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BACKGROUND: Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cause of malignant tumor-related deaths among women in developing nations. Cervical cancer has been estimated to cause 527.600 new cases and 265.700 deaths globally per year. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate patients with cervical cancer by ultrastaging all the lymph nodes (LN), sentinel LN (SLN) and non-SLN, to increase the sensitivity of the detection of LN metastases and the diagnostic accuracy in cervical cancer with a five-year follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 14 cervical cancer cases from 2017 to 2019 at the Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital of Timisoara, Romania. The cases were selected based on their high risk of LN involvement but negative intraoperative pathologic LN. After re-evaluating all paraffin block biopsy samples from 29 cases, 14 cases were included in the study, which met all criteria for ultrastaging on surgical biopsy samples. RESULTS: Patients' ages included in the study ranged from 43 to 70 years (median: 57.14 years). According to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging, the majority of the patients were in stage IB: seven cases (50%). The study revealed a positive correlation between patient age and FIGO staging, with Pearson's correlation coefficient of 0.707 and a p-value of less than 0.05, indicating that older patients were more likely to be diagnosed with a higher FIGO stage. The mean follow-up was 34.5 months, and the median follow-up was 36 months (range: 6-60 months). We obtained 167 nodes, with a mean of 11.92 nodes/case. Twenty-one LN were found to be positive with the ultrastaging method. We detected 11 LN with macrometastases (MAC) (52.38%), seven with micrometastasis (MIC) (33.3%), and three with tumor cell islets (14.4%). That would be 13% of newly diagnosed ultrastaging cases as positive nodes. This ultrastaging method detected nodal MIC in eight (57.1%) out of the 14 patients, who initially tested negative for LN involvement using the routine Hematoxylin and Eosin (HE) method. The detection of micrometastases in these patients underscored the superior sensitivity of ultrastaging, which was further highlighted by the subsequent relapse of four (28.57%) out of these eight patients. The study also found no correlation between the FIGO standardization and the number of MIC found in these patients. CONCLUSIONS: Predicting cervical LN metastasis (LNM) is crucial for improving survival rates and reducing recurrence. Very few small cohort studies used an ultrastaging method to assess non-SLNs; most of them only assessed SLNs. We showed in our study that the ultrastaging method, both in the case of SLN and non-SLN, is superior compared with H&E analysis, with a 13% rate of new positive nodule diagnosis. Metastatic involvement of non-SLN was found in over 50% of all cases (8/14) according to the ultrastaging method. Additionally, our study confirms that the sensitivity of SLN ultrastaging is high for the presence of both MIC and MAC in SLN pelvic LN. As a result, we feel that ultrastaging is the most effective method for SLN analysis in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, and bilateral detection is preferable, significantly reducing false-negative results. The routine use of SLN along with ultrastaging would lead to more accurate surgical staging and better oncological follow-up of cases.
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BACKGROUND: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a public health problem that influences millions of women around the globe, and it has a significant impact on the quality of life. From the FDA statement regarding the complications of using mesh implants in POP surgery to studies that have shown the benefits and side effects, we conducted a systematic review investigating the complications associated with surgical mesh implantation for POP repair. METHODS: Relevant studies were identified through a comprehensive search of scientific databases. Studies evaluating the use of mesh in POP surgery and reporting on associated complications were included. RESULTS: Among 2816 studies, 28 studies met the research criteria, with a total number of 8958 patients, revealing that in laparoscopic mesh surgery, the rate of mesh exposure was lower compared to vaginal mesh surgery, among other complications. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic mesh surgery is superior as a long-term approach for POP repair compared to vaginal mesh surgery, offering lower complication rates and potentially better anatomical success. However, vaginal mesh surgery remains a valuable option for patients who are unsuitable for laparoscopy due to specific factors. Future research should explore alternative techniques, like pectopexy with or without mesh, to further improve surgical outcomes and patient experience.
