Association with pregnancy increases the risk of local recurrence but does not impact overall survival in breast cancer: A case-control study of 87 cases.

Pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) constitutes 7% of all BCs in young women. The prognosis of PABC remains controversial. In this study, we evaluated the impact of the association of pregnancy with BC on the rates of overall survival (OS), disease free survival (DFS), and distant and local recurrence-free survival. We conducted a retrospective unicenter case-control study. We enrolled PABC patients treated at our institution between 1992 and 2009. For each case, 2 BC controls were matched for age and year of diagnosis. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess the parameters associated with prognosis. Eighty-seven PABC patients were enrolled and matched with 174 controls. The univariate analysis did not reveal any significant differences in OS, DFS or distant recurrence rates between the 2 groups. Pregnancy associated status, a tumor larger than T2 and neoadjuvant chemotherapy as the primary treatment were significantly associated with an increased risk of local relapse. The multivariate analysis showed that the pregnancy associated status and the tumor size were strong prognostic factors of local recurrence. Pregnancy associated status negates the prognostic value of tumor size, as both T0-T2 and T3-T4 PABC patients have the same poor prognosis as control BC patients with T3-T4 tumors. Interestingly, although PABC patients have more locally advanced tumors, they did not have a higher rate of radical surgery than the control BC patients. Pregnancy associated status is a strong prognostic factor of local relapse in BC. In PABC patients, when possible, radical surgery should be the preferred first treatment step.

[Fertility following myomectomy by laparotomy in women aged over 38]. / Fertilité après myomectomie par laparotomie pour les femmes de plus de 38 ans.

OBJECTIVES: Uterine fibroids is the most common benign pathology during reproductive age. Fibroids are implicated as a possible cause of infertility. The mechanism of infertility may depend on the size and the location of the fibroids and remain unclear. Myomectomy is performed in case of symptomatic patients who want to preserve their reproductive potential or in case of infertile patients. There are few data concerning fertility following abdominal myomectomy in patients over the age of 38. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Retrospective study of a case series. Assessment of reproductive outcome after abdominal myomectomy among patients older than 38 years. RESULTS: Abdominal myomectomy was performed on 34 patients aged over 38 during. Among these patients, 25 (74%) were contacted and 15 (60%) tried to obtain a pregnancy. Seven patients (46%) needed a new intervention. Five patients (33%) required intra-uterine insemination or in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer postoperatively. Three patients obtained a pregnancy and two (13%) had a delivery. All pregnancies were obtained spontaneously. None infertile or nulliparous woman before surgery became pregnant postoperatively. CONCLUSION: After 38 years old, nulliparity and infertility before abdominal myomectomy seem to be a factor of poor prognostic to become pregnant after surgery.

[Peritoneal closure using absorbable knotless device during laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy]. / Péritonisation avec un fil cranté résorbable sans nœud en cours de promontofixation laparoscopique.

Laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy is one of the gold standards of pelvic organ surgery. However, this intervention is associated with long operation duration. One of the steps of this intervention (peritoneal closure) can be shortened using several methods of suturing (e.g. staples). Recently, a self-anchoring barbed suture has been described for wound closure. The goal of this initial feasibility study was to describe the use of the barbed suture (V-Loc™) in peritoneal closure during laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy.

Essure sterilization associated with endometrial ablation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and the outcome of Essure sterilization associated with different techniques of endometrial ablation. METHOD: Retrospective study conducted among 23 women with confirmed menometrorrhagia and with the desire for or the medical need for permanent tubal sterilization. Patients underwent combined hysteroscopic placement of Essure and hysteroscopic endometrial resection procedures: ThermaChoice (n=14), NovaSure (n=4), Hydrothermablator (n=2) and endometrial resection using monopolar energy (n=1), or bipolar energy (n=2). RESULTS: Fallopian tubes were successfully cannulated bilaterally in 87% of the cases (20/23). No adverse event was reported. Adequate bilateral occlusion was confirmed for all patients (20/20) by 3D ultrasound and pelvic X-ray at a 3-month follow-up. Furthermore, 85% of these patients were satisfied with the results of the procedure, all experiencing a significant reduction in menstrual blood loss (Higham blood loss score). CONCLUSION: Combining EA and hysteroscopic sterilization seems to be feasible and efficient in patients with menometrorrhagia.

[Adenomyosis]. / Adénomyose.

Diagnostic adenomyosis is done by pathologist (grade A). Adenomyosis is usually asymptomatic (grade C). Symptomatic adenomyosis gives pains and/or bleedings (grade C). Hysterosalpingography is not included in diagnostic strategy (grade B). Sonography has a good sensitivity and can be exclusively used for therapeutic strategy (grade B). MRI is pertinent but only useful in case of associated lesions (grade B). Hysterectomy is the gold standard for symptomatic patients without desire of pregnancy (grade B). Medical treatments are: IUD with levonorgestrel, Gn-RH analog, antigonadotrope progestin (grade C). Uterine artery embolisation is not recommended (professional agreement). Endometrial resection/destruction are indicated in case of menorraghia (grade C).

Prepubic and thigh abscess after successive placement of two suburethral slings.

We present a case of prepubic and thigh abscess after the placement of two types of suburethral slings in a 65-year-old woman suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The first surgical procedure (prepubic tension-free vaginal tape) was unsuccessful. Thus, 2 months later, we placed an ObTape sling by transobturator approach. This second procedure was successful. Seven months later, the patient presented with vaginal erosion of the sling with no inflammatory signs. The suburethral portion of the sling was immediately removed and the vagina was sutured. Nine months later, a prepubic abscess occurred and required removal of the prepubic sling, drain placement, and antibiotic therapy. Unfortunately, 9 months later, a thigh abscess occurred. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allowed precise diagnosis and anatomic localization of the thigh abscess. Surgery consisted of opening and draining the abscess and removing the transobturator sling. At 6 months follow-up, no persistent inflammatory sign was observed on MRI, and SUI did not recur.

[Management of ten patients with complete septate uterus: hystersocopic section of and obstetrical outcome]. / Prise en charge chirurgicale des patientes présentant un utérus cloisonné total: à propos de 10 cas.

INTRODUCTION: Septate uterus is the principal müllerian anomaly, but complete septate uterus is uncommon and often associated with frequent obstetrical complications. Surgical section of the septum is however possible. MATERIAL AND METHOD: We report patients with a complete septum uterus operated in our department between 2002 and 2006. We performed a hysteroscopic section of the cervical, uterine and vaginal septum at discovery of the anomaly. The accuracy of imaging exams, frequency of associated malformations, past obstetrical events and reproductive outcome post surgery were analyzed. RESULTS: The surgical technique was based on section of the cervical part with scissors and hysteroscopic section of the uterine septum; no perforation was noted. Four patients required a second procedure to achieve complete uterine section. Five patients became pregnant after surgery, 8 pregnancies are reported: 2 term delivery, 1 preterm delivery, 4 miscarriages and 1 ectopic pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Complete surgical section of the cervical and uterine septum in case of complete septum uterus is safe. However, we cannot conclude about the obstetrical benefit of this surgical technique. A longer follow-up is needed.