Conization and lymph node evaluation as a fertility-sparing treatment for early stage cervical cancer.

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate oncological and obstetrical outcomes of early stage cervical cancer patients who underwent conservative management to retain childbearing potential. METHODS: Data of women (aged <40 years) who underwent fertility sparing treatment for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA1 with lymphovascular invasion (LVSI) and IB1 cervical cancer were prospectively collected. All patients underwent cervical conization/s and laparoscopic nodal evaluation (pelvic lymphadenectomy/sentinel node mapping). Oncological and obstetrical outcomes were assessed. RESULTS: Overall, 39 patients met inclusion criteria; 36 (92.3%) women were nulliparous. There were: 3 (7.7%) IA1-LVSI+; 11 (28.2%) IA2; and 25 (64.1%) IB1 cervical cancers, according to 2018 FIGO stage classification. Histological types were 22 (56.4%) squamous carcinoma and 17 (43.6%) adenocarcinoma. Pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed in 29 (74.4%) patients, while 10 (25.6%) patients had only sentinel node mapping. In 4 (10.3%) patients conservative treatment was discontinued due to nodal involvement and 2 (5.1%) patients requested definitive treatment (hysterectomy) after a negative lymph node evaluation. Among 33 (84.6%) patients who retained their childbearing potential, 17 (51.5%) had a second conization. 2 (6.1%) patients relapsed and underwent definitive treatment. After a median follow-up of 51 months (range 1-184) no deaths were reported. 22 (70.9%) patients attempted to conceive. There were 13 natural pregnancies among 12 (54.5%) women who got pregnant. Live birth rate was 76.9%: 9 (69.2%) term and 1 (7.7%) preterm (at 32 weeks) deliveries. 2 (15.4%) miscarriages (first and second trimester) and 1 (7.7%) termination of pregnancy for medical reasons were recorded. CONCLUSION: Conization plus laparoscopic nodal evaluation may be a safe and feasible conservative option in the setting of fertility-sparing treatment for early-stage cervical cancer patients.

Laparoscopic Upper Colpectomy for VAIN III after Previous Total Hysterectomy.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the feasibility of laparoscopic upper colpectomy for the treatment of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VAIN) after previous total hysterectomy. DESIGN: Stepwise demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage. SETTING: In 2014, our patient aged 60 years underwent a routine smear that reported severe dyskaryosis. This was treated with large loop excision of the transformation zone. Histopathology confirmed cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II, with positive ectocervical margins. The patient was counseled for both repeat large loop excision of the transformation zone and hysterectomy, opting for definitive surgery. A total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed in January 2015, completely excising the residual cervical intraepithelial neoplasiaII. A vault smear was performed in October 2015, reporting further severe dyskaryosis. The patient subsequently underwent examination under anesthesia and multiple upper vaginal mapping biopsies-identifying extensive VAIN III. The case was successfully managed by a laparoscopic upper colpectomy. When determining the area of VAIN to be excised, it can be useful to place a vaginal marker stitch; however, we chose to perform a colposcopy and apply acetic acid to help delineate the extent of the VAIN, immediately before laparoscopy. The right-sided pelvic sidewall dissection proved more extensive owing to the disease burden on that side. No intra- or postoperative complications occurred. The final histopathology confirmed a 65 × 35 × 8-mm upper colpectomy specimen with VAIN III and clear surgical margins. The patient has since had a normal vault smear and no recurrence to date. INTERVENTIONS: We highlight the importance of gaining early retroperitoneal access and developing the lateral pelvic spaces to identify the ureters and gain vascular control of the pelvis. We demonstrate an approach to safely developing the posthysterectomy vesicovaginal plane, with the aid of bladder filling. We used a McCartney tube (Kebomed UK, Cullompton, Devon) to facilitate colpotomy and closed the vagina using a laparoscopic suturing technique. CONCLUSIONS: We believe laparoscopic upper colpectomy offers definitive management of VAIN-a condition that otherwise has a propensity for recurrence and is hence often associated with multiple vaginal excisional procedures.

Long-term results of fertility-sparing treatment for early-stage cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcomes of young early stage cervical cancer patients wishing to preserve their childbearing potential. METHODS: Data of young (aged <40 years) patients with early stage cervical cancer were prospectively collected. All patients with stage IA2, IB1 and IB2 cervical cancer were included; they have cervical conization and pelvic node dissection performed via minimally invasive surgery. Survival outcomes were assessed with the Kaplan-Meier model. RESULTS: Overall, 32 patients met the inclusion criteria. Mean (SD) age of the population included was 33 (±4). According to the FIGO 2018 staging system, the stage of disease was IA2, IB1 and IB2 in 9 (28%), 21 (66%) and 2 (6%) cases, respectively. All patients included had cervical conization and laparoscopic pelvic node assessment, including systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy (N = 30, 94%) and sentinel node mapping (N = 2, 6%). In six (19%) patients the planned conservative treatment was discontinued. Median follow-up was 75 (range, 12-184) months. No recurrent disease was diagnosed among patients undergoing conservative treatment; while 2 out of 6 patients having definitive surgical or radiotherapy treatments developed recurrent disease. Five-year disease free and overall survivals were 94% and 97%, respectively. Considering reproductive outcomes, 11 (69%) out of 16 patients who attempted to conceive got pregnant. CONCLUSIONS: Cervical conization and pelvic nodes assessment could be considered a valid treatment modality for early-stage cervical cancer patients who are wishing to preserve their childbearing potential.

