Causative Mutations and Mechanism of Androgenetic Hydatidiform Moles.

Androgenetic complete hydatidiform moles are human pregnancies with no embryos and affect 1 in every 1,400 pregnancies. They have mostly androgenetic monospermic genomes with all the chromosomes originating from a haploid sperm and no maternal chromosomes. Androgenetic complete hydatidiform moles were described in 1977, but how they occur has remained an open question. We identified bi-allelic deleterious mutations in MEI1, TOP6BL/C11orf80, and REC114, with roles in meiotic double-strand breaks formation in women with recurrent androgenetic complete hydatidiform moles. We investigated the occurrence of androgenesis in Mei1-deficient female mice and discovered that 8% of their oocytes lose all their chromosomes by extruding them with the spindles into the first polar body. We demonstrate that Mei1-/- oocytes are capable of fertilization and 5% produce androgenetic zygotes. Thus, we uncover a meiotic abnormality in mammals and a mechanism for the genesis of androgenetic zygotes that is the extrusion of all maternal chromosomes and their spindles into the first polar body.

Directive clinique no 408 : Prise en charge des maladies gestationnelles trophoblastiques.

OBJECTIF: Cette directive passe en revue l'évaluation clinique et la prise en charge des maladies gestationnelles trophoblastiques, notamment les traitements chirurgicaux et médicamenteux des tumeurs bénignes, prémalignes et malignes. L'objectif de la présente directive clinique est d'aider les fournisseurs de soins de santé à rapidement diagnostiquer les maladies gestationnelles trophoblastiques, à normaliser les traitements et le suivi et à assurer des soins spécialisés précoces aux patientes dont l'atteinte est maligne ou métastatique. PROFESSIONNELS CONCERNéS: Gynécologues généralistes, obstétriciens, médecins de famille, sages-femmes, urgentologues, anesthésistes, radiologistes, anatomopathologistes, infirmières autorisées, infirmières praticiennes, résidents, gynécologues-oncologues, oncologues médicaux, radio-oncologues, chirurgiens, omnipraticiens en oncologie, infirmières en oncologie, pharmaciens, auxiliaires médicaux et autres professionnels de la santé qui traitent des patientes atteintes d'une maladie gestationnelle trophoblastique. La présente directive vise également à fournir des renseignements aux parties intéressées qui prodiguent des soins de suivi à ces patientes après le traitement. POPULATION CIBLE: Femmes en âge de procréer atteintes d'une maladie gestationnelle trophoblastique. OPTIONS: Les femmes ayant reçu un diagnostic de maladie gestationnelle trophoblastique doivent être orientées vers un gynécologue afin qu'il réalise une évaluation initiale, envisage une intervention chirurgicale primaire (évacuation ou hystérectomie) et effectue un suivi. Il y a lieu d'orienter les femmes ayant reçu un diagnostic de tumeur trophoblastique gestationnelle vers un gynécologue-oncologue afin qu'il effectue la stadification tumorale, établisse le score de risque et envisage l'intervention chirurgicale primaire ou un traitement systémique (mono- ou polychimiothérapie) et la nécessité d'éventuels traitements supplémentaires. Il est recommandé de discuter de chaque cas de néoplasie gestationnelle trophoblastique lors d'une réunion multidisciplinaire de cas oncologiques et de l'inscrire dans une base de données centralisée (régionale et/ou nationale). DONNéES PROBANTES: Des recherches ont été effectuées au moyen des bases de données Embase et MEDLINE, du Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials et de la Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews afin de trouver les études publiées depuis 2002 utilisant un ou plusieurs des mots clés suivants : trophoblastic neoplasms, choriocarcinoma, trophoblastic tumor, placental site, gestational trophoblastic disease, hydatidiform mole, drug therapy, surgical therapy, radiotherapy, cure, complications, recurrence, survival, prognosis, pregnancy outcome, disease outcome, treatment outcome et remission. La recherche initiale a été effectuée en avril 2017; une mise à jour a été faite en mai 2019. Les données probantes pertinentes ont été sélectionnées aux fins d'inclusion selon l'ordre suivant : méta-analyses, revues systématiques, directives cliniques, essais cliniques randomisés, études de cohortes prospectives, études observationnelles, revues non systématiques, études de séries de cas et rapports. D'autres articles pertinents ont été trouvés en recoupant les revues répertoriées. Le nombre total d'études relevées était de 673, dont 79 études sont citées dans la présente revue. MéTHODES DE VALIDATION: Le contenu et les recommandations ont été rédigés et acceptés par les auteurs. La direction et le conseil d'administration de la Société de gynéco-oncologie du Canada ont passé en revue le contenu de la version préliminaire et ont soumis des commentaires à prendre en considération. Le conseil d'administration de la Société des obstétriciens et gynécologues du Canada a approuvé la version définitive aux fins de publication. La qualité des données probantes a été évaluée au moyen des critères de l'approche GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation). Consulter les tableaux dans l'annexe en ligne pour connaître les critères de notation et d'interprétation des recommandations. BéNéFICES, RISQUES, COûTS: Les présentes recommandations aideront les médecins à diagnostiquer rapidement les maladies gestationnelles trophoblastiques et à orienter de façon urgente les patientes ayant reçu un diagnostic de maladie gestationnelle trophoblastique en gynécologie oncologique pour une prise en charge spécialisée. Le traitement des néoplasies gestationnelles trophoblastiques en centre spécialisé combiné à l'utilisation de bases de données centralisées permet de recueillir et de comparer des données sur les résultats thérapeutiques des patientes atteintes de ces tumeurs rares et d'optimiser les soins aux patientes. DÉCLARATIONS SOMMAIRES (CLASSEMENT GRADE ENTRE PARENTHèSES): RECOMMANDATIONS (CLASSEMENT GRADE ENTRE PARENTHèSES).

