Prognosis and adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with positive peritoneal cytology in stage IA endometrial cancer.

This study evaluated the influence of positive peritoneal cytology (PPC) on the prognosis of patients with stage IA endometrial cancer, and the usefulness of adjuvant chemotherapy in their treatment. We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with stage IA endometrial cancer admitted in our hospital between 2005 and 2015. Among 989 patients who underwent peritoneal cytology, 135 (13.7%) had PPC. Multivariate analysis extracted several independent risk factors for recurrence in stage IA patients, including those with PPC. Adjuvant chemotherapy did not cause a significant difference in the 5-year relapse-free survival rate in patients with PPC (p = 0.78). Similarly, the 5-year recurrence-free survival rate with or without chemotherapy was not different among type II cancer patients (p = 0.11). However, the baseline risk of 5-year relapse-free survival without chemotherapy in patients with PPC and type II was very low (66.7%). While PPC was an independent risk factor for recurrence in stage IA endometrial cancer, adjuvant chemotherapy did not influence the survival rate in patients with PPC. While it is controversial whether adjuvant chemotherapy should be administered in stage IA uterine cancer with only PPC as a prognostic factor, it should be considered for early-stage patients who have multiple risk factors for recurrence.

Minimally Invasive Compared With Open Hysterectomy in High-Risk Endometrial Cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To compare disease-free survival between minimally invasive surgery and open surgery in patients with high-risk endometrial cancer. METHODS: We conducted a multicentric, propensity-matched study of patients with high-risk endometrial cancer who underwent hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and staging between January 1999 and June 2016 at two centers. High-risk endometrial cancer included grade 3 endometrioid, serous, clear cell, undifferentiated carcinoma or carcinosarcoma with any myometrial invasion. Patients were categorized a priori into two groups based on surgical approach, propensity scores were calculated based on potential confounders and groups were matched 1:1 using nearest neighbor technique. Cox hazard regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves evaluated the association of surgical technique with survival. RESULTS: Of 626 eligible patients, 263 (42%) underwent minimally invasive surgery and 363 (58%) underwent open surgery. In the matched cohort, there were no differences in disease-free survival rates at 5 years between open (53.4% [95% CI 45.6-60.5%]) and minimally invasive surgery (54.6% [95% CI 46.6-61.8]; P=.82). Minimally invasive surgery was not associated with worse disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 0.85, 95% CI 0.63-1.16; P=.30), overall survival (HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.73-1.48, P=.81), or recurrence rate (HR 0.99; 95% CI 0.69-1.44; P=.99) compared with open surgery. Use of uterine manipulator was not associated with worse disease-free survival (HR 1.01, 95% CI 0.65-1.58, P=.96), overall survival (HR 1.18, 95% CI 0.71-1.96, P=.53), or recurrence rate (HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.67-1.87; P=.66). CONCLUSION: There was no difference in oncologic outcomes comparing minimally invasive and open surgery among patients with high-risk endometrial cancer.

Comparison of survival outcomes with or without Para-aortic lymphadenectomy in surgical patients with stage IB1-IIA2 cervical cancer in China from 2004 to 2016.

BACKGROUND: Current opinions on whether surgical patients with cervical cancer should undergo para-aortic lymphadenectomy at the same time are inconsistent. The present study examined differences in survival outcomes with or without para-aortic lymphadenectomy in surgical patients with stage IB1-IIA2 cervical cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively compared the survival outcomes of 8802 stage IB1-IIA2 cervical cancer patients (FIGO 2009) who underwent abdominal radical hysterectomy + pelvic lymphadenectomy (n = 8445) or abdominal radical hysterectomy + pelvic lymphadenectomy + para-aortic lymphadenectomy (n = 357) from 37 hospitals in mainland China. RESULTS: Among the 8802 patients with stage IB1-IIA2 cervical cancer, 1618 (18.38%) patients had postoperative pelvic lymph node metastases, and 37 (10.36%) patients had para-aortic lymph node metastasis. When pelvic lymph nodes had metastases, the para-aortic lymph node simultaneous metastasis rate was 30.00% (36/120). The risk of isolated para-aortic lymph node metastasis was 0.42% (1/237). There were no significant differences in the survival outcomes between the para-aortic lymph node unresected and resected groups. No differences in the survival outcomes were found before or after matching between the two groups regardless of pelvic lymph node negativity/positivity. CONCLUSION: Para-aortic lymphadenectomy did not improve 5-year survival outcomes in surgical patients with stage IB1-IIA2 cervical cancer. Therefore, when pelvic lymph node metastasis is negative, the risk of isolated para-aortic lymph node metastasis is very low, and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is not recommended. When pelvic lymph node metastasis is positive, para-aortic lymphadenectomy should be carefully selected because of the high risk of this procedure.

