The prediction of myometrial infiltration by three-dimensional ultrasonography in patients with endometrial carcinoma: a validation study from Ege University Hospital.

AIM: To predict the myometrial invasion with three-dimensional (3D) ultrasonography in a cohort of patients with endometrial carcinoma by a previously described technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The moyometrial infiltration was evaluated by 3D ultrasonography before surgery in 54 patients with endometrial carcinoma. After scanning the whole uterus by ultrasonography, three perpendicular planes were identified to find the shortest myometrial tumor-free distance to serosa (TDS) by examining the lateral, anterior, posterior, and fundal parts of the myometrium. Myometrial infiltration was also estimated by the subjective impression of the examiner. The reference standards consist of myometrial infiltration and TDS which are measured by an experienced pathologist. RESULTS: Forty-five patients (age range 45-86 years) were included for the final analysis. Myometrial invasion was ˂50% in 36 and ≥50% in 9 cases at histologic sections. The TDS which is measured with 3D ultrasonography was positively correlated with histologically measured TDS (r=0.474, p=0.001). The best cut-off value for ultrasonographically measured TDS was 9 mm with a sensitivity of 89%, specificity of 61%, positive predictive value of 36%, and negative predictive value of 96%. Subjective impression has a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 88%, positive predictive value of 69%, and negative predictive value of 100%. Cervical involvement was correctly identified in all 6 cases by subjective impression. CONCLUSION: This validation study confirms the 3D ultrasonography as a valuable tool for the evaluation of myometrial infiltration in patients with endometrial carcinoma.

The retrospective analysis of patients with uterine sarcomas: A single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: Uterine sarcomas are rare, malignant, gynecological tumors and show diverse histopathological features. Therefore, there is no consensus on risk factors for poor outcome and optimal treatment. The aim of this retrospective analysis is to report the clinical outcome of patients with uterine sarcoma treated at a single center. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The data was obtained regarding the patient's demographic characteristics, pathological results, treatments given, survival, and complications of all uterine sarcoma patients treated in a single center between the years 2000 and 2012. The 80.month overall survival. (OS) was determined with respect to prognostic factors including age, stage of disease, histopathological type, and adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: A total of 57 case records are retrieved for this retrospective analysis. The mean age of the patients is 62.5 ± 11.2 years. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage distribution is stage I: 29; stage II: 13; stage III: 9; stage IV: 6. Fifty-seven patients underwent surgery, 33 received postoperative radiotherapy (PORT), and 32 received chemotherapy. Median follow-up period was 25 months (range 2-85 months). The 80-month OS for the entire group of patients was 36.7%. The significant prognostic factors for survival are age under 50 years, stage of disease, and adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Although limited by small sample size and retrospective nature, age under 50 years, stage of disease, and adjuvant chemotherapy are significant prognostic factors for survival for uterine sarcomas.

Do preoperative serum vascular endothelial growth factor and migration-inhibitory factor predict the nature of the adnexal masses? A prospective-controlled trial.

The aim of this study was to identify the role of preoperative serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and migration inhibitor factor (MIF) in differentiation of benign and malignant adnexal masses, as well as the relationship between prognostic factors and VEGF and MIF in ovarian cancer patients. This prospective study included 41 patients who were admitted between November 2010 and March 2012. In the malignant group, there were 21 patients, and remaining 20 had benign adnexal masses. Age, CA125 levels, grade, stage, presence of ascites and the degree of cytoreduction performed were noted. There was no significant difference between two groups in preoperative serum VEGF and MIF levels (p = 0.118 and p = 0.297, respectively). CA125 levels were significantly higher in the malignant group (p < 0.0001). There was no significant difference for VEGF and MIF between the groups evaluated for tumour grade, stage, presence of ascites and degree of cytoreduction performed in the malignant group. Preoperative serum, VEGF and MIF levels are not suitable for the differentiation of malignant and benign adnexal masses, and they do not correlate with the prognostic factors of ovarian cancer in this cohort of patients.

