[Biomarkers and uterine cervical cancer. Are they useful for prognosis of cancer and triage of precancerous lesions?]. / Biomarqueurs et cancers du col. Sont-ils utiles au pronostic du cancer et au triage des lésions précancéreuses?

Biomarkers are "keys" of oncogenesis. Many applications are soon possible as gene therapy and vaccination. Authors have reviewed different aspects of classical prognosis factors and examined new possibilities of prognosis and selection of precancerous lesions as ASCUS by biomarkers. Ag SCCTA4, HPV typing, microangiogenesis, are the main biomarkers in cervical cancers.

[Is systematic clinical breast examination in women still indicated?]. / L'examen clinique systématique des seins féminins, est-il toujours d'actualité?

Screening for breast cancer is not generalized in France. In order to evaluate any change in clinical practice, we reviewed three cohorts of one hundred successive breast cancers diagnosed in a geographical area without a breast screening campaign, starting in 1978, 1999 and 1996. The proportion of T1 (UICC) shifted from 32% to 50% and the rate of positive nodes among these T1 patients from 63% to 26% from the 1978 cohort to the 1996 cohort. There was an unchanged proportion (20%) of T4 patients in all three cohorts. Conservative treatment improved from 32% to 78% (p > 0.001). Systematic clinical breast examination should be strongly encouraged to lower the high proportion of T4 patients.

[Mixed endoscopic colposuspension (retroperitoneal and vaginal) for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence: technique and preliminary results]. / La colposuspension endoscopique mixte (rétropéritonéale et vaginale) pour traitement de l'incontinence urinaire d'effort féminine: technique et résultats préliminaires.

Preliminary results of a mixed technique of cervical bladder suspension by retroperitoneal laparoscopy and vaginal route. 35 patients, average age 55 years with stress incontinence. Every patients had positive Bonney test. Associated lesions were prolapse (72%). In this retrospective study, we give technique in details. Average operative time: 65 minutes. Average hospital stay: 5.4 days. Success rate: 89%. Retzius hematoma were treated by laparoscopy. Average lapse of time: 10.5 months. Interesting technique in associated prolapse.

Endoscopic exploration and lymph node sampling of the axilla. Preliminary findings of a randomized pilot study comparing clinical and anatomo-pathologic results of endoscopic axillary lymph node sampling with traditional surgical treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the technique of endoscopic exploration of the axilla. To compare this technique to open surgical treatment by comparing the following variables: operative time, peri-operative complications, duration of hospital stay, node's histology and morphologic aspects and esthetic results. MATERIALS: Standard instruments for traditional operative laparoscopy plus a lipo-aspirator (0.8 Bar). PATIENTS: Forty patients, 20 (group A) undergoing open surgery and 20 (group B) undergoing axilloscopy. All patients with early invasive breast cancer are eligible for conservative operative treatment. METHOD: Randomized study. The technique is described and preliminary results are presented. RESULTS: The operative time for axilloscopy is approximately double that for open surgery. A comparable number of lymph nodes is collected by axilloscopy and open surgery. The nodes collected by axilloscopy are more likely to be fractured. What is the clinical consequence? Two loco-regional relapses are observed in the endoscopic group. DISCUSSION: Axillary sampling by endoscopic procedure gives the same pathologic information than surgical axillary sampling. Anatomo-pathologic aspects of nodes and possibilities of relapses were two drawbacks of this procedure. CONCLUSION: Operative time is increased for axilloscopy compared with open surgery. The techniques yield comparable anatomo-pathologic results. It is still unknown whether this endoscopic technique is as effective as traditional surgery or if the frequency or severity of lymphedema is decreased by the endoscopic approach.

Sacrospinous ligament fixation by palpation: variation of the Richter procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To present our method of sacro-spinous ligament fixation by palpation and compare it to the classical approach described by Richter. MATERIAL: In addition to the standard instruments needed for vaginal surgery, we use a Rasemond dissector, a small O'Shaugnessy dissector with smooth branches. We also use a Bengolea forceps and a monothread-nylon (Ethilon), decimal 4 suture loaded on a needle with a 30-mm curve. PATIENTS: Twenty patients underwent this procedure from 03/15/1978 to 05/19/1995. Their ages ranged from 46 to 86 years with a mean age of 64.7 years. METHOD: This was a retrospective study of the indications, results and complications associated with this technique. RESULTS: With an average follow-up of 7 years, we observed 90% success, 10% recurrences, and no complication directly attributable to this technique. This technique is valuable because of its effectiveness and simplicity. CONCLUSIONS: Sacrospinous fixation by palpation is more simple and provides the same results as the classic exposure technique. We describe the technique in this text. The efficacy of sacro-spinous ligament fixation by palpation would be improved by its systematic and bilateral use. Its value must be confirmed by a controlled prospective study to confirm our impression that our technique carries fewer risks.

[Carcinoma in situ of the breast: 10 cases]. / Le carcinome in situ du sein: 10 cas.

The authors have reviewed 10 cases of carcinoma in situ of the breast, which they were able to isolate from 180 invasive cancers of the breast that were operated on during the same period of time. (These rare lesions occasionally occur at the same time as an invasive cancer; then they increase the risk of local recurrences). When they occur by themselves in situ cancers of the breast tend to be duct cancers or lobular cancers. Duct lesions are more common. They do, in a significant proportion of cases, become invasive. The authors point out the value of more mammographies being taken to diagnose these duct carcinomas in the breast in order to work out the correct treatment. They think it is important to delay making a decision as to the surgical procedure to be adopted until the report on the histology of the specimen taken for biopsy has been received. For a long time total mastectomy was the only treatment: the results were too good... (some patients were overtreated). The present tendency is to limit the operation (to segmental excision) in cases where the lesion is limited. Mastectomy is reserved for cases that are spread out. Carrying out irradiation after widespread segmental excision increases the risks of local recurrences. Clearing the whole area has only to be considered when there are widespread forms of the condition. Lobular cancers in situ are marker lesions and have to be followed up very carefully indeed. The authors illustrate their article with some anatomopathological specimens and mammographies that they have come across.