostly revealing symptom which patients present in recurrent episode. Usually, the recurrence of cervical cancer is presented in pelvic cavity locally. Marginal involvement is documented in 50 % of cases and lymph node in 33.3 % of patients with recurrent episode being involved. Most important prognostic factors are improper treatment (16.66 % of cases) after initial diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Prognostic factors such as selection of appropriate method for treatment are an important point for reducing the rate of recurrence. Moreover, warning patients about symptoms and frequent episodes of follow up is necessary for early diagnosis of recurrence.

Major surgeries performed for gestational trophoblastic neoplasms in a teaching hospital in Tehran, Iran.

OBJECTIVE: This study aim was to evaluate indications and outcomes of surgical interventions performed in patients with gestational trophoblastic neoplasm. METHODS: During January 1995 to December 2005, 110 patients with a diagnosis of persistent gestational trophoblastic neoplasm were treated in our Gynecologic Oncologic Department. Risk score calculation was carried out based on the revised FIGO 2000 scoring system for gestational trophoblastic neoplasm. Data from the patients' records and pathologic reports were analyzed by the chi-square and Fisher's exact tests and logistic regression. The Kaplan-Meier method including the log rank test was used to compare survival and recurrence. RESULTS: Eight patients did not complete their treatment and were excluded from the study. We evaluated treatment responses and outcomes in 102 patients. Seventy-nine patients (77.5%) responded fully to chemotherapy while 23 patients (22.5%) required surgery. Among 23 patients who underwent surgery, 10 cases (43.5%) had bleeding, and 13 cases (56.5%) had drug resistance. Several factors were found to be significantly different between the groups who responded to chemotherapy and those who needed surgery, including age (p=0.001), antecedent non-molar pregnancy (0.028), tumor stage (p=0.009), and pre-treatment risk scores (p=0.008). But, the total courses of chemotherapy (p=0.521), need to salvage chemotherapy (p=0.074), survival rates (p=0.714), and disease free survival rates (p=0.206) were not significantly different. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that age, antecedent non-molar pregnancy, tumor stage and the prognostic score are clinical predictors of need for surgery. But, it dose not seem that surgery have any effect on the total course of chemotherapy, need for salvage chemotherapy, and patient prognosis.

Low grade endometrial stromal sarcoma of uterine: review of 17 cases.

Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS) are the second most common uterine sarcomas. Endometrial stromal sarcomas account for 0.25% of all uterine malignancies. Uterine sarcomas most often affect postmenopausal women. The aim of this retrospective study was to review the experience in the treatment and clinical outcome of low grade malignant endometrial stromal sarcoma. Seventeen patients with histologically proven low grade ESS in department of Gynecologic Oncology of the Vali-e-Asr Hospital, Tehran-Iran, between 1999 and 2008 were included in the analysis. Demographics, pathology, treatment, time to recurrence, salvage therapy and survival information was collected. The median age of our patients was 45.35 ± 6.8 (range 36-61). The median parity of the patients was 5 (range 0-8). Most patients were diagnosed at FIGO stage I. The mean survival for patients with stage I and II was 73.5 ± 35.09 and 57.6 ± 5.37 months, respectively, with mortality rate of 5.9% through a median follow-up time of 68.82 ± 30 months. Of 17 patients, seven cases (35.29%) were disease free at 6 years after hysterectomy. Radiotherapy was administered to four patients (23.53%). Only one patient recurred at 10th month after surgery. Surgeries not preserving ovarian function were helpful to decrease the risk of recurrence compared with those sparing ovarian function.

Uterine malignancy following tamoxifen use in breast cancer patients in Iran: case series and literature review.