Guideline No. 408: Management of Gestational Trophoblastic Diseases.

OBJECTIVE: This guideline reviews the clinical evaluation and management of gestational trophoblastic diseases, including surgical and medical management of benign, premalignant, and malignant entities. The objective of this guideline is to assist health care providers in promptly diagnosing gestational trophoblastic diseases, to standardize treatment and follow-up, and to ensure early specialized care of patients with malignant or metastatic disease. INTENDED USERS: General gynaecologists, obstetricians, family physicians, midwives, emergency department physicians, anaesthesiologists, radiologists, pathologists, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, residents, gynaecologic oncologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, general practitioners in oncology, oncology nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, and other health care providers who treat patients with gestational trophoblastic diseases. This guideline is also intended to provide information for interested parties who provide follow-up care for these patients following treatment. TARGET POPULATION: Women of reproductive age with gestational trophoblastic diseases. OPTIONS: Women diagnosed with a gestational trophoblastic disease should be referred to a gynaecologist for initial evaluation and consideration for primary surgery (uterine evacuation or hysterectomy) and follow-up. Women diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia should be referred to a gynaecologic oncologist for staging, risk scoring, and consideration for primary surgery or systemic therapy (single- or multi-agent chemotherapy) with the potential need for additional therapies. All cases of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia should be discussed at a multidisciplinary cancer case conference and registered in a centralized (regional and/or national) database. EVIDENCE: Relevant studies from 2002 onwards were searched in Embase, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Cochrane Systematic Reviews using the following terms, either alone or in combination: trophoblastic neoplasms, choriocarcinoma, trophoblastic tumor, placental site, gestational trophoblastic disease, hydatidiform mole, drug therapy, surgical therapy, radiotherapy, cure, complications, recurrence, survival, prognosis, pregnancy outcome, disease outcome, treatment outcome, and remission. The initial search was performed in April 2017 and updated in May 2019. Relevant evidence was selected for inclusion in the following order: meta-analyses, systematic reviews, guidelines, randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, observational studies, non-systematic reviews, case series, and reports. Additional significant articles were identified through cross-referencing the identified reviews. The total number of studies identified was 673, with 79 studies cited in this review. VALIDATION METHODS: The content and recommendations were drafted and agreed upon by the authors. The Executive and Board of Directors of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada reviewed the content and submitted comments for consideration, and the Board of Directors for the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada approved the final draft for publication. The quality of evidence was rated using the criteria described in the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology framework. See the online appendix tables for key to grading and interpretation of recommendations. BENEFITS: These guidelines will assist physicians in promptly diagnosing gestational trophoblastic diseases and urgently referring patients diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia to gynaecologic oncology for specialized management. Treating gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in specialized centres with the use of centralized databases allows for capturing and comparing data on treatment outcomes of patients with these rare tumours and for optimizing patient care. SUMMARY STATEMENTS (GRADE RATINGS IN PARENTHESES): RECOMMENDATIONS (GRADE RATINGS IN PARENTHESES).