Investigación de incidencia y complicaciones de histerectomía de emergencia en periparto / Investigation of Incidence and Complications of Emergency peripartum hysterectomy

Introducción: La histerectomía periparto de emergencia es una cirugía de alto riesgo, que se realiza mayoritariamente después de un parto vaginal o cesárea. Dada la importancia de las complicaciones y la mortalidad de las embarazadas para el sistema de salud, el presente estudio tuvo como objetivo investigar la incidencia y las complicaciones de la histerectomía periparto de emergencia en los hospitales generales y docentes de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Zahedan. Materiales y Métodos: En este estudio descriptivo-analítico transversal, luego de obtener la aprobación del Comité de Ética, se investigó la historia clínica de las pacientes con histerectomía periparto de emergencia ingresadas en el hospital Ali ibn Abitaleb de Zahedan para la interrupción del embarazo durante 2017-2018. fueron estudiados. Después de evaluar las características demográficas, incluida la edad, la educación y la ocupación, se investigaron las causas y las complicaciones de la histerectomía de emergencia. Finalmente, los datos fueron analizados por el software SPSS.Resultados: De 2438 casos, se investigaron 50 casos de histerectomía. La edad media de las madres y el número medio de embarazos fue de 31,06 ± 5,21 y 5,72 ± 2,31, respectivamente. En este estudio, se registraron 35 cesáreas (70%) y 15 partos vaginales normales (30%), y solo el 2% condujo a una histerectomía de emergencia. Las causas más comunes de histerectomía de emergencia incluyeron placenta accreta (28%), atonía uterina (24%) y rotura uterina (20%). Las complicaciones también incluyeron fiebre (24%), coagulopatía (14%) e infección de la herida (12%). Conclusión: la placenta accreta y la atonía uterina son las causas más importantes de histerectomía. Las complicaciones más comunes de la histerectomía de emergencia son fiebre, coagulopatía e infecciones de heridas. Una disminución en el parto por cesárea electiva y un mayor fomento del parto vaginal natural podrían reducir significativamente la incidencia de histerectomía periparto y la mortalidad materna

Introduction: The emergency peripartum hysterectomy is a high-risk surgery, which is mostly performed after vaginal delivery or Caesarean section. Given the importance of complications and mortality of pregnant mothers for the health system, the present study aimed to investigate the incidence and complications of emergency peripartum hysterectomy in general and teaching hospitals of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive-analytic study, after obtaining the Ethics Committee approval, the medical record of patients with emergency peripartum hysterectomy admitted to Ali ibn Abitaleb hospital of Zahedan for pregnancy termination during 2017-2018 were investigated. were studied. After evaluating demographic characteristics, including age, education, and occupation, causes, and complications of emergency hysterectomy were investigated. Finally, data were analyzed by SPSS software. Results: Out of 2438 cases, 50 cases of hysterectomy were investigated. The mean age of mothers and the average number of pregnancies was 31.06±5.21 and 5.72±2.31, respectively. In this study, 35 caesarean sections (70%) and 15 normal vaginal delivery (30%) were recorded, with only 2% leading to emergency hysterectomy. The most common causes of emergency hysterectomy included placenta accreta (28%), uterine atony (24%), and uterine rupture (20%). The complications also included fever (24%), coagulopathy (14%), and wound infection (12%). Conclusion: Placenta accreta and uterine atony are the most important causes of hysterectomy. The most common complications of emergency hysterectomy are fever, coagulopathy, and wound infections. A decrease in elective caesarean delivery and further encouraging to natural vaginal delivery could significantly reduce the incidence of peripartum hysterectomy and maternal mortality