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OBJECTIVE: The study investigates morphological variants of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLSs) in relation to cervical cancer development, from intraepithelial neoplastic lesions to invasive carcinomas with locoregional lymph node metastases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective analysis comprised 100 cervical cancer cases who had had total hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic of the Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital of Timisoara, Romania, from 2020 to 2023. Bilateral ilio obturator lymphadenectomy and total hysterectomy were used to acquire biopsy samples. The presence of germinal centers, other stromal structures, TLS density, topography relative to the tumor lesion, and malignant cell islets are used to evaluate and classify TLS. RESULTS: We first globally evaluated the total number of TLSs (TLS.T). We observed topographically two places in the cervical stroma: TLS immediately peritumorally positioned and TLS away from tumor lesions. Invasive carcinomas have bigger superficial TLSs with a well-defined germinal center. As they approached the tumor, TLSs increased in size and density. We also detected a special type of TLS associated with nerve fibers, which we named tertiary lymphoid structures associated with nerves (TLS.N). The total number of TLSs did not correlate with age, but 85.71% of patients presenting TLS.N were aged between 59 and 72 years old. Our findings showed a strong correlation between age (postmenopausal, p = 0.005) and TLS-N presence. Similarly, TLS parameters evolved with tumor differentiation. Only in the TLS.N group did the tumoral grading (G) 3 correlate with TLS (p = 0.041), while TLS.T did not correlate with G. All TLS.N. patients, except one, had lymphovascular invasion and massive histiocytosis. On the first point, TLS.N correlated with lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.032). CONCLUSION: Tertiary lymphoid structures associated with nerves have not been previously reported in cervical cancer, and their effects on prognosis and aggression are unknown. There was a substantial association between TLSs.N presence and age over 60, suggesting it is exclusive to menopausal women. They were also substantially connected with lymphovascular invasion and G3, suggesting they may be a poor cervical cancer prognostic factor.
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A cesarean scar ectopic pregnancy (CSP) represents an uncommon yet potentially life-threatening condition requiring immediate and efficient management. We present a case of a 32-year-old woman diagnosed with a scar pregnancy at 8 weeks of gestation. Laparoscopic surgical management was chosen due to its minimally invasive nature and potential for preserving fertility. During the procedure, temporary clipping of uterine arteries was employed to control intraoperative bleeding. The patient recovered well postoperatively with no complications. This case highlights the feasibility and effectiveness of laparoscopic intervention combined with temporary uterine artery clipping in the management of scar pregnancies, offering a valuable approach for clinicians faced with similar cases. Through this report, we aim to contribute to the existing literature on the optimal management of CSP and highlight the efficacy of laparoscopic surgery in this context.
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STUDY OBJECTIVE: The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the impact of laparoscopic myomectomy techniques on pregnancy outcomes, with a specific focus on the correlation between the type of suture used during the procedure and the incidence of uterine rupture. Additionally, the study aims to examine how the localization and size of myomas, key factors in laparoscopic myomectomy, may influence fertility outcomes. DATA SOURCES: extensive searches were conducted using MDPI, PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases from 2008 to November 2023. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: The study involved women of reproductive age diagnosed with fibroids who underwent surgical removal of fibroids using either laparotomy or laparoscopy. The evaluation of pregnancy outcomes focused on indicators such as live birth rates, miscarriage rates, stillbirth rates, premature delivery rates, and cases of uterine rupture. Quality assessment was systematically performed by employing the National Institutes of Health Study Quality Assessment Tools, with the subsequent formulation of clinical recommendations that were meticulously graded in accordance with the robustness of the underlying evidence. RESULTS: The pregnancy outcomes post-myoma treatment, as reflected in one of the presented tables, show a promising number of pregnancies and live births, but also indicate the potential risks of miscarriages and preterm births. The diversity in outcomes observed among various studies underscores the imperative for tailored patient care, as well as the necessity for additional research aimed at optimizing fertility and pregnancy outcomes following myoma treatment. CONCLUSION: This study offers insights into the criteria for patient selection and intraoperative methodologies specifically related to laparoscopic myomectomy. To enhance our understanding of the associations between fibroid characteristics (location, size) and reproductive outcomes, additional research is warranted, particularly through well-designed clinical trials.
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OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of patient preferences and clinical outcomes associated with two prominent surgical techniques for treating Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI): the modified laparoscopic Burch colposuspension and the transobturator tape (TOT) procedure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was conducted on 145 patients who recieved surgical treatment for SUI, of which 71 patients (49%) underwent the modified laparoscopic Burch procedure, while 74 patients (51%) received the TOT procedure. Data on clinical characteristics, treatment success rates, and postoperative outcomes were collected and analyzed to understand patient preferences and real-world clinical effectiveness. RESULTS: This study revealed notable differences in patient demographics and clinical characteristics between the two groups. At the 2-year follow-up, a success rate of 100% was reported in the modified laparoscopic Burch group and 86.48% in the TOT group. A total of 99 patients (68.28%) were considered cured postoperatively, with 47 (66.20%) in the modified laparoscopic Burch group and 52 (70.27%) in the TOT group (p = 0.598). A significant difference was found in the incidence of dyspareunia, with six cases (8.10%) reported in the TOT group, compared to none reported in the modified laparoscopic Burch group (p = 0.028). The median operation time was significantly shorter in the TOT group, namely 15 min, compared to the modified laparoscopic Burch group, which had a median equal to 27 min (p < 0.001). Despite these differences, patient preference for either surgical technique was observed, along with similar success rates and varied postoperative outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide a comprehensive overview of patient preferences and factual clinical outcomes for the two surgical techniques in SUI treatment. This study contributes to understanding the factors influencing patient choice and offers valuable insights into the real-world application of these techniques, enhancing patient-centered care in SUI management.