Comprehensive analysis of 204 sporadic hydatidiform moles: revisiting risk factors and their correlations with the molar genotypes.

Hydatidiform mole (HM) is an aberrant human pregnancy characterized by excessive trophoblastic proliferation and abnormal embryonic development. HM has two morphological types, complete (CHM) and partial (PHM), and non-recurrent ones have three genotypic types, androgenetic monospermic, androgenetic dispermic, and triploid dispermic. Most available studies on risk factors predisposing to different types of HM and their malignant transformation mainly suffer from the lack of comprehensive genotypic analysis of large cohorts of molar tissues combined with accurate postmolar hCG follow-up. Moreover, 10-20% of patients with one HM have at least one non-molar miscarriage, which is higher than the frequency of two pregnancy losses in the general population (2-5%), suggesting a common genetic susceptibility to HM and miscarriages. However, the underlying causes of the miscarriages in these patients are unknown. Here, we comprehensively analyzed 204 HM, mostly from patients referred to the Quebec Registry of Trophoblastic Diseases and for which postmolar hCG monitoring is available, and 30 of their non-molar miscarriages. We revisited the risk of maternal age and neoplastic transformation across the different HM genotypic categories and investigated the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in their non-molar miscarriages. We confirm that androgenetic CHM is more prone to gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) than triploid dispermic PHM, and androgenetic dispermic CHM is more prone to high-risk GTN and choriocarcinoma (CC) than androgenetic monospermic CHM. We also confirm the association between increased maternal age and androgenetic CHM and their malignancies. Most importantly, we demonstrate for the first time that patients with an HM and miscarriages are at higher risk for aneuploid miscarriages [83.3%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.653-0.944] than women with sporadic (51.5%, 95% CI: 50.3-52.7%, p value = 0.0003828) or recurrent miscarriages (43.8%, 95% CI: 40.7-47.0%, p value = 0.00002). Our data suggest common genetic female germline defects predisposing to HM and aneuploid non-molar miscarriages in some patients.