Disparities in Access to High-Volume Surgeons Within High-Volume Hospitals for Hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To examine access to high-volume surgeons in comparison with low-volume surgeons who perform hysterectomies within high-volume hospitals and to compare perioperative morbidity and mortality between high-volume and low-volume surgeons within these centers. METHODS: Women who underwent hysterectomy in New York State between 2000 and 2014 at a high-volume (top quartile by volume) hospital were included. Surgeons were classified into quartiles based on average annual hysterectomy volume. Multivariable models were used to determine characteristics associated with treatment by a low-volume surgeon in comparison with a high-volume surgeon and to estimate the association between physician volume, and morbidity and mortality. RESULTS: A total of 300,586 patients cared for by 5,505 surgeons at 59 hospitals were identified. Women treated by low-volume surgeons, in comparison with high-volume surgeons, were more often Black (19.4% vs 14.3%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.26; 95% CI 1.09-1.46) and had Medicare insurance (20.6% vs 14.5%; aOR 1.22; 95% CI 1.04-1.42). Low-volume surgeons were more likely to perform both emergent-urgent procedures (26.1% vs 6.4%; aOR 3.91; 95% CI 3.26-4.69) and abdominal hysterectomy, compared with minimally invasive hysterectomy (77.8% vs 54.7%; aOR 1.91; 95% CI 1.62-2.24). Compared with patients cared for by high-volume surgeons, those operated on by low-volume surgeons had increased risk of a complication (31.0% vs 10.3%; adjusted risk ratios [aRR] 1.84; 95% CI 1.71-1.98) and mortality (2.2% vs 0.2%; aRR 3.04; 95% CI 2.20-4.21). In sensitivity analyses, differences in morbidity and mortality remained for emergent-urgent procedures, elective operations, cancer surgery, and noncancer procedures. CONCLUSION: Socioeconomic disparities remain in access to high-volume surgeons within high-volume hospitals for hysterectomy. Patients who undergo hysterectomy at a high-volume hospital by a low-volume surgeon are at substantially greater risk for perioperative morbidity and mortality.

Clinical outcomes of patients with endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer following surgical treatment.

BACKGROUND: Endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer (EEOC) is rare, and its management poorly defined. We examined factors associated with 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) after surgery for EEOC. METHODS: Retrospective study: treatment and outcomes of all EEOC patients undergoing initial surgery at, or presenting to, our institution within 3 months of initial surgery, 1/2002-9/2017. RESULTS: In total, 212 patients were identified. Median follow-up, 63.9 months (range, 0.7-192); median age at diagnosis, 52 years (range, 20-88); disease stage: I, n = 145 (68%); II, n = 47 (22%); III/IV, n = 20 (9%); FIGO grade: 1, 127 (60%); 2, 66 (31%); 3, 17 (8%); unknown, 2 (1%). One hundred twenty-eight (60%) had endometriosis; 75 (35%), synchronous endometrioid endometrial cancer (80%, IA); 101 (48%), complete surgical staging; 8 (5%), positive pelvic lymph nodes (LNs); 6 (4%), positive para-aortic LNs; 176 (97%), complete gross resection; 123 (60%), postoperative chemotherapy; 56(28%), no additional treatment. Five-year PFS, 83% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 76.6%-87.8%); 5-year overall survival (OS), 92.7% (95% CI: 87.7%-95.8%). Age, stage, and surgical staging were associated with improved 5-year PFS, and younger age at diagnosis with improved 5-year OS (p < 0.001). Chemotherapy did not improve 5-year PFS in IA/IB versus observation, but improved survival in IC (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.01, 95% CI: 0.22-4.59, p = 0.99; HR: 0.17, 95% CI: 0.04-0.7, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Age, stage, and full surgical staging were associated with improved 5-year PFS. Chemotherapy showed no benefit in IA/IB disease.