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Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of using a peri-cervical tourniquet in reducing blood loss during a laparoscopic myomectomy. Materials and Methods: This prospective study evaluated the impact of performing a concomitant tourniquet placement during a laparoscopic myomectomy (LM). A total of 60 patients were randomly allocated to one of two groups: 30 patients who underwent an LM with a tourniquet placement (the TLM group) and 30 patients who benefited from a standard LM (the SLM group). This study's main objective was to evaluate the impact of tourniquet use on perioperative blood loss, which is quantified as the difference in the pre- and postoperative hemoglobin levels (Delta Hb) and the postoperative blood transfusion rate. Results: The mean Delta Hb was statistically lower in the TLM group compared to the SLM group: 1.38 g/dL vs. 2.41 g/dL (p < 0.001). The rate of postoperative iron perfusion in the TLM group was significantly lower compared to the SLM group (4 vs. 13 patients; p = 0.02). All four patients that required a blood transfusion were from the SLM group. On average, the peri-cervical tourniquet fastening time was 10.62 min (between 7 and 15 min), with no significant impact on the overall operative time: 98.50 min for the TLM group compared to 94.66 min for the SLM group. Conclusions: Fastening a tourniquet during a laparoscopic myomectomy is a valuable technique to effectively control intraoperative bleeding and enhance surgical outcomes.
Subject(s)
Laparoscopy , Leiomyoma , Uterine Myomectomy , Uterine Neoplasms , Female , Humans , Uterine Myomectomy/adverse effects , Leiomyoma/surgery , Prospective Studies , Uterine Neoplasms/surgery , Blood Loss, Surgical/prevention & control , Tourniquets , Laparoscopy/adverse effects , Laparoscopy/methodsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To compare the follow-up results of a sacrospinous ligament fixation (SSLF) technique for laparoscopic bilateral fixation of the vagina to the iliopectineal ligament via a PVDF-mesh (laparoscopic pectopexy technique, LP) in terms of cure rate and postoperative complications rate. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This prospective study included 160 patients diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse stage II-IV according to the POP-Q system. Eighty-two patients (51.25%) underwent vaginal sacrospinous ligament fixation and seventy-eight patients (48.75%) underwent the laparoscopic pectopexy procedure. RESULTS: The cure rate was high in both groups, 95.12% of the patients (78 out of 82) in the SSLF group and 93.59% of the patients (73 out of 78) in the LP group were cured post surgery, leading to an overall cure rate of 151 out of 160 patients. Pelvic pain was present in 5.00% of all patients, but was notably more frequent in the SSLF group (7, 8.54%) than in the LP group (1, 1.28%). Dyspareunia occurred in 4.37% of all patients, slightly more frequently in the SSLF group (6, 7.32%) than the LP group (1, 1.28%), but without significant difference. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic pectopexy procedure has comparably positive follow-up results with the conventional sacrospinous ligament fixation procedure. Both SSLF and LP are effective in the treatment of pelvic organ prolapse, with favorable anatomical and subjective results, a high cure rate and low rates of serious postoperative complications.
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Introduction: Uterine leiomyomas are common benign pelvic tumors. Currently, laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) is the preferred treatment option for women in the fertile age group with symptomatic myomas. The authors hypothesize that combining LM with a bilateral temporary occlusion of the hypogastric artery (TOHA) using vascular clips minimizes uterine blood flow during surgery and can significantly reduce surgery-associated blood loss. Materials and methods: This single-center, prospective randomized study was conducted at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Municipal Emergency Clinical Hospital Timisoara, Romania. Patients aged between 18 and 49 who preferred laparoscopic myomectomy and wished to preserve fertility were included, provided they had intramural uterine leiomyomas larger than 4 cm in diameter that deformed the uterine cavity. The study analyzed data from 60 laparoscopic myomectomies performed by a single surgeon between January 2018 and December 2020. Patients were randomly assigned to either: "LM + TOHA" group (29 patients), and "LM" group (31 patients). The study's main objective was to evaluate the impact of TOHA on perioperative blood loss, expressed as mean differences in Hb (delta Hb). Results: Delta Hb was statistically lower in the "LM + TOHA" group compared to "LM" group, with mean ± standard (min-max): 1.68 ± 0.67 (0.39-3.99) vs. 2.63 ± 1.06 (0.83-4.92) g/dL, respectively (p < 0.001). There was a statistically significant higher need for postoperative iron perfusion in the "LM" group, specifically 0 vs. 12 patients (p < 0.001), and lower postoperative anemia in "LM + TOHA" group (p < 0.001). Necessary artery clipping time was 10.62 ± 2.47 (7-15) minutes, with no significant impact on overall operative time: 110.2 ± 13.65 vs. 106.3 ± 16.48 (p = 0.21). There was no difference in the length of hospitalization or 12-month post-intervention fertility. Discussion: Performing bilateral TOHA prior to laparoscopic myomectomy has proven to be a valuable technique in reducing surgery-associated blood loss, while minimizing complications during surgery, with no significant increase in the overall operative time. Clinical trial registration: ISRCTN registry, (www.isrctn.com), identifier ISRCTN66897343.