Correction: Comprehensive analysis of 204 sporadic hydatidiform moles: revisiting risk factors and their correlations with the molar genotypes.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Pleomorphic Undifferentiated Uterine Sarcoma in a Young Patient Presenting With Elevated Beta-hCG and Rare Variants of Benign Leiomyoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a malignant mesenchymal neoplasm showing smooth muscle differentiation. Uterine LMS is more frequent that nonuterine LMS, and represents 1% of all malignant neoplasms of the uterus. Pleomorphic undifferentiated uterine sarcoma is a rare entity, and is defined by high-grade sarcoma histology with loss of muscular markers. Several cases of pleomorphic undifferentiated uterine sarcoma have been reported in the literature, with worse clinical outcome when compared with conventional LMS. Here we report the first case of a pleomorphic undifferentiated uterine sarcoma in association with LMS in a 33 yr old woman. The patient presented clinically with recurrent vaginal bleeding and suspicion of a trophoblastic tumor. Ancillary testing revealed moderately elevated beta-hCG (49.7 U/L) and no metastatic disease on imaging. Gross examination of the hysterectomy specimen revealed a large heterogenous necrotic uterine mass infiltrating <50% of the myometrium. Microscopic evaluation showed pleomorphic undifferentiated uterine sarcoma adjacent to a nodule of leiomyoma with bizarre nuclei, with loss of myogenic markers in the high grade component. Other findings included a foci of conventional LMS, and diffuse uterine leiomyomatosis. Although beta-hCG dropped to normal levels during follow-up, the patient developed metastatic lesions to the lung at 6 mo postop. Initial elevation of beta-hCG may have correlated with the aggressive histology of the tumor, as reported by some groups previously. Recognition of pleomorphic undifferentiated uterine sarcoma and its distinction from conventional LMS is essential for patient prognosis and management.

Distinct Histologic, Immunohistochemical and Clinical Features Associated With Serous Endometrial Intraepithelial Carcinoma Involving Polyps.

The origin of serous endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (SEIC) is debated, due to its premalignant and independently malignant nature. It often arises next to endometrial serous carcinoma (ESC), with a propensity for polypoid growth. We aimed to better characterize this discrepancy by analyzing the clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical features of polypoid carcinoma associated with SEIC (P-SEIC), and compared them with usual endometrial serous carcinoma without SEIC (UESC). Consecutive patients with P-SEIC were recruited and compared with UESC controls from our institutional research center. Clinical, histologic, and immunohistochemical (IHC, ER, PR, P53, Napsin-A, WT1, P16) were analyzed. BRCA testing results and familial history were also extracted from clinical databases. Welch T test, Pearson χ, and Fisher exact test were performed in SPSS version 23. A total of 37 P-SEIC and 25 UESC were the basis of a case-control study. P-SEIC was associated with more bilateral ovarian involvement (P=0.026), yet showed lower rates of myometrial invasion (P=0.002). P-SEIC showed a statistically different IHC profile: p53+, p16+, ER+, PR+, and WT-1+, and high rates of Napsin-A, while UESC was p53+, p16+, WT-1-, Napsin-A-, with lower rates of ER and PR. We also identified 2 patients who received prophylactic salpingo-oophorectomy for BRCA mutations and who subsequently developed P-SEIC with its unique IHC pattern. Our results suggest different underlying expression profiles and possibly diverging molecular signatures between both P-SEIC and UESC. If confirmed in further molecular studies, it could lead to a distinct molecular subclass.

Green versus blue: Randomized controlled trial comparing indocyanine green with methylene blue for sentinel lymph node detection in endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To ascertain the increase in detection rate of sentinel lymph node (SLN) associated with the use of indocyanine green (ICG) in comparison with methylene blue dye in women with endometrial cancer. METHODS: For this randomized controlled trial, all patients underwent SLN mapping after injection of blue dye on one side of the cervix and ICG on the other side. Randomization was for the side (right vs. left) on which ICG was used so that each patient's contralateral hemipelvis (HP) served as a control to her ipsilateral HP. We performed a two-tailed, normal-approximate McNemar test for paired-matched data. The primary endpoint was the difference in SLN detection rate for each HP according to the dye used. RESULTS: This trial included 132 patients, and 46 patients underwent robotic-assisted surgery while 86 had standard laparoscopic surgery. Successful detection of SLN was 90.9% using ICG and 64.4% using blue dye (p < 0.0001). There were no differences in the duration of the SLN procedure (median 10 min per HP) and number of SLN per HP (mean 1.2) according to the dye used. The SLN detection rates for either dye were very similar whether the surgical approach was robotic (mean BMI 45) or laparoscopic (mean BMI 29). Crossover of dye to the contralateral HP was present in 3% of cases. CONCLUSION: The use of ICG instead of blue dye results in a 26.5% (95% CI 17.4%-35.6%) increase of SLN detection rates per HP in women with endometrial cancer.

