Oncologic Safety of Laparoscopy in the Surgical Treatment of Type II Endometrial Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Laparoscopy is considered the method of choice in the operative treatment of type I endometrial carcinoma (EC). However, there is a paucity of data regarding the safety of endoscopy for type II EC because these malignancies have several biological similarities with ovarian cancer. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility, operative outcomes, and oncologic safety of laparoscopic surgery in patients with type II EC. METHODS: A retrospective study with histologically confirmed serous or clear-cell EC without peritoneal carcinomatosis treated by laparoscopy (G1) or laparotomy (G2) was conducted. Procedures included hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, omentectomy, and pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2015, 89 patients were included; 53 women underwent laparoscopy and 36 underwent laparotomy. No relevant epidemiological or oncologic difference between groups was observed. The mean number of removed pelvic nodes was 16 [±10] and 12 [±13] in group 1 (G1) and group 2 (G2), respectively (P = 0.127). The mean number of dissected para-aortic nodes was significantly greater in the laparoscopic group (11 [±9] vs 6 [±9], P = 0.006). Para-aortic metastasis was significantly more often observed in the endoscopy group (26% vs 13%, P = 0.04). Adjuvant therapies were given to 86% of the patients in the study and 75% in the control group (P = 0.157). No excessive blood loss, casualty related to surgery, intraoperative complication, or conversion to laparotomy occurred in G1. Ten (18%) women from G1 and 36% (13/36) in G2 developed relevant postoperative complications (P = 0.03). The median duration of follow-up was 38 months for the laparoscopy and 47 months for the open surgery (P = 0.12). The 5-year overall and disease-free survival were similar, 86% versus 78% and 58% versus 51% for G1 and G2, respectively (P = 0.312). CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy is oncologically at least not inferior to laparotomy for the surgical treatment of type II EC. Endoscopic techniques are feasible, effective, result in significantly less morbidity, and improved quality staging. Although statistical significance was not reached, laparoscopy was associated with superior oncologic results.

Vaginal Morcellation Inside Protective Pouch: A Safe Strategy for Uterine Extration in Cases of Bulky Endometrial Cancers: Operative and Oncological Safety of the Method.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the operative and oncologic outcomes of an innovative technique for organ morcellation in patients scheduled for laparoscopic treatment of uterine malignancies. BACKGROUND: Endoscopy is currently considered the standard of care for the operative treatment of endometrial cancer; however, the use of minimal invasive surgery (MIS) is restricted in patients with a bulky uterus or narrow vagina. Conventional unprotected intraperitoneal uterine fragmentation is indeed contraindicated in these cases. Consequently, oncologically safe methods to render these patients eligible for MIS are urgently needed. INTERVENTION: Prospective study of women with histologically proven endometrial cancer in which uterus removal was a realistic concern owing to both organ size and proportionality. The patients underwent laparoscopic staging, including retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy, total hysterectomy, and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, followed by vaginal morcellation of the uterus inside a protective pouch (LapSac). RESULTS: In our series of 30 cases, we achieved successful completion in all patients, without conversion to laparotomy. No surgery-related casualty or intraoperative morbidity was observed. The mean organ size was 246 g (range, 148-420 g), and the average additional operative time related to vaginal morcellation was 16 minutes (range, 9-28 minutes). Proper histopathological staging according to 2009 FIGO staging guidelines could be performed in all specimens. Two patients (6%) presented with significant postoperative complications, 1 each with vesicovaginal fistula and vaginal vault dehiscence. Fourteen patients (46%) needed adjuvant therapy. After a median follow-up of 20 months (range, 6-38 months), the 12-month and 24-month overall survival was 100% and 73.4% (95% confidence interval, 51%-96%), respectively. Four patients with positive lymph nodes died of distant metastasis. No case of pelvic or local relapse was observed. CONCLUSION: Vaginal morcellation following oncologic principles is a feasible method that permits rapid uterine extraction and potentially avoids unnecessary laparotomies. This series suggests that the technique may be oncologically safe and also can be used in cases of uterine pathology of uncertain malignancy.