Effectiveness of uterine tamponade devices for refractory postpartum haemorrhage after vaginal birth: a systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate uterine tamponade devices' effectiveness for atonic refractory postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) after vaginal birth and the effect of including them in institutional protocols. SEARCH STRATEGY: PubMed, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, POPLINE, from inception to January 2021. STUDY SELECTION: Randomised and non-randomised comparative studies. OUTCOMES: Composite outcome including surgical interventions (artery ligations, compressive sutures or hysterectomy) or maternal death, and hysterectomy. RESULTS: All included studies were at high risk of bias. The certainty of the evidence was rated as very low to low. One randomised study measured the effect of the condom-catheter balloon compared with standard care and found unclear results for the composite outcome (relative risk [RR] 2.33, 95% CI 0.76-7.14) and hysterectomy (RR 4.14, 95% CI 0.48-35.93). Three comparative studies assessed the effect of including uterine balloon tamponade in institutional protocols. A stepped wedge cluster randomised controlled trial suggested an increase in the composite outcome (RR 4.08, 95% CI 1.07-15.58) and unclear results for hysterectomy (RR 4.38, 95% CI 0.47-41.09) with the use of the condom-catheter or surgical glove balloon. One non-randomised study showed unclear effects on the composite outcome (RR 0.33, 95% CI 0.11-1.03) and hysterectomy (RR 0.49, 95% CI 0.04-5.38) after the inclusion of the Bakri balloon. The second non-randomised study found unclear effects on the composite outcome (RR 0.95, 95% CI 0.32-2.81) and hysterectomy (RR 1.84, 95% CI 0.44-7.69) after the inclusion of Ebb or Bakri balloon. CONCLUSIONS: The effect of uterine tamponade devices for the management of atonic refractory PPH after vaginal delivery is unclear, as is the role of the type of device and the setting. TWEETABLE ABSTRACT: Unclear effects of uterine tamponade devices and their inclusion in institutional protocols for atonic refractory PPH after vaginal delivery.

Role of lymphadenectomy for apparent early stage uterine sarcoma; a comprehensive analysis of the National Cancer Database.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the role of lymphadenectomy for patients with apparent stage I uterine sarcoma. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was accessed and patients without a history of another tumor diagnosed between 2004 and 2015 with an apparent early stage leiomyosarcoma, adenosarcoma, low-grade endometrial stromal and high-grade endometrial stromal/undifferentiated sarcoma who underwent hysterectomy with or without lymphadenectomy were identified. Overall survival was assessed after stratification by histology with the log-rank test while Cox models were constructed to control for confounders. RESULTS: A total of 6412 patients with apparent early stage uterine sarcoma who underwent hysterectomy were identified; 2820 (44%) underwent lymphadenectomy. Rate of lymph node metastasis was 3.4% (42/1250) for patients with leiomyosarcoma, 2.3% (19/826) for those with adenosarcoma, 4.5% (21/463) for patients with low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma and 7.9% (22/280) for those with high-grade endometrial stromal/undifferentiated sarcoma, p < 0.001. After controlling for confounders lymphadenectomy was not associated with better survival for patients with adenosarcoma (HR: 0.92, 95% CI: 0.73, 1.17), or low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma (HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 0.73, 1.87). Patients with leiomyosarcoma who underwent lymphadenectomy had worse survival (HR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.28). Patients with high-grade endometrial stromal/undifferentiated sarcoma who underwent lymphadenectomy had better survival (HR: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.48, 0.89). CONCLUSIONS: Incidence of lymph node metastasis in apparent early stage uterine sarcoma is rare while the performance of lymphadenectomy was not associated with a clear survival benefit for all histologic subtypes except high-grade endometrial stromal/undifferentiated sarcoma.

Standardization and experience may influence the survival of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Minimally invasive radical hysterectomy has been shown to be associated with poorer outcome in an influential prospective, randomized trial. However, many centers worldwide performing minimally invasive radical hysterectomy have data and experience that prove otherwise. We aim to review surgical and oncologic outcomes of patients operated by Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy in a tertiary hospital, by experienced surgeons and standardization in radicality, for cervical carcinoma Stage 1A1-1B1 from January 2009 to May 2014. MATERIALS & METHODS: Standardised surgical technique with Parametrium & Paracolpium resection approach was adopted by qualified and experienced Gynecologic/Gyne-Oncologic Endoscopic & Minimally Invasive Surgeons in performing Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer stage 1A1-1B1 from January 2009-May 2014, involving 53 patients. Electronic Medical Record system (EMR) Of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital(Tertiary Referral Centre), Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology was accessed for surgical and oncologic outcomes. RESULTS: Fifty-Three patients operated from January 2009 to May 2014 were followed up for an average of 96.7 months with longest follow-up at 127 months. There were no cases of recurrence or death reported. 5 Year - Survival Rate and 5 Year Disease-Free Survival Rate were 100%. Two patients received post-operative pelvic radiation concurrent with chemotherapy using Cisplatin due to greater than 1/3 cervical stromal invasion. CONCLUSION: It is vital to standardize minimally invasive surgical techniques for early stage cervical cancer, with focus on adequate radicality and resection which may contribute to excellent survival outcomes. Further international multi-center randomized trial (Minimally Invasive Therapy Versus Open Radical Hysterectomy In Cervical Cancer) will provide justification for continued practice of MIS in early stage cervical cancer.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy and morbidity outcomes in early cervical cancer: Results of a multicentre randomised trial (SENTICOL-2).