The genetics of recurrent hydatidiform moles: new insights and lessons from a comprehensive analysis of 113 patients.

Hydatidiform mole is an aberrant human pregnancy characterized by early embryonic arrest and excessive trophoblastic proliferation. Recurrent hydatidiform moles are defined by the occurrence of at least two hydatidiform moles in the same patient. Fifty to eighty percent of patients with recurrent hydatidiform moles have biallelic pathogenic variants in NLRP7 or KHDC3L. However, in the remaining patients, the genotypic types of the moles are unknown. We characterized 80 new hydatidiform mole tissues, 57 of which were from patients with no mutations in the known genes, and we reviewed the genotypes of a total of 123 molar tissues. We also reviewed mutation analysis in 113 patients with recurrent hydatidiform moles. While all hydatidiform moles from patients with biallelic NLRP7 or KHDC3L mutations are diploid biparental, we demonstrate that those from patients without mutations are highly heterogeneous and only a small minority of them are diploid biparental (8%). The other mechanisms that were found to recur in patients without mutations are diploid androgenetic monospermic (24%) and triploid dispermic (32%); the remaining hydatidiform moles were misdiagnosed as moles due to errors in the analyses and/or their unusual mechanisms. We compared three parameters of genetic susceptibility in patients with and without mutations and show that patients without mutations are mostly from non-familial cases, have fewer reproductive losses, and more live births. Our data demonstrate that patients with recurrent hydatidiform moles and no mutations in the known genes are, in general, different from those with mutations; they have a milder genetic susceptibility and/or a multifactorial etiology underlying their recurrent hydatidiform moles. Categorizing these patients according to the genotypic types of their recurrent hydatidiform moles may facilitate the identification of novel genes for this entity.

Impact of Acetic Acid on HPV Testing Using Hybrid Capture 2.

As per the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology guidelines, human papillomavirus (HPV) testing is currently used as part of cervical cancer screening and during colposcopy follow-up. The present project evaluated if the application of acetic acid (AA) impacts HPV test results. METHODS: We conducted a prospective nonrandomized interventional study. Participants referred for colposcopy were eligible if immunocompetent, older than 18 years, and not pregnant. Women in group A (controls) received 2 consecutive HPV tests without application of AA. Women in group B had a first HPV sample collected before the application of AA and a second sample collected 3 minutes after application of AA. Samples were tested for HPV DNA with Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) according to the manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: From October 17, 2012, to January 10, 2013, approximately 101 women were recruited in 2 colposcopy clinics. In each group, concordance was 98%, with only 1 participant having discordant results (testing negative on the first sample and positive on the second sample). We found no statistically significant difference in relative light units(RLUs) between groups (median of difference, - 0.02 vs -0.05 RLU; p = .93). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that acetic acid at concentrations of 3% to 5% and sequential cervical sampling do not modify the result of HPV testing by Hybrid Capture 2.

Gestational Trophoblastic Disease: Opportunities for a National Registry Collaboration.

OBJECTIVE: In rare entities such as gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD), only multi-institutional registries can gather significant number of patients to build up valuable clinical databases. No Canada-wide GTD registry currently exists. We conducted a survey among members of the Canadian Society of Gynecologic Oncology (GOC) to investigate their interest in a pan-Canadian GTD registry. We also took the opportunity to explore their management of GTD. METHODS: An electronic survey was conducted. The target group was the entire GOC Canadian Membership. The survey consisted of 25 questions. RESULTS: The survey participation rate was 39% (67/171). Seventy-six percent of responders treat patients with molar pregnancy or gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN), and the majority treat only 5 or less cases of molar pregnancy and 5 or less cases of GTN per year. In cases of low-risk GTN, 80% of responders use generally recommended single-agent chemotherapy regimens. In cases of high-risk GTN, 76% use generally recommended multiagent chemotherapy regimens. Most respondents do not submit either molar pregnancy or GTN patients to any formal registry, although the vast majority (92%) would do so if they had access to a registry, given that most believe that a registry can or probably can help patients with GTD. Responders indicated that the jurisdiction of such a registry should be national (59%), provincial (25%), and regional (11%). CONCLUSIONS: Despite some variation, responders were generally knowledgeable about contemporary management issues. Canadian Society of Gynecologic Oncology members acknowledge generally low exposure to GTD patients in Canada and support the creation of a national GTD registry to facilitate optimal patient care, education, and research.

Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Vaginal Vault Brachytherapy With or Without Pelvic Radiotherapy for Stage 1 Papillary Serous or Clear Cell Endometrial Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess and compare adjuvant chemotherapy followed by either high-dose-rate vaginal vault brachytherapy (VBT) alone or combined with pelvic external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics stage 1 serous or clear cell (CC) endometrial cancer. METHODS: Between 2006 and 2012, 84 women with stage 1 serous or CC endometrial cancer were evaluated postoperatively for adjuvant treatment at our hospital. More than 80% of patients had pelvic lymphadenectomy. Patients declining or not completing adjuvant treatments were excluded. Twenty-five women received 4 to 6 cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel followed by EBRT and VBT. Thirty-two women received 6 cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel followed by VBT. Locoregional control and toxicities were assessed during follow-up. RESULTS: The 3-year disease-free survival and overall survival rates for the VBT group compared with the EBRT + VBT group were 88% versus 84%, P = 0.6, and 100% versus 94%, P = 0.6, respectively. Only 1 patient in the EBRT + VBT group developed a distant recurrence. One patient had grade 3 toxicity (chronic gastrointestinal [GI] toxicity) in the EBRT + VBT group. Acute grade 1-to-2 GI and grade 1 genitourinary (GU) toxicities were less frequent in the VBT group compared with the EBRT + VBT group (P = 0.008 and P = 0.019, respectively). Late GI and GU toxicities were comparable. Grade 1 vaginal toxicity was similar in both groups. No acute or late grade 2 GU or vaginal toxicities were reported. CONCLUSIONS: According to this study, VBT alone seems to be as effective as EBRT and VBT for stage 1 serous and CC endometrial cancer treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Furthermore, less acute GI and GU toxicities were seen in the VBT group.

Quebec Trophoblastic Disease Registry: how to make an easy-to-use dynamic database.

OBJECTIVE: To create an easy-to-use dynamic database designed specifically for the Quebec Trophoblastic Disease Registry (RMTQ). INTRODUCTION: It is now well established that much of the success in managing trophoblastic diseases comes from the development of national and regional reference centers. Computerized databases allow the optimal use of data stored in these centers. METHODS: We have created an electronic data registration system by producing a database using FileMaker Pro 12. It uses 11 external tables associated with a unique identification number for each patient. Each table allows specific data to be recorded, incorporating demographics, diagnosis, automated staging, laboratory values, pathological diagnosis, and imaging parameters. RESULTS: From January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2013, we used our database to register 311 patients with 380 diseases and have seen a 39.2% increase in registrations each year between 2009 and 2012. This database allows the automatic generation of semilogarithmic curves, which take into account ß-hCG values as a function of time, complete with graphic markers for applied treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery). It generates a summary sheet for a synthetic vision in real time. CONCLUSIONS: We have created, at a low cost, an easy-to-use database specific to trophoblastic diseases that dynamically integrates staging and monitoring. We propose a 10-step procedure for a successful trophoblastic database. It improves patient care, research, and education on trophoblastic diseases in Quebec and leads to an opportunity for collaboration on a national Canadian registry.

Vulvar trichoblastoma: case report and literature review.