Vaginal morcellation: a new strategy for large gynecological malignant tumor extraction: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: Evaluate feasibility and safety of a novel technique for uterine morcellation in patients scheduled for laparoscopic treatment of gynecologic malignances. BACKGROUND: The laparoscopic management of uterine malignancies is progressively gaining importance and popularity over laparotomy. Nevertheless, minimal invasive surgery is of limited use when patients have enlarged uterus or narrow vagina. In these cases, conventional uterus morcellation could be a solution but should not be recommended due to risks of tumor dissemination. METHODS: Prospective pilot study of women with endometrial cancer in which uterus removal was a realistic concern due to both organ size and proportionality. Brief technique description: after completion of total laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral anexectomy, a nylon with polyurethane Lapsac® is vaginally inserted into the abdomen; the specimen is placed inside the pouch that will be closed and rotated 180° toward the vaginal vault and, posteriorly, pushed into the vaginal canal; in the transvaginal phase, the surgeon pulls the edges of the bag up to vaginal introitus and all vaginal walls will be covered; inside the pouch, the operator performs a uterus bisection-morcellation. RESULTS: In our series of 8 cases, we achieved successful completion in all patients, without conversion to laparotomy. Average operative time, blood loss and length of hospitalization were favorable. One patient presented with a vesicovaginal fistula. CONCLUSION: The vaginal morcellation following oncologic principles is a feasible method that permits a rapid uterine extraction and may avoid a number of unnecessary laparotomies. Further studies are needed to confirm the oncological safety of the technique.

Introduction of robotic surgery for endometrial cancer into a Brazilian cancer service: a randomized trial evaluating perioperative clinical outcomes and costs.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and costs after the implementation of robotic surgery in the treatment of endometrial cancer, compared to the traditional laparoscopic approach. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study from 2015 to 2017, eighty-nine patients with endometrial carcinoma that was clinically restricted to the uterus were randomized in robotic surgery (44 cases) and traditional laparoscopic surgery (45 cases). We compared the number of retrieved lymph nodes, total time of surgery, time of each surgical step, blood loss, length of hospital stay, major and minor complications, conversion rates and costs. RESULTS: The ages of the patients ranged from 47 to 69 years. The median body mass index was 31.1 (21.4-54.2) in the robotic surgery arm and 31.6 (22.9-58.6) in the traditional laparoscopic arm. The median tumor sizes were 4.0 (1.5-10.0) cm and 4.0 (0.0-9.0) cm in the robotic and traditional laparoscopic surgery groups, respectively. The median total numbers of lymph nodes retrieved were 19 (3-61) and 20 (4-34) in the robotic and traditional laparoscopic surgery arms, respectively. The median total duration of the whole procedure was 319.5 (170-520) minutes in the robotic surgery arm and 248 (85-465) minutes in the traditional laparoscopic arm. Eight major complications were registered in each group. The total cost was 41% higher for robotic surgery than for traditional laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery for endometrial cancer presented equivalent perioperative morbidity to that of traditional laparoscopic surgery. The duration and total cost of robotic surgery were higher than those of traditional laparoscopic surgery.

Single-Site Robotic Radical Hysterectomy and Sentinel Lymphnode Biopsy in Cervical Cancer: A Case Report.

Robotic surgeries for cervical cancer have several advantages compared with laparotomic or laparoscopic surgeries. Robotic single-site surgery has many advantages compared with the multiport approach, but its safety and feasibility are not established in radical oncologic surgeries. We report a case of a Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB1 cervical carcinoma whose radical hysterectomy, sentinel lymph node mapping, and lymph node dissection were entirely performed by robotic single-site approach. The patient recovered very well, and was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours.