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OBJECTIVE: This study aims to provide an in-depth analysis of patient preferences and clinical outcomes associated with two surgical techniques for treating stress urinary incontinence (SUI): the transobturator suburethral sling (TOT) procedure and the pubourethral ligament plication (PUL) procedure. We evaluated the rates of postoperative complications, the duration of each procedure, hemoglobin loss, and days of hospitalization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 80 patients who underwent surgery for SUI: 40 patients for the TOT procedure and 40 patients for the PUL procedure. Clinical data on patient characteristics, treatment efficacy, and post-surgical outcomes were analyzed to assess patient preferences and real-world clinical effectiveness. RESULTS: Regarding patient preferences, those who underwent TOT surgery were more likely to be older, had a higher average number of pregnancies, and were more often postmenopausal, in contrast to those who underwent PUL surgery (p < 0.001 for each comparison). TOT patients had a hospital stay on average of 1.02 days, while PUL patients benefited from ambulatory stays only. In addition, the TOT group had a significantly longer average operating time (16.80 min) compared to the PUL group (9.90 min, p < 0.001). The study revealed notable outcomes in both groups, with high cure rates for both TOT (N1 = 33, 82.5%) and PUL (N2 = 28, 70%) procedures. Specifically, 76.25% of the patients (61 out of 80) were cured after the procedures. Chronic pelvic pain was present in 3.75% of all patients and was notably only observed in the TOT group, with 3 (7.5%) cases being noted. Similarly, vaginal erosion was experienced by 5% of all patients, with 10% of patients in the TOT group and none in the PUL group being affected. Dyspareunia occurred in 2.5% of all patients, with there being two (5%) cases in the TOT group and none in the PUL group. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights that while the PUL procedure achieves cure rates comparable to TOT, it offers a less invasive option with shorter operating times and no hospitalization required. These findings suggest that PUL could be a viable alternative for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) treatment, especially in contexts where avoiding mesh use is preferred. This adds significant value to patient-centered care in SUI management, offering tailored treatment options based on patient characteristics, preferences, and risk profiles.
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We report the case of a 29-year-old patient with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (L-SIL), negative human papilloma virus (HPV), positive p16/Ki-67 dual-staining and colposcopy suggestive for severe dysplastic lesion. The patient underwent a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP), the pathology report revealing mesonephric hyperplasia and adenocarcinoma. The patient also opted for non-standard fertility-sparing treatment. The trachelectomy pathology report described a zone of hyperplasia at the limit of resection towards the uterine isthmus. Two supplementary interpretations of the slides and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were performed. The results supported the diagnosis of mesonephric adenocarcinoma, although with difficulty in differentiating it from mesonephric hyperplasia. Given the discordant pathology results that were inconclusive in establishing a precise diagnosis of the lesion and the state of the limits of resection, the patient was referred to a specialist abroad. Furthermore, the additional interpretation of the slides and IHC were performed, the results suggesting a clear cell carcinoma. The positive p16/Ki-67 dual-staining prior to LEEP, the non-specific IHC and the difficulties in establishing a diagnosis made the case interesting. Given the limitations of cytology and the fact that these variants are independent of HPV infection, dual staining p16/Ki-67 could potentially become useful in the diagnosis of rare adenocarcinoma variants of the cervix, however further documentation is required.