Multicenter analysis of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia in Turkey.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the incidence, diagnosis and management of GTN among 28 centers in Turkey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was designed to include GTN patients attending 28 centers in the 10-year period between January 2003 and May 2013. Demographical characteristics of the patients, histopathological diagnosis, the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) anatomical and prognostic scores, use of single-agent and multi-agent chemotherapy, surgical interventions and prognosis were evaluated. RESULTS: From 2003-2013, there were 1,173,235 deliveries and 456 GTN cases at the 28 centers. The incidence was calculated to be 0.38 per 1,000 deliveries. According to the evaluated data of 364 patients, the median age at diagnosis was 31 years (range, 15-59 years). A histopathological diagnosis was present for 45.1% of the patients, and invasive mole, choriocarcinoma and PSTTs were diagnosed in 22.3% (n=81), 18.1% (n=66) and 4.7% (n=17) of the patients, respectively. Regarding final prognosis, 352 (96.7%) of the patients had remission, and 7 (1.9%) had persistence, whereas the disease was mortal for 5 (1.4%) of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the differences between countries, it is important to provide national registration systems and special clinics for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of GTN.

Prognostic predictors and spread patterns in adult ovarian granulosa cell tumors: a multicenter long-term follow-up study of 108 patients.

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic predictors and spread patterns in adult ovarian granulosa cell tumors (OGCTs). METHODS: Available retrospective data of 108 OGCT patients managed at three centers between January 1, 1991 and December 31, 2010 were abstracted and analyzed. RESULTS: Stage distributions at diagnosis for stage I, II and III OGCT were 84.3, 5.4, and 9.3 %, respectively. Optimal cytoreduction with no macroscopically visible disease was achieved in 99/108 (91.6 %) patients. The median disease-free interval to first recurrence was 61 months. The overall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 93.3 and 90.9 %, respectively. Disease recurred in 18 (16.6 %) patients, and 8 (7.4 %) patients died of their disease. The first recurrence sites included the pelvic peritoneum (n = 10), liver/liver-capsule (n = 5), rectosigmoid colon (n = 4), retroperitoneal lymph nodes (n = 3), omentum (n = 3), small bowel mesenterium (n = 2), and vaginal cuff (n = 2). Multiple-site recurrence was observed in 9/18 (50 %) patients. Secondary cytoreduction requiring extensive surgery was performed in 14 patients with an optimality rate of 71.4 %. The remaining four patients received only chemotherapy. Multivisceral approaches, including pelvic peritonectomy (n = 9; 64.2 %), rectosigmoid resection (n = 3; 21.4 %), and segmental liver capsule resection (n = 2; 14.2 %) were performed more frequently during the secondary surgery. Definitive retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis rates at the initial and recurrent settings were 5.1 % (3/58) and 21.4 % (3/14), respectively. Both stage and residual tumor status were significantly associated with recurrence in univariate and multivariate analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Stage and residual tumor status are predictors of recurrence. Pelvic peritoneal, nodal and hepatic involvement, and multiple-site spread patterns requiring extensive cytoreductive surgery are likely associated with recurrence of OGCTs.

Effect of surgical staging on 539 patients with borderline ovarian tumors: a Turkish Gynecologic Oncology Group study.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to examine demographic and clinicopathologic characteristics and to determine the effects of primary surgery, surgical staging and the extensiveness of staging. METHODS: In a retrospective Turkish multicenter study, 539 patients, from 14 institutions, with borderline ovarian tumors were investigated. Some of the demographic, clinical and surgical characteristics of the cases were evaluated. The effects of type of surgery, surgical staging; complete or incomplete staging on survival rates were calculated by using Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: The median age at diagnosis was 40 years (range 15-84) and 71.1% of patients were premenopausal. The most common histologic types were serous and mucinous. Majority of the staged cases were in Stage IA (73.5%). 242 patients underwent conservative surgery. Recurrence rates were significantly higher in conservative surgery group (8.3% vs. 3%). Of all patients in this study, 294 (54.5%) have undergone surgical staging procedures. Of the patients who underwent surgical staging, 228 (77.6%) had comprehensive staging including lymphadenectomy. Appendectomy was performed on 204 (37.8%) of the patients. The median follow-up time was 36 months (range 1-120 months). Five-year survival rate was 100% and median survival time was 120 months. Surgical staging, lymph node sampling or dissection and appendectomy didn't cause any difference on survival. CONCLUSION: Comprehensive surgical staging, lymph node sampling or dissection and appendectomy are not beneficial in borderline ovarian tumors surgical management.

Can preoperative neutrophil:lymphocyte and platelet:lymphocyte ratios be used as predictive markers for lymph node metastasis in squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva?