Introduction of robotic surgery for endometrial cancer into a Brazilian cancer service: a randomized trial evaluating perioperative clinical outcomes and costs

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcome and costs after the implementation of robotic surgery in the treatment of endometrial cancer, compared to the traditional laparoscopic approach. METHODS: In this prospective randomized study from 2015 to 2017, eighty-nine patients with endometrial carcinoma that was clinically restricted to the uterus were randomized in robotic surgery (44 cases) and traditional laparoscopic surgery (45 cases). We compared the number of retrieved lymph nodes, total time of surgery, time of each surgical step, blood loss, length of hospital stay, major and minor complications, conversion rates and costs. RESULTS: The ages of the patients ranged from 47 to 69 years. The median body mass index was 31.1 (21.4-54.2) in the robotic surgery arm and 31.6 (22.9-58.6) in the traditional laparoscopic arm. The median tumor sizes were 4.0 (1.5-10.0) cm and 4.0 (0.0-9.0) cm in the robotic and traditional laparoscopic surgery groups, respectively. The median total numbers of lymph nodes retrieved were 19 (3-61) and 20 (4-34) in the robotic and traditional laparoscopic surgery arms, respectively. The median total duration of the whole procedure was 319.5 (170-520) minutes in the robotic surgery arm and 248 (85-465) minutes in the traditional laparoscopic arm. Eight major complications were registered in each group. The total cost was 41% higher for robotic surgery than for traditional laparoscopic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Robotic surgery for endometrial cancer presented equivalent perioperative morbidity to that of traditional laparoscopic surgery. The duration and total cost of robotic surgery were higher than those of traditional laparoscopic surgery.

Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging to detect synchronous uterine endometrial and endocervical adenocarcinoma.

Synchronous endometrial and cervical cancer is a very rare condition. This report describes a case of a 46-year-old woman who presented with a cervical mass that measured 5.6 cm along its longest diameter, whose biopsy analysis revealed an endocervical mucinous adenocarcinoma. She was classified as having an IB2 cervical carcinoma and treated with concurrent chemoradiation plus hysterectomy. Pathological and immunohistochemical analysis of the surgical specimens revealed a synchronous endometrioid grade 2 adenocarcinoma in the endometrium, and a well-differentiated mucinous adenocarcinoma in the cervix. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies performed prior to treatment were reviewed and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps were generated. The ADC values demonstrated distinct signal intensity differences between the endometrial and endocervical tumors. In conclusion, diffusion-weighted MRI and ADC maps can help to distinguish the site of origin of synchronous tumors.

Single-Site Robotic Radical Hysterectomy and Sentinel Lymphnode Biopsy in Cervical Cancer: A Case Report / Histerectomia radical robótica de portal único e biópsia de linfonodo sentinela: relato de caso

ABSTRACT Robotic surgeries for cervical cancer have several advantages compared with lapa-rotomic or laparoscopic surgeries. Robotic single-site surgery has many advantages compared with the multiport approach, but its safety and feasibility are not established in radical oncologic surgeries. We report a case of a Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB1 cervical carcinoma whose radical hysterectomy, sentinel lymph node mapping, and lymph node dissection were entirely performed by robotic single-site approach. The patient recovered very well, and was discharged from the hospital within 24 hours.

RESUMO A cirurgia robótica para carcinoma do colo do útero apresenta vantagens quando comparada com cirurgias laparotômicas ou laparoscópicas. A cirurgia robótica de portal único tem muitas vantagens quando comparada com cirurgias de múltiplos acessos, porém a segurança e a viabilidade deste procedimento ainda não estão estabelecidas para cirurgias oncológicas radicais. Apresentamos um caso de carcinoma de colo do útero, tratado por histerectomia radical, identificação e biópsia de linfonodo sentinela e linfadenectomia pélvica realizada totalmente por cirurgia robótica de acesso único. A paciente recuperou-se bem e recebeu alta no primeiro dia pós-operatório.