[Pregnancy after gynecologic or breast cancer]. / Grossesse après cancer gynécologique ou mammaire.

Breast cancer often occurs in women of childbearing age, many of whom go on to have children. Several studies suggest that pregnancy does not worsen the outcome of breast cancer, and that a history of breast cancer does not affect the outcome of pregnancy. The timing of pregnancy after breast cancer should take into account the risk of recurrence and metastasis. Conservative surgical treatment for cervical cancer may increase the risk of late fetal loss or preterm birth. Candidates for conservative treatment of ovarian and endometrial cancer must be carefully selected, as recurrence during or after pregnancy is not uncommon.

Effect of a speculum blade on dynamic MRI evaluation of pelvic organ prolapse.

We aimed to evaluate whether the use of a speculum blade modifies the evaluation of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) as assessed by dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Twenty-seven women with POP Quantification (POPQ) stage II or greater, scheduled for POP surgery, were evaluated using MRI. The procedure was repeated using the posterior blade of a standard plastic Grave's speculum to successively retract the anterior and posterior vaginal walls. Standard POPQ was 15% stage II (n =4), 59% stage III (n =16) and 26% stage IV (n =7). The use of a blade evidenced hidden pelvic prolapsed compartments in 59% (n =16) of cases. For 48% of patients (n =13), the variation of the leading edge of at least one additional prolapsed compartment was diagnosed as more than 20 mm. In this series, the use of a speculum blade during dynamic MRI modified the POP evaluation in a large proportion of patients with POP stage > or =II.

MRI anatomical study of the outside-in transobturator suburethral tape procedure.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to clarify the relationship between the outside-in transobturator suburethral tape and the anatomical structures at the blind passage of the obturator foramen, and to detail the tape position, shape, and the factors on which they are dependent. METHODS: MRI scans were performed on 30 patients operated on with a dermal porcine collagen suburethral tape, indicated for urodynamically proven stress incontinence. RESULTS: The lateral bladder wall was the closest structure to the tape at the passage of the obturator foramen, whereas vascular injuries appeared to be minimal using the outside-in technique. The distance from tape to bladder neck was correlated with the distance from tape to pubococcygeal line (PCL) (p=0.001), and with urethral length (p=0.049). From the obturator foramen to its passage under the urethra, the tape was U-shaped with a cranio-caudal and antero-posterior orientation. The cranio-caudal tape shape was correlated with the distance between the tape and the PCL (p=0.002), and to the patient's anatomical characteristics: distance between the bladder neck and the pubis (p=0.01), and the urethral length (p=0.01). The antero-posterior shape was correlated with the urethral length (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: The lateral bladder wall is the structure most at risk during the outside-in transobturator suburethral tape procedure. The distance from tape to bladder neck is dependent on the vertical position of the tape. The tape shape is dependent on both tape position under the urethra and the patient's anatomical characteristics.

Expression of BRCA1, HER-1 (EGFR) and HER-2 in sporadic breast cancer and relationships to other clinicopathological prognostic features.

BACKGROUND: The BRCA1 caretaker gene is associated with poor prognostic features in hereditary breast cancer and may also play a role in sporadic breast cancer (SBC). HER-1 and HER-2 overexpression is associated with adverse prognosis in SBC. We studied whether BRCA1 expression was associated with HER1, HER2 and other prognostic features in SBC. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Fifty newly-diagnosed SBC patients were studied for prognostic features and immunohistochemical expressions of BRCA1, HER-1 and HER-2. RESULTS: Tumors were positive for BRCA1 in 26%, HER-1 in 32% and HER-2 in 20% of cases. Lack of BRCA1 expression was associated with node metastases and decreased estrogen receptor. HER-2 expression was associated with young age, HER-1, Ki67 and decreased hormone receptors. No correlation was observed between BRCA1 and HER-1 or HER-2. CONCLUSION: In SBC, the lack of BRCA1 expression was associated with poor prognostic features, but unrelated to HER-1 and HER-2. HER2 and HER-1 were, however, highly correlated.

Progesterone induces BRCA1 mRNA decrease, cell cycle alterations and apoptosis in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line.