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet:lymphocyte ratio (PLR) before complete surgical staging provide information on lymph node metastasis in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). STUDY DESIGN: All patients with vulvar SCC who underwent complete surgical staging at two institutions between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2011 were identified retrospectively from patient databases. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was used to evaluate cut-off, sensitivity, and specificity values for preoperative NLR and PLR to predict lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: Data from 64 women with adequate information were analyzed. Lymph node involvement was detected in 19 (29.7%) patients. NLR and PLR were higher in the lymph node--positive group than in the--negative group (p < 0.001). The best cut-off values for predicting lymph node metastasis were 2.81 for the NLR, with 84.5% sensitivity and 89.5% specificity, and 139.5 for the PLR, with 68.9% sensitivity and 89.5% specificity. Forty of the 64 (62.5%) patients had NLRs ≤ 2.81 and 24 (37.5%) had NLRs >2.81. Lymph node involvement was more common in the NLR >2.81 group [60.7% vs. 5.6%; relative risk RR = 10.9, 95% confidence interval CI = 2.7-43.4; p < 0.001]. Mean tumor sizes were 4.2 ± 2.3 cm in the NLR >2.81 group and 2.1 ± 1.2 cm in the NLR ≤ 2.81 group (p = 0.001). The rate of lymph node involvement was higher in the PLR >139.5 group than in the PLR ≤ 139.5 group (54.8% vs. 6.1%; RR = 9.0, 95% CI = 2.2-35.9; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Preoperative NLR and PLR are directly associated with nodal involvement status of vulvar SCC. These markers are simple, readily obtained and calculated, and easy to integrate into the surgical work-up of patients with vulvar SCC, at no extra cost.

Palliative radiotherapy for the skin metastasis of ovarian cancer: a case report and review of the literature.

Ovarian cancer which is the most common cause of death among all gynecological malignancies tends to metastasize through peritoneal cavity. Skin metastasis, however, is a very rare clinical entity and related with poor prognosis. We report a 43-year-old patient with recurrent ovarian cancer presented with extensive abdominal skin metastasis approximately 6 years after the initial diagnosis. Patient was treated with radiotherapy with electrons to a total dose of 37.5 Gy given in 2.5 Gy per fraction per day. Skin metastasis showed good response to radiotherapy, and the patient has been alive for 7 months after radiotherapy with no recurrences on abdominal skin. Radiotherapy might be considered as an efficient palliative treatment option for the skin metastasis of ovarian cancer.

Congenital vulvar lymphangioma circumscriptum.

Lymphangioma circumscriptum (LC) is a defect of lymphatic channels in the deep dermis and subcutaneous layers, characterized by grouped vesicles. This disorder rarely occurs in vulvar sites. We present a rare case of LC in a 72-year-old patient who presented with a vulvar mass and ipsilateral leg edema.

The effects of raloxifen on depression and cognition in ovariectomized rats.

This study investigates the effects of raloxifen on cognition and depression in an animal model.

Topotecan in platinum-resistant epithelial ovarian cancer.

BACKGROUND: Topotecan has been emerged as a new promising anticancer drug for patients with ovarian cancer. METHODS: In this study, patients who were treated with topotecan were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 26 patients was included the study. All patients had received platinum-based regimens previously. Topotecan was administered a dose of 1.5 mg/m(2) intravenously 30 min daily for 5 days and repeated every 21 days. RESULTS: The response rates were 30% by CA-125 level and 29% in clinic evaluation. Median duration of response was 8 (3-15) months, median progression-free interval was 12 (4-30) months and median overall survival was 15 (4-36) months. Grade 3-4 neutropenia occurred in 58% of the patients (38% of the courses) and trombocytopenia in 29% of the patients (12% of the courses). Nonhematological toxicities were mild. There was no drug-related death. CONCLUSION: Topotecan is considered as a reasonable option for treatment of patients with platinum refractory recurrent ovarian cancer.

Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a report of a case and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Large cell neuroendocrine carcinoma is a rare aggressive cervical neoplasm, considerably rarer than the well-recognized small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix. Cervical large cell neuroendocrine carcinomas are distinctive cervical carcinomas that are frequently misdiagnosed and have an unfavorable outcome, similar to that of small cell carcinoma. CASE REPORT: We report a 45-year-old woman with large cell neuroendocrine uterine cervical carcinoma.