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Patients diagnosed with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion ((L-SIL) or atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) are subjected to additional investigations, such as colposcopy and biopsy, to rule out cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2+ (CIN 2+). Especially in young patients, lesions tend to regress spontaneously, and many human papilloma virus (HPV) infections are transient. Dual-staining p16/Ki-67 has been proposed for the triage of patients with ASC-US or L-SIL, but no prospective study addressing only this subgroup of patients has been conducted so far. We performed a prospective study including all eligible patients referred for a loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of TimiÈoara University City Hospital. HPV genotyping and dual-staining for p16/Ki-67 were performed prior to LEEP, at 6 and 12 months after LEEP. A total of 60 patients were included in the study and completed the follow-up evaluation. We analyzed the sensitivity and specificity for biopsy-confirmed CIN2+ using the 95% confidence interval (CI) of high-risk human papilloma virus (HR-HPV), dual-staining p16/Ki-67, colposcopy, and combinations of the tests on all patients and separately for the ASC-US and L-SIL groups. Dual-staining p16/Ki-67 alone or in combination with HR-HPV and/or colposcopy showed a higher specificity that HR-HPV and/or colposcopy for the diagnosis of biopsy confirmed CIN2+ in patients under 30 years. Colposcopy + p16/Ki-67 and HR-HPV + colposcopy + p16/Ki-67 showed the highest specificity in our study.
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The objective of our paper is to underline the importance of assessing microarray genetic analysis for the detection of chromosomal abnormalities in rare cases such as left atrial isomerism, mostly in the context of antenatally detected syndromes. We present the case of a 26-year-old primipara, at 26 weeks of gestation, with prior first trimester normal anomaly scan, who presented in our department accusing lower abdominal pain. An anomaly ultrasound examination of the fetus revealed cardiomegaly with increased size of the right atrium, non-visualization of the atrial septum or the foramen ovale, malalignment of the three-vessel view, location of the superior vena cava above the two-vessel view, slight pericardial effusion, and no interruption of the inferior vena cava nor presence of azygos vein being noted. Associated extracardiac abnormalities, such as small kidneys at the level of the iliac fossa, micrognathia, dolichocephaly with hypoplasia of the cerebellum, increased nuchal fold, and reduced fetal movements were also reported. A diagnostic amniocentesis was performed, and, while the conventional rapid prenatal diagnostic test of the multiplex quantitative fluorescent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) came as normal, the microarray analysis (ChAS, NCBI Built 37 hg 19, detection of microdeletions or microduplications larger than 100 kb) revealed two chromosomal abnormalities: a 22.84 Mb loss of genetic material in the 18q21.31-18q23 chromosomal region and a gain of 22.31 Mb of genetic material in the 20p13-20p11.21 chromosomal region. After the termination of pregnancy, a necropsy of the fetus was performed, confirming heterotaxy syndrome with a common atrium, no atrial septum, superior vena cava draining medianly, and pulmonary veins that drained into the lower segment of the left atrium due to an anatomically enlarged single common atrium. The extracardiac findings consisted of two bilobar lungs, dysmorphic facies, low-set ears, nuchal fold edema, and small kidneys located in the iliac fossa. These findings are conclusive evidence that left atrial isomerism is a more complex syndrome. The genetic tests of the parents did not reveal any translocations of chromosomes 18 and 20 when the Fluorescent in situ Hybridization (FISH) analysis was assessed. The antenatal detection of corroboration between different structural abnormalities using serial ultrasound examinations and cardiac abnormalities, together with the detection of the affected chromosomes, improves the genetic counseling regarding the prognosis of the fetus and the recurrence rate of the condition for siblings.
Subject(s)
Fetus/abnormalities , Heart Atria/abnormalities , Heart Defects, Congenital/pathology , Heterotaxy Syndrome/pathology , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Pregnancy , Prenatal DiagnosisABSTRACT
Endometriosis, an estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease characterized by the ectopic presence of endometrial tissue, has been the topic of renewed research and debate in recent years. The paradigm shift from the belief that endometriosis only affects women of reproductive age has drawn attention to endometriosis in both premenarchal and postmenopausal patients. There is still scarce information in literature regarding postmenopausal endometriosis, the mostly studied and reported being the prevalence in postmenopausal women. Yet, other important issues also need to be addressed concerning diagnosis, pathophysiology, and management. We aimed at summarizing the currently available data in literature in order to provide a concise and precise update regarding information available on postmenopausal endometriosis.
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Menopause can occur spontaneously (natural menopause) or it can be surgically induced by oophorectomy. The symptoms and complications related to menopause differ from one patient to another. We aimed to review the similarities and differences between natural and surgically induced menopause by analyzing the available data in literature regarding surgically induced menopause and the current guidelines and recommendations, the advantages of bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in low and high risk patients, the effects of surgically induced menopause and to analyze the factors involved in decision making.