A prospective study examining the incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic lymphoceles following lymphadenectomy in patients with gynecological cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic (i.e., causing pain, hydronephrosis, venous thrombosis, acute lymphedema of the lower or urinary urgency) lymphoceles, as well as risk factors for their development, through a prospective study of patients undergoing sole pelvic or combined pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy for gynecological cancer. METHODS: Patients with endometrial, ovarian or cervical cancer scheduled for sole pelvic or combined pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy as a primary surgical treatment or salvage surgery for recurrence were enrolled at single institution from February 2006 to November 2010 and prospectively followed up with ultrasound. RESULTS: Of 800 patients who underwent sole pelvic or combined pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy for gynecological cancer, the overall incidence of lymphoceles was 20.2%, with symptomatic lymphoceles occurring in 5.8% of all patients. Lymphoceles are predominantly located on the left pelvic side wall. Lymphadenectomy in ovarian cancer, a higher number of lymph nodes obtained (>27), and radical hysterectomy in cervical cancer were found to be independent risk factors for the development of symptomatic lymphoceles. CONCLUSIONS: The overall incidence of lymphocele development after lymphadenectomy for gynecological cancer remains high. However, the majority of lymphoceles are only incidental finding without clinical impact. A symptomatic lymphocele is an uncommon event, occurring in only 5.8% of patients. Symptomatic lymphoceles tend to develop earlier than asymptomatic. Although such risk factors are hard to avoid, patients known to be at an increased risk of developing symptomatic lymphoceles can be counseled appropriately and followed up for specific symptoms relating to lymphocele development.

Early-stage cervical cancer: tumor delineation by magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound - a European multicenter trial.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the preoperative assessment of early-stage cervical cancer using pathologic findings as the reference standard. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective multi-center trial enrolling 209 consecutive women with early-stage cervical cancer (FIGO IA2-IIA) scheduled for surgery. The following parameters were assessed on US and MRI and compared to pathology: remaining tumor, size, tumor stromal invasion<2/3 (superficial) or ≥2/3 (deep), and parametrial invasion. RESULTS: Complete data were available for 182 patients. The agreement between US and pathology was excellent for detecting tumors, correctly classifying bulky tumors (>4cm), and detecting deep stromal invasion (kappa values 0.84, 0.82, and 0.81 respectively); and good for classifying small tumors (<2cm) and detecting parametrial invasion (kappa values 0.78 and 0.75, respectively). The agreement between MRI and histology was good for classifying tumors as <2cm, or >4cm, and detecting deep stromal invasion (kappa values 0.71, 0.76, and 0.77, respectively). It was moderately accurate in tumor detection, and in assessing parametrial invasion (kappa values 0.52 and 0.45, respectively). The agreement between histology and US was significantly better in assessing residual tumor (p<0.001) and parametrial invasion (p<0.001) than the results obtained by MRI. Imaging methods were not significantly influenced by previous cone biopsy. CONCLUSION: US and MRI are highly accurate for the preoperative assessment of women with early-stage cervical cancer, although US may be more accurate in detecting residual tumors and assessing parametrial invasion.

Local control after tailored surgical treatment of early cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: It was the aim of our study to analyze oncological outcome and prognostic parameters in patients with early stages cervical cancer after tailored and well-standardized surgical treatment with an adequate follow-up. METHODS: Oncological outcome and prognostic parameters were evaluated in a group of 192 patients with cervical cancer stages IA2 to 2B who had undergone radical hysterectomy (n = 171), radical parametrectomy (n = 12), or radical trachelectomy (n = 9). Procedures were classified as type B (n = 72), type C1 nerve sparing (n = 103), or type C2 (n = 17). RESULTS: Event-free and overall 5-year survivals probabilities reached 92.7% (confidence interval, 89.5%-95.9 %) and 94.1% (confidence interval, 90.9%-97.3 %). There was only 1 isolated pelvic recurrence found of the total of 10 recurrences. Adjuvant radiotherapy was given to only 22% of patients. The most significant independent prognostic parameters in stage IB tumors were lymph node status, histological type, and tumor volume, whereas in stage II, the parameters included histological type and tumor volume, the latter being inversely related to the prognosis. CONCLUSIONS: We have shown an excellent prognosis, especially local control, after tailored surgical treatment of stages IA2 to IIB of cervical cancer, with low prevalence of adjuvant treatment. Different prognostic parameters were observed for stages IB1/IB2 and IIA/B.