INTRODUCTION: Pelvic lymph node dissection has been the standard of care for patients with early cervical cancer. Sentinel node (SN) mapping is safe and feasible and may increase the detection of metastatic disease, but benefits of omitting pelvic lymph node dissection in terms of decreased morbidity have not been demonstrated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an open-label study, patients with early cervical carcinoma (FIGO 2009 stage IA2 to IIA1) were randomly assigned to SN resection alone (SN arm) or SN and pelvic lymph node dissection (SN + PLND arm). SN resection was followed by radical surgery of the tumour (radical hysterectomy or radical trachelectomy). The primary end-point was morbidity related to the lymph node dissection; 3-year recurrence-free survival was a secondary end-point. RESULTS: A total of 206 patients were eligible and randomly assigned to the SN arm (105 patients) or SN + PLND arm (101 patients). Most patients had stage IB1 lesion (87.4%). No false-negative case was observed in SN + PLND arm. Lymphatic morbidity was significantly lower in the SN arm (31.4%) than in the SN + PLND arm (51.5%; p = 0.0046), as was the rate of postoperative neurological symptoms (7.8% vs. 20.6%, p = 0.01, respectively). However, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients with significant lymphoedema between the two groups. During the 6-month postoperative period, the difference in morbidity decreased over time. The 3-year recurrence-free survival was not significantly different (92.0% in SN arm and 94.4% in SN + PLND arm). CONCLUSION: SN resection alone is associated with early decreased lymphatic morbidity when compared with SN + PLND in early cervical cancer.

Long-term oncological outcome in patients with cervical cancer after 3 trimodality treatment (radiotherapy, platinum-based chemotherapy, and robotic surgery).

ABSTRACT: Cervical cancer represents a general health issue spread all over the globe, which prompts the surge of scientific survey toward the rise of survival and condition of life of these patients. American and European guidelines suggest the open surgery, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery are the main therapeutic approaches for radical hysterectomy for patients with cervical cancer. This is the first survey to analyze the long-term oncological outcome of an extensive series of subjects cared for with multimodality treatment, here comprising robotic surgery.This study intents to evaluate the long-term oncological result in patients diagnosed with cervical cancer treated with radiotherapy (±chemotherapy) and robotic surgery compared with open surgery. Medical files of 56 patients diagnosed with cervical cancer who underwent a robotic hysterectomy and radiotherapy ± chemotherapy were retrospectively analyzed.The median age at diagnosis was 50.5 (range: 23-70). Eleven patients (19.6%) presented in an early stage (IB-IIA) and 80.4% advanced stage (IIB-IVA). Overall response rate after radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy was 96.2%. Pathologic complete response was obtained in 64% of patients. After a median follow-up of 60 months (range: 6-105 months), 8 patients (14.2%) presented local recurrence or distant metastases. Disease-free survival (DFS) was 92% at 2 years and 84% at 3 and 5 years. Overall survival (OS) rates at 2, 3, and 5 years for patients with robotic surgery were 91%, 78%, and 73%, median OS not reached. OS was lower in the arm of open surgery (2, 3, and 5 years 87%, 71%, and 61%, respectively; median OS was 72 months P = .054). The multivariate analysis regarding the outcome of patients revealed an advantage for complete versus partial response (P < .002), for early versus advanced stages (P = .014) and a 10% gained in DFS at 3 years for patients in whom chemoradiotherapy was administered (DFS at 3 years 75% vs 85%) in patients with advanced stages.Robotic surgery has a favorable oncological outcome when associated with multimodal therapy.