BACKGROUND: Inherited mutations of the BRCA1 gene are responsible for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome. However, little is known of how disruption of BRCA1 functions preferentially increases cancer risk in hormone-dependent organs. We aimed to study whether BRCA1 was regulated by progesterone in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. MATERIALS AND METHODS: MCF7 breast cancer cells were incubated with 10(-4) or 10(-10) M progesterone for 24 or 48 hours. BRCA1 expression, proliferation and apoptosis were analysed. RESULTS: 10(-4) M progesterone decreased cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis. In addition, BRCA1 and cyclin A mRNA decreased. In contrast, none of these effects were observed in MCF7 cells incubated with 10(-10) M progesterone. CONCLUSION: The down-regulation of BRCA1 in MCF7 cells incubated with 10(-4) M progesterone seems to be a consequence of cell cycle alterations rather than a direct effect of the hormone on BRCA1.

Preoperative concurrent radiation therapy and chemotherapy for bulky stage IB2, IIA, and IIB carcinoma of the uterine cervix with proximal parametrial invasion.

PURPOSE: To evaluate toxicity, local tumor control, and survival after preoperative chemoradiation for operable bulky cervical carcinoma. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Between December 1991 and July 2006, 92 patients with operable bulky stage IB2, IIA, and IIB cervical carcinoma without pelvic or para-aortic nodes on pretreatment imaging were treated. Treatment consisted of preoperative external beam pelvic radiation therapy (EBRT) and concomitant chemotherapy (CT) during the first and fourth weeks of radiation combining 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin. The pelvic radiation dose was 40.5 Gy over 4.5 weeks. EBRT was followed by low-dose rate uterovaginal brachytherapy with a total dose of 20 Gy in 62 patients. After a median rest period of 44 days, all patients underwent Class II modified radical hysterectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. Thirty patients who had not received preoperative uterovaginal brachytherapy underwent postoperative low-dose-rate vaginal brachytherapy at a dose of 20 Gy. The mean follow-up was 46 months. RESULTS: Pathologic residual tumor was observed in 43 patients. After multivariate analysis, additional preoperative uterovaginal brachytherapy was the single significant predictive factor for pathologic complete response rate (p = 0.019). The 2- and 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 80.4% and 72.2%, respectively. Pathologic residual cervical tumor was the single independent factor decreasing the probability of DFS (p = 0.020). Acute toxicities were moderate. Two severe ureteral complications requiring surgical intervention were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant chemoradiation followed by surgery for operable bulky stage I-II cervical carcinoma without clinical lymph node involvement can be used with acceptable toxicity. Pathologic complete response increases the probability of DFS.

MRI urethrovesical junction mobility is associated with global pelvic floor laxity in female stress incontinence.

OBJECTIVE: To assess in a population of stress incontinent patients without genital prolapse whether urethrovesical junction mobility is associated with global pelvic floor laxity. METHODS: Dynamic MRI of 40 patients referred prior to surgery for urinary stress incontinence were reviewed retrospectively. The orientation of the urethrovesical junction was evaluated at rest and at straining in reference to the pubococcygeal line, and defined as the bladder neck pubococcygeal angle. The urethrovesical junction mobility was calculated as the difference between the bladder neck pubococcygeal angles at rest and at straining. Urethrovesical junction mobility and bladder neck pubococcygeal angles at rest and at straining were tested for correlations with the resting and straining position of different pelvic organs, urogenital hiatus size, levator plate angle, and anterior rectal bulging when straining. RESULTS: Urethrovesical junction mobility was correlated with the position of the bladder neck (p<0.0001), bladder base (p<0.0001) and uterine cervix (p<0.0001) at straining, as well as the hiatus length (p=0.0012) and width (p=0.0002), and levator plate angle (p <0.0001). The bladder neck pubococcygeal angle at rest was correlated with the resting position of the bladder neck (p <0.0001), bladder base (p <0.0001), uterine cervix (p=0.02), and the hiatus length (p=0.0004) and width (p=0.045) at rest, whereas the bladder neck pubococcygeal angle at straining was correlated with the straining position of the bladder neck (p <0.0001), bladder base (p=0.0001), uterine cervix (p <0.0001), and hiatus length (p=0.0005) and width (p=0.0004), and levator plate angle (p <0.0001) at straining. CONCLUSION: In a population of stress incontinent patients, the urethrovesical junction mobility was correlated with global pelvic floor laxity.

Latzko operation for vault vesicovaginal fistula.