High-risk human papillomavirus DNA in paraaortic lymph nodes in advanced stages of cervical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Paraaortic lymph nodes represent the second level in the lymphatic spread of cervical cancer. Recent studies have confirmed the association of HPV DNA in pelvic lymph nodes in early-stage disease with metastatic involvement and a less favourable prognosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to detect 13 high-risk genotypes of HPV in paraaortic nodes harvested from patients with FIGO IB2-IIIB tumours and correlate findings with histopathology. STUDY DESIGN: The study involved patients with advanced cervical cancer who had undergone low paraaortic lymphadenectomy. The cytobrush technique was used for perioperative sample collection from the tumour and fresh lymphatic tissue. Patients with non-HPV related cancers were used as a control group. RESULTS: The study involved 24 cervical cancer patients. High-risk HPV DNA was found in the primary tumour of all cases and in PALN in 16 (67%) cases. The most frequent genotype was HPV 16, both in the tumour and in the paraaortic lymph nodes (83% and 54%, respectively). Metastatic involvement of paraaortic lymph nodes was identified in 8 cases (33%), which all were also HPV DNA positive. No HPV DNA was detected in PALN in any of 22 control group cases. CONCLUSIONS: Using the cytobrush technique, the presence of at least one HR HPV genotype in the primary tumour was identified in all the patients. The metastatically involved paraaortic lymph nodes always contained the DNA of at least one HPV genotype present in the primary tumour. Determination of clinical significance of HR HPV DNA presence in histologically negative lymph nodes requires further follow-up of the cohort.

Human papillomavirus DNA presence in pelvic lymph nodes in cervical cancer.

INTRODUCTION: This work intends to present a systematic overview of data that have been published so far with regard to methods used for tissue sampling and DNA testing and with regard to the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in pelvic lymph nodes (LNs) and its prognostic significance. METHODS: The HPV DNA status of LN in women with cervical cancer is being explored as a potential marker of "occult" metastases. Although the presence of HPV DNA in LN usually correlates with its metastatic involvement, there is always a subgroup of HPV-positive but histologically negative LNs. RESULTS: The significance of HPV in negative LNs remains uncertain, although several studies have concluded that HPV is a risk factor of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: A small group size and a short follow-up are the main limitations for drawing any conclusion concerning prognostic significance of the presence of HPV DNA in LNs.

High-risk human papillomavirus DNA in the primary tumor, sentinel, and nonsentinel pelvic lymph nodes in patients with early-stage cervical cancer: a correlation with histopathology.

INTRODUCTION: Metastatic involvement of pelvic lymph nodes is the most important prognostic parameter in early-stage cervical cancer. Still, approximately 15% of patients with negative pelvic nodes experience recurrence, most of them in the pelvis. The presence of human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA in histologically negative pelvic nodes is considered a subclinical metastatic spread. METHODS: Patients with early-stage cervical cancer referred for surgical treatment were enrolled in the study. Cytobrush technique was used for sample collection from the fresh tissue to avoid any loss of material for histology. RESULTS: Altogether, 49 patients were enrolled in the study. High-risk (HR) HPV DNA was identified in the tumor in 91.8% patients and in the sentinel node or other pelvic nodes in 49.9% patients. Among the 10 HR HPV genotypes detected, HPV 16 was the most frequently represented in both the tumor and the lymph nodes (66.7% and 71.4%, respectively). All metastatic lymph nodes were HR HPV positive. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of HR HPV DNA in a sentinel node had a 100% positive predictive value for metastatic involvement of pelvic lymph nodes in our study. This could be considered a sign of an early subclinical metastatic spread; however, the prognostic value has to be evaluated through a longer follow-up.