Burden of lymphatic disease predicts efficacy of adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy in FIGO 2018 stage IIICp cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Nodal involvement is one of the most important prognostic factors in cervical cancer patients. We aimed to assess the prognostic role in relation to the burden of nodal disease in stage IIICp cervical cancer. METHODS: Data on all consecutive patients diagnosed with cervical cancer undergoing primary surgery (radical hysterectomy plus lymphadenectomy) or neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical hysterectomy plus lymphadenectomy, between January 1980 and December 2017, were collected in a dedicated database. Exclusion criteria were: (1) consent withdrawal; (2) synchronous malignancies (within 5 years). Survival outcomes were assessed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox models. RESULTS: Overall, 177 (14.1%) of 1257 patients with cervical cancer were diagnosed with positive lymph nodes. After a median follow-up of 58 (range 4-175) months, 66 (37.3%) and 37 (20.9%) patients developed recurrent disease and died of disease, respectively. Via multivariate analysis, positive para-aortic nodes (HR 2.62, 95% CI 1.12 to 6.11; p=0.025) and the number of positive nodes (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.11; p=0.002) correlated with worse disease-free survival. Furthermore, the number of positive nodes (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12; p=0.021) correlated with worse overall survival. Number of positive nodes (1, 2 or ≥3) strongly correlated with both disease-free survival (p<0.001, log-rank test) and overall survival (p=0.001, log-rank test). Focusing on patients receiving adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy, the number of positive lymph nodes was associated with response to treatment (p<0.001). Median disease-free survival was 100, 42, and 12 months for patients with one, two, or three or more positive lymph node(s), respectively (p<0.001, log-rank test). CONCLUSIONS: In stage IIICp cervical cancer, adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy provides adequate overall survival in patients diagnosed with only one metastatic node, while survival outcomes are poor in patients with two or more metastatic nodes. This highlights the need for innovative treatments in patients with a high burden of lymphatic disease.

Rectosigmoid resection during Visceral-Peritoneal Debulking (VPD) in patients with stage IIIC-IV ovarian cancer: morbidity of gynecologic oncology vs. colorectal team.

OBJECTIVE: This study investigates the specific morbidity of rectosigmoid resection (RSR) during Visceral-Peritoneal Debulking (VPD) in a consecutive series of patients with stage IIIC-IV ovarian cancer and compares the results of the colo-rectal vs. the gynaecologic oncology team. METHODS: All patients with the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIC-IV ovarian cancer who had VPD and RSR were included in the study. Between 2009 and 2013 all operations were performed by the gynecologic oncology team alone (group 1). Since 2013 the RSR was performed by the colorectal team together with the gynecologic oncologist (group 2). All pre-operative information and surgical details were compared to exclude significant bias. Intra- and post-operative morbidity events were recorded and compared between groups. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-two patients had a RSR during VPD, 93 in group 1 and 69 in group 2. Groups were comparable for all pre-operative features other than: albumin (1<2) hemoglobin (2<1) and up-front surgery (1>2). Overall morbidity was 33% vs. 40% (p=0.53), bowel specific morbidity 11.8% vs. 11.5% (p=0.81), anastomotic leak 4.1% vs. 6.1% (p=0.43) and re-operation rate 9.6% vs. 6.1% (p=0.71) in groups 1 and 2, respectively. None of them were significantly different. The rate of bowel diversion was 36.5% in group 1 vs. 46.3% in group 2 (p=0.26). CONCLUSIONS: Our study failed to demonstrate any significant difference in the morbidity rate of RSR based on the team performing the surgery. These data warrant further investigation as they are interesting with regards to education, finance, and medico-legal aspects.

Primary umbilical endometrioma: Analyzing the pathogenesis of endometriosis from an unusual localization.

OBJECTIVE: This report presents a rare case of symptomatic primary umbilical endometriosis and reviews the literature on the topic with the aim to clarify some questions on the origin of endometriosis. CASE REPORT: A 33-year-old woman with cyclic umbilical bleeding was found to have umbilical endometriosis. She had no history of pelvic or abdominal surgery. There was no past history of endometriosis or endometriosis-associated symptoms. An omphalectomy was performed after explorative laparoscopy to carefully inspect the abdominopelvic cavity and assess any coexisting pelvic endometriotic lesions. Histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of umbilical endometriosis. CONCLUSION: Umbilical endometriosis is a rare but under-recognized phenomenon. Primary lesions are difficult to recognize, but probably represent an independent nosological entity. The possibility of endometriosis must be considered during the evaluation of an umbilical mass despite the absence of previous surgery. Complete excision and successive histology are highly recommended.