BACKGROUND: Various surgical procedures are currently performed for the treatment of posthysterectomy vesicovaginal fistula. Most of them are carried out via an abdominal incision. OBJECTIVE: Report of our experience with Latzko's operation, a simple purely transvaginal procedure. METHODS: Retrospective study of vesicovaginal fistulas treated by a Latzko procedure between June 1991 and June 2005. RESULTS: Eleven patients were operated on. Two (18%) had a prior failed attempt of vesicovaginal fistula repair. Mean size of the fistulas was 12+/-11 mm (range: 2-40 mm). Mean operative duration was 62+/-33 min (range: 20-110 min). All fistulas healed. No intraoperative complications were observed. There was only one postoperative complication, a lower urinary tract infection in one patient. Mean hospital stay was 6+/-4 days (range: 2-12 days). CONCLUSIONS: The Latzko procedure is an efficient, safe, and simple technique for the management of vault vesicovaginal fistulas, and can therefore be proposed as the first-line surgical treatment.

Static and dynamic MRI features of the levator ani and correlation with severity of genital prolapse.

BACKGROUND: To describe the static and dynamic MRI features of the levator ani, and evaluate whether they are associated with the MRI evaluation of the severity of genital prolapse. METHODS: Static and dynamic MRI of 40 patients, referred for evaluation prior to genital prolapse surgery, were reviewed retrospectively. Prolapse severity was evaluated on MRI at maximal straining by descent of the bladder neck under the pubococcygeal line for the anterior compartment, by descent of the uterine cervix under the pubococcygeal line for the middle compartment, and by anterior bulging of the rectum for the posterior compartment. For evaluation of the levator ani, the following parameters were recorded: (1) at rest: thinning or defects in both puborectalis and iliococcygeus muscles, (2) at rest and at straining: urogenital hiatus length and width, M line, iliococcygeal and levator plate angles. The levator ani features were tested for potential associations with the MRI evaluation of prolapse severity. RESULTS: Bladder neck descent at straining was correlated with the levator plate angle at rest (p=0.001), and with the hiatus length at rest (p=0.02), and at straining (p=0.008). Uterine cervix descent at straining was correlated with the hiatus length (p=0.0005), and width (p=0.014) at straining, M line (p=0.002) and levator plate angle (p=0.007) at straining, whereas anterior rectal bulging at straining was paradoxically inversely correlated with the hiatus width at rest (p = 0.04). CONCLUSION: In a population of women with genital prolapse, MRI evaluation of the levator ani was associated with MRI evaluation of the severity of genital prolapse.

The suburethral sling for female stress urinary incontinence: a retropubic or obturator approach?

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of the obturator approach for placement of a vaginal suburethral sling indicated for women with stress urinary incontinence. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis (Canadian Task Force classification IV). SETTING: University teaching hospital. PATIENTS: Forty-nine women suffering from stress incontinence. INTERVENTION: Analysis of the suburethral sling according to surgical approach during two consecutive periods: retropubic from January 1, 2001 through September 30, 2001, and obturator from October 1, 2001 through January 31, 2002. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: During the study period, 25 patients underwent surgery with the retropubic approach and 24 with the obturator approach. The patient characteristics did not differ between the two groups. The obturator approach was feasible in all attempted procedures. The mean operative time was 46 minutes (range 20-90) for the retropubic approach compared with 32 minutes (range 15-50) for the obturator approach (p = .03). Two bladder injuries occurred with the former, none with the latter (although cystoscopy was not routinely performed) (p = .49). Similarly, significantly more patients in the retropubic approach group had difficulty with postoperative voiding compared with those in the obturator approach group (10 [40%] vs 2 [8%], p = .01). Only two patients, both in the retropubic group, had voiding difficulties for longer than 1 week. One month after surgery, continence results did not differ significantly between the two groups (p = .30). In the retropubic approach group, 20 (80%) of the women were cured, and substantial improvement was experienced by 5 (20%). In the obturator approach group, these figures were 20 (83%) and 3 (12.5%), respectively, with one surgical failure (4%). Those initial results were unchanged at last follow-up (mean follow-up was 13.7 +/- 3 months for the retropubic approach group and 7.2 +/- 2 months for the obturator approach group). CONCLUSION: The obturator approach for suburethral slings is feasible and safe and may limit both preoperative and postoperative complications. Our short-term continence results compare well with those achieved with the retropubic approach. A randomized study is now needed to compare these two approaches.