OBJECTIVE: Trichoblastomas are rare and benign tumors that arise from rudimentary hair follicles. Presentation varies from superficial plaques to papular or nodular lesions. Trichoblastomas usually arise on the head or neck. A few cases of other vulvar trichoblastic tumors such as trichofibromas and trichoepitheliomas have been reported to this day, but no such report of vulvar trichoblastoma exists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We report the case of a 61-year-old woman who presented with a vulvar trichoblastoma. The woman presented with a lump of the labium majus. She was managed surgically, first by wide excision of the mass followed by a second surgery consisting of a partial vulvectomy. Because surgical margins were positive and there is a potential for malignant transformation, a third surgery was performed. The margins came back negative. A literature review on trichoblastomas was performed, including its potential for malignant transformation, management, and immunohistochemistry to differentiate it from basal cell carcinoma. RESULTS: Trichoblastomas are benign tumors that have a potential for malignant transformation. These tumors can present aggressive characteristics. Differential diagnosis from basal cell carcinoma can be difficult but is facilitated using immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first case of vulvar trichoblastoma reported in the literature. Although it is a benign tumor, excision with negative margins is recommended because it can be difficult to distinguish from basal cell carcinoma and it has a potential for malignant transformation.

Improved computer-assisted analysis of the global lymphatic network in human cervical tissues.

Lymphatic dissemination is a key event in cervical cancer progression and related tumor lymphatic markers are viewed as promising prognostic factor of nodal extension. However, validating such parameters requires an objective characterization of the lymphatic vasculature. Here, we performed a global analysis of the lymphatic network using a new computerized method applied on whole uterine cervical digital images. Sixty-eight cases of cervical neoplasia (12 CIN3, 10 FIGO stage 1A and 46 stage IB1) and 10 cases of normal cervical tissue were reacted with antibodies raised against D2-40, D2-40/p16 and D2-40/Ki67. Immunostained structures were automatically detected on whole slides. The lymphatic vessel density (D2-40), proliferating lymphatic vessel density (D2-40/ki67) and spatial lymphatic distribution in respect to the adjacent epithelium were assessed from normal cervix to early cervical cancer and correlated with lymphovascular space invasion and lymph node status. Prominent lymphatic vessel density and proliferating lymphatic vessel density are detected under the transformation zone of benign cervix and no further increase is noted during cancer progression. Notably, a shift of lymphatic vessel distribution toward the neoplastic edges is detected. In IB1 cervical cancer, although intra- and peritumoral lymphatic vessel density are neither correlated with lymphovascular space invasion nor with lymph node metastasis, a specific spatial distribution with more lymphatic vessels in the vicinity of tumor edges is predictive of lymphatic dissemination. Herein, we provide a new computerized method suitable for an innovative detailed analysis of the lymphatic network. We show that the transformation zone of the benign cervix acts as a baseline lymphangiogenic niche before the initiation of neoplastic process. During cancer progression, this specific microenvironment is maintained with lymphatic vessels even in closer vicinity to tumor cells.

Extramammary Paget disease: epidemiology and association to cancer in a Quebec-based population.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to further characterize the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, pathology, immunopathology, outcome from therapy, and associated underlying malignancy in extramammary Paget disease (EMPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of patients treated for EMPD in our tertiary care center during a 23-year period ranging from 1985 to 2008. RESULTS: Sixty-four cases of EMPD were diagnosed during this period. Mean age at diagnosis was 66.8 years. Of the patients, 79.7% were female. Tumors were mostly localized on the vulvoperineal region. Associated cancers were found in 30% of the patients and included breast cancer and urogenital cancers. Of the patients, 42% had a least 1 recurrence. The risk of recurrence could only be associated to tumor location on the vulvoperineal region. The limitations of this study include its retrospective nature and sample size. CONCLUSIONS: Extramammary Paget disease is more commonly found on the vulva of older women and frequently recurs. Recurrence was not associated to margin status, which would support a more conservative therapeutic approach.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA triage of women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance with cobas 4800 HPV and Hybrid Capture 2 tests for detection of high-grade lesions of the uterine cervix.