Survival after Laparoscopic versus Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy in Early Cervical Cancer: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported the safety of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for treatment of early cervical cancer, as option to laparotomy. This study aims to compare overall survival between laparoscopic versus abdominal radical hysterectomy for early cervical cancer. METHODS: A single-center randomized controlled trial enrolled 30 patients with clinically staged IA2 cervical cancer and lymphovascular invasion, IB and IIA, who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (16) or abdominal radical hysterectomy (14). RESULT: The mean overall survival time was 74.74 months (CI 95%: 54.15-95.33) for LRH 91.67 months (CI 95%: 74.97-108.37) for ARH (log-rank test = 0.30). The mean disease-free survival time was 81.07 months (CI 95%: 60.95-101.19) for LRH and 95.82 months (CI 95%: 80.18-111.47) for ARH (log-rank test = 0.371). The overall survival hazard ratio was 2.05 (CI 95%: 0.51-8.24), and the disease-free hazard ratio was 2.13 (CI 95%: 0.39-11.7). CONCLUSION: Our study suggests a non-significant trend of worse outcomes for LRH. In light of recent controversy and need for prospective studies, further studies in different populations are required for definite conclusions and until then, patients should be aware of risks and benefits, survival data and quality of life outcomes related to both surgical techniques.

Trends in hysterectomy-corrected uterine cancer mortality rates during 2002 to 2015: mortality of nonendometrioid cancer on the rise?

Corpus uteri cancer is the most common gynecological malignancy in most developed countries. The disease is typically diagnosed at an early stage, is of endometrioid histologic subtype, and has a fairly good prognosis. Here, we describe hysterectomy-corrected mortality rates of corpus uteri cancer, overall and stratified by age, stage and histologic subtype. Using data from nationwide Danish registries, we calculated uncorrected and hysterectomy-corrected age-standardized mortality rates of corpus uteri cancer among women ≥35 years during 2002 to 2015. Individual-level hysterectomy status was obtained from national registries; hysterectomy-corrected mortality rates were calculated by subtracting posthysterectomy person-years from the denominator, unless hysterectomy was performed due to corpus uteri cancer. Correction for hysterectomy resulted in a 25.5% higher mortality rate (12.3/100000 person-years vs 9.8/100000 person-years). Mortality rates were highest in women aged 70+, irrespective of year of death, histologic subtype and stage. A significant decline was observed in overall hysterectomy-corrected mortality rates from 2002 to 2015, particularly among women aged 70+. Mortality rates of endometrioid cancer declined significantly over time (annual percent change [APC]: -2.32, 95% CI -3.9, -0.7, P = .01), whereas rates of nonendometrioid cancer increased (APC: 5.90, 95% CI: 3.0, 8.9, P < .001). With respect to stage, mortality rates increased significantly over time for FIGOI-IIa (APC: 6.18 [95% CI: 1.9, 10.7] P = .01) but remained unchanged for FIGO IIb-IV. In conclusion, increasing mortality rates of nonendometrioid cancer paralleled the previously observed rise in incidence rates of this histologic subtype. Given the poor prognosis of nonendometrioid cancer, more studies are needed to clarify the underlying reason for these findings.

Proposing the 3-tier staging system for improving prognostication in Stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To examine the utility of a 3-tier schema (≤5 cm, 5.1-10 cm, and > 10 cm) in determining characteristics and survival in Stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma. METHODS: This retrospective observational study queried the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result Program from 1988 to 2016. Surgically treated stage I uterine leiomyosarcomas with known tumor size were examined (N = 2217). Trends, characteristics, and survival were assessed based on tumor size. RESULTS: The most common tumor size was 5.1-10 cm (45.7%) followed by >10 cm (35.0%) and ≤5 cm (19.4%). Tumor size-shift occurred during the study period; the percentage of tumor size >10 cm increased from 12.9% to 44.5% and the groups with smaller tumor sizes decreased (p < .001). In weighted models, 5-year overall survival rates ranged from 49.9% to 71.6% in the 3-tier system and 55.2%-70.6% in the 2-tier system: the absolute difference was larger in the 3-tier system (21.7% vs. 15.4%). In the 3-tier system, all-cause mortality risk of tumor size >10 cm versus ≤5 cm nearly doubled (hazard ratio 1.96, 95% confidence interval 1.78-2.16). CONCLUSION: In the past decades, tumors of stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma have become larger. Our study suggests that a tumor size-based 3-tier staging system may be useful to differentiate survival in stage I uterine leiomyosarcoma.