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated tumor characteristics and survival in women with breast cancer who subsequently developed uterine cancer. METHODS: Information about endometrial cancer in tamoxifen users following breast cancer refered to the gynecologic oncology clinic of Vali-Asr hospital between 1997-2007 was evaluated. RESULTS: Among 330 patients with endometrial cancer, 5 were in women previously diagnosed with breast cancer. Two cancers were malignant mixed Mullerian tumors of the uterus (MMMT), 2 were endometrioid adenocarcinomas, and one was a papillary clear cell carcinoma. Patients received tamoxifen for 4-8 years. The endometrial cancers occurred 2-11 years after initial treatment for the breast cancers. Four of the endometrial cancers featured abnormal uterine bleeding and one of them had increased vaginal discharge and all were diagnosed on endometrial curetting. All patients received standard surgical staging for endometrial cancer and all except one were stage I. At laparotomy of one patient, an advanced stage MMMT was found with diffused peritoneal spread and ascites. In spite of the surgery, she died of disease, 3 months later. The other patients remain recurrence-free for breast cancer and uterine cancer after 6-120 months. CONCLUSION: Breast cancer patients who use tamoxifen and have early stage endometrial cancers demonstrate a good prognosis. Abnormal uterine bleeding or vaginal discharge are the most important symptoms.

Preoperative prognostic factors and effects of adjuvant therapy on outcomes of early stage cervical cancer in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics and the pretreatment that might predict prognosis and to evaluate the impact of postoperative adjuvant therapy on the outcomes of patients with early stage cervical carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 203 patients with stage IB and stage II cervical cancers treated with radical hysterectomy and systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy were reviewed at the Vali-Asr University Hospital from 1995 to 2002. The median follow-up period was 42 months. RESULTS: The depth of cervical stromal invasion, clinical stage, histology of pure adenocarcinoma and lymph node (LN) status were important histopathological prognostic factors of cervical carcinoma. Patients' prognosis could be stratified into three groups (low, intermediate and high risk), with five-year relapse free survival (RFS) rates of 93.5%, 80.6% and 64.7%, respectively (p=0.002), and overall survival (OS) was 95.3%, 83.1% and 67.2% (p=0.001). Among the patients with pelvic lymph node metastases who were free of parametrial extension, those who received postoperative chemo-radiotherapy had significantly better RFS (p=0.021) and OS (p=0.030) than those who received no adjuvant therapy. Also of the patients without pelvic LN metastases but at a high risk of recurrence, the individuals who received adjuvant radiotherapy had a significantly more favorable RFS (p=0.038 ) and a marginally improved OS (p=0.064). CONCLUSION: Depth of cervical stromal invasion, clinical stage and histology are independent predictors of outcome on multivariate analysis using a Cox regression model. RFS is significantly improved with radiotherapy in patients who are without pelvic lymph node metastases but who are in a high risk group for recurrence.

Effects of tamoxifen on the cervix and uterus in women with breast cancer: experience with Iranian patients and a literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Invasive breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women. Due to the declining mortality rate that is partly attributable to the use of screening mammography and effective adjuvant therapy, more women survive their breast cancers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of tamoxifen on the genital tract with particular attention to the uterus and cervix. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between tamoxifen and cervical or uterine cancer in Iran, reviewing all the studies performed by the Vali-Asr Gynecology Oncology Clinic in Tehran. In addition, the available data on Medline from 1980 until 2009 were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of 182 articles showed associations with gynecologic malignancies. Although as many as 121 referred to links between the drug and endometrial abnormalities (polyps or cancers), 55 articles studied the relationship with changes of pap smears, four of which indicated isolated cervical metastasis followed tamoxifen use in patients with breast cancer. CONCLUSION: In spite of the significant relationship between tamoxifen and endometrial cancers, cervix is rarely involved in breast cancer patients. However, vaginal bleeding or abnormal vaginal discharge has been reported in all cases before the diagnosis was made. To rule out genital tract malignancy, it is necessary, therefore, to have an annual pelvic exam, pap smear and early endometrial with endocervical curettage for tamoxifen users following a breast cancer in those with abnormal uterine bleeding or persistent vaginal discharge.