The triage of women with high-risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive smears for atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) to colposcopy is now an integrated option in clinical guidelines. The performance of cobas 4800 HPV and that of Hybrid Capture 2 (HC2) for HR HPV DNA detection in cervical samples in PreservCyt were compared in 396 women referred to colposcopy for ASC-US. Of these, 316 did not have cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), 47 had CIN1, 29 had CIN2 or CIN3 (CIN2+), and 4 had CIN of unknown grade. HR HPV was detected in 129 (32.6%) and 149 (37.6%) samples with HC2 and cobas 4800 HPV, respectively (P = 0.15). The clinical sensitivities and specificities for detecting CIN2+ were 89.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 72.8 to 97.2%) and 66.7% (95% CI, 61.7 to 71.3%) with cobas 4800 HPV and 93.1% (95% CI, 77.0 to 99.2%) and 72.2% (95% CI 67.4 to 76.5%) with HC2. The performance of cobas 4800 HPV was similar to that of HC2 for identifying women with ASC-US who would benefit the most from colposcopy.

Determinants of lymph node count in endometrial cancer surgical staging.

OBJECTIVE: Lymphadenectomy is a fundamental procedure in gynecologic oncology, but there is an ongoing debate concerning its indication in endometrial cancer. Lymph node (LN) count has been used as a surrogate marker for quality of staging in endometrial cancer. Because of variability in reported LN counts in the literature and within our practice, we aimed to better understand the factors that influence the final LN count in endometrial cancer staging. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective case study of patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgical staging at our institution between April 1, 2005, and February 3, 2007. Linear regression was used to determine the association between LN count and a series of predictor variables. RESULTS: Of 131 patients, 100 patients (76%) had stage I disease and 9 patients (7%) had LN metastasis. The mean (SD) LN count was 9.5 (7.8). We found no significant difference in LN count according to age, tumor histology, stage, or surgeon. Lymph node count decreased by 1 for each 5-unit (kg/m(2)) increase in body mass index (coefficient, -0.2; P = 0.038). The strongest predictor associated with LN count was the pathologist, with 2 groups of pathologists counting an average 7.7 (P < 0.001) and 6.42 (P = 0.001) fewer LNs per case compared to the referent group. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that LN count varies markedly. Although not the only contributor, the pathologist, we found, was the most significant determining factor in LN count variation. This highlights the need to exercise caution when drawing conclusions from published LN counts in endometrial cancer research.

NLRP7 in the spectrum of reproductive wastage: rare non-synonymous variants confer genetic susceptibility to recurrent reproductive wastage.

BACKGROUND: NLRP7 mutations are responsible for recurrent molar pregnancies and associated reproductive wastage. To investigate the role of NLRP7 in sporadic moles and other forms of reproductive wastage, the authors sequenced this gene in a cohort of 135 patients with at least one hydatidiform mole or three spontaneous abortions; 115 of these were new patients. METHODS/RESULTS: All mutations were reviewed and their number, nature and locations correlated with the reproductive outcomes of the patients and histopathology of their products of conception. The presence of NLRP7 mutations was demonstrated in two patients with recurrent spontaneous abortions, and some rare non-synonymous variants (NSVs), present in the general population, were found to be associated with recurrent reproductive wastage. These rare NSVs were shown to be associated with lower secretion of interleukin 1ß and tumour necrosis factor and therefore to have functional consequences similar to those seen in cells from patients with NLRP7 mutations. The authors also attempted to elucidate the cause of stillbirths observed in 13% of the patients with NLRP7 mutations by examining available placentas of the stillborn babies and live births from patients with mutations or rare NSVs. A number of severe to mild placental abnormalities were found, all of which are known risk factors for perinatal morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend close follow-up of patients with NLRP7 mutations and rare NSVs to prevent the death of the rare or reduced number of babies that reach term.