Survival outcomes of single-port access laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Emerging data from the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer trial (NCT00614211) suggested that minimally invasive surgery (MIS) for cervical cancer is correlated with worse survival outcomes than open surgery. This finding could be attributed to the different learning curves for laparoscopic surgery among surgeons. This study aimed to assess the feasibility, safety, and survival outcomes of single-port access (SPA) laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) for treating early cervical cancer. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients with early-stage cervical cancer who underwent SPA LRH between 2009 and 2018 performed by a single surgeon with expertise in SPA laparoscopy using conventional instrumentation and a homemade glove port system. RESULTS: Type C (93.2%) and B (6.8%) radical hysterectomy were performed in 59 women with cervical cancer classified as IA (3.4%), IB (94.9%), and IIA (1.7%). Forty-one patients (69.5%) had squamous cell carcinoma and 32 patients (52.5%) had tumors < 2 cm. The median operative time was 235 (125-382) minutes. There were no perioperative complications or cases of conversion to open surgery. Postoperative complications, including chylous ascites, low hemoglobin, lymphedema, and vault dehiscence, were observed in 5 patients (8.5%). Median follow-up time was 3.1 (0.6-8.6) years and 3 patients experienced recurrence (1 local and 2 distant failures). Five-year disease-free survival was 94.9% (56/59) and the 5-year overall survival rate was 98.3% (58/59). CONCLUSIONS: SPA LRH is feasible and safe for patients with early-stage cervical cancer when performed by experienced surgeons without compromising the radicality and oncologic outcomes.

Effect of the surgical approach on survival outcomes in patients undergoing radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer: A real-world multicenter study of a large Chinese cohort from 2006 to 2017.

OBJECTIVE: To compare survival outcomes of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) and laparotomy in early-stage cervical cancer (CC) patients. METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study was conducted with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO, 2009) stage IA1 (lymphovascular invasion)-IIA1 CC patients undergoing MIS or laparotomy at four tertiary hospitals from 2006 to 2017. Propensity score matching and weighting and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed. Survival was compared in various matched cohorts and subgroups. RESULTS: Three thousand two hundred and fifty-two patients (2439 MIS and 813 laparotomy) were included after matching. (1) The 2- and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) (2-year, hazard ratio [HR], 1.81;95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-3.0; 5-year, HR, 2.17; 95% CI, 1.21-3.89) or overall survival (OS) (2-year, HR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.03-3.40; 5-year, HR, 2.57; 95% CI, 1.29-5.10) were significantly worse for MIS in patients with stage I B1, but not the cohort overall (2-year RFS, HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.76-1.42; 2-year OS, HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.70-1.41; 5-year RFS, HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.76-1.65; 5-year OS, HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 0.79-1.83) or other stages (2) In a subgroup analysis, MIS exhibited poorer survival in many population subsets, even in patients with less risk factors, such as patients with squamous cell carcinoma, negative for parametrial involvement, with negative surgical margins, negative for lymph node metastasis, and deep stromal invasion < 2/3. (3) In the cohort treated with (2172, 54%) or without adjuvant treatment (1814, 46%), MIS showed worse RFS than laparotomy in patients treated without adjuvant treatment, whereas no differences in RFS and OS were observed in adjuvant-treatment cohort. (4) Inadequate surgeon proficiency strongly correlated with poor RFS and OS in patients receiving MIS compared with laparotomy. CONCLUSIONS: MIS exhibited poorer survival outcomes than laparotomy group in many population subsets, even in low-risk subgroups. Therefore, laparotomy should be the recommended approach for CC patients.

Prognostic factors and treatment comparison in small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix based on population analyses.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the impact of the treatment modality on the outcome of small cell neuroendocrine cervical carcinoma (SCNEC) using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database. METHODS: Patients from the SEER program between 1981 and 2014 were identified. Significant factors for cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression methods. RESULTS: A total of 503 SCNEC patients were identified. The 5-year CSS and OS were 36.6% and 30.6%, respectively. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I to IV distributions was 189 (37.6%), 108 (21.5%), 95 (18.9%), and 111 patients (22.0%), respectively. Within the patients with known treatment strategies, 177 (45.9%) were treated with radical surgery and 209 (54.1%) underwent primary radiotherapy. Local treatment strategies were independent prognostic factor for CSS and OS. The 5-year CSS for radical surgery and primary radiotherapy was 50.0% and 27.9%, respectively (P < .001). The 5-year OS for those who received radical surgery and primary radiotherapy was 57.8%, and 29.6%, respectively (P < .001). In FIGO stage I SCNEC, patients treated with radical surgery had superior CSS (P = .001) and OS (P = .003) than those with primary radiotherapy. However, in FIGO stage II and III SCNEC, there were no differences in CSS and OS with respect to different local treatment strategies. Our results also found that the addition of brachytherapy impacted OS in the FIGO stage III SENCE (P = .002). The 5-year CSS and OS of patients with FIGO IV were only 11.7% and 7.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: SCNEC is a rare disease with aggressive clinical behavior. The findings indicate that radical surgery should be suggested for early-stage SCNEC and combining radiation therapy with brachytherapy should be suitable for patients with advanced stage.

The outcomes and quality of life of young patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy versus non-radiotherapy following surgery treating early FIGO stage cervical squamous cell cancer in southwestern China.

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cervical cancer in young women is rising, and squamous cell carcinoma makes up a great percentage of the histological types. The presence of aggressive pathologic risk factors following patients' primary surgery may warrant the use of adjuvant radiotherapy. It is important to weigh up the risks and benefits of using adjuvant radiotherapy for each young patient so as to maximize their prognosis while minimizing the treatment-related morbidity. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed. It consisted of 97 patients under 35 years old who were diagnosed with cervical squamous cell carcinoma and underwent treatment at West China Second University Hospital between December 2009 and January 2014. Five-year follow-up, prognostic risks, long-term radiation toxicity, female sexual function, and quality of life were investigated. RESULTS: Adjuvant radiotherapy did improve the prognosis of young patients with lymph node metastases. However, there were few significant differences in progress-free survival and overall survival for the young patients without lymph node metastases following adjuvant radiotherapy. Besides, young patients who took radiotherapy exhibited greater intestinal dysfunction, more severe lower extremities edema, greater sexual dysfunction, and worse long-term quality of life. CONCLUSION: Young patients with early-stage cervical squamous cell carcinoma without lymph node metastases who have undergone the primary surgery should be counseled in detail before the decision to use adjuvant radiotherapy can be made. The counseling should emphasize not only the benefit that local recurrence rates can be reduced, but also the risks that treatment-related side effects could increase and lower QoL could occur.

Minimally invasive radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer: Volume-outcome relationship in the early experience period.

OBJECTIVE: Minimally invasive radical hysterectomy (MIS-RH) for early-stage cervical cancer is a relatively new surgical procedure with increased utilization in the mid-/late-2000s. This study examined the association between hospital surgical volume for MIS-RH and perioperative outcomes for early-stage cervical cancer in the period of early adoption. METHODS: This population-based retrospective study queried the National Inpatient Sample from 2007 to 2011. Cervical cancer cases treated with MIS-RH were examined (n = 2202 from 163 hospitals). Annualized hospital surgical volume was defined as the average number of procedures performed per year in which at least one case was performed. Characteristics and outcomes related to MIS-RH use were assessed. The comparator cohort included RH by laparotomy (Open-RH; n = 11,187 from 405 hospitals). RESULTS: Among MIS-RH-offering centers, 42.3% had average 1 case/year and surgical volume of >4 cases/year represented the top decile. When stratified by MIS-RH types, on average 31.3 centers performed robotic-assisted approach per year versus 11.5 centers for the traditional approach. Small bed capacity centers were most likely to perform robotic-assisted RH (adjusted-odds ratio 4.07, P < 0.001). In the traditional MIS-RH group, higher hospital surgical volume was associated with lower surgical morbidity (P = 0.025) whereas in the robotic-assisted approach higher hospital surgical volume was associated with higher surgical morbidity (P < 0.001). In the Open-RH cohort, higher hospital surgical volume was significantly associated with decreased surgical morbidity and mortality (both, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the mid-/late-2000s, MIS-RH surgical volume was modest in the United States. Small bed capacity centers adopted robotic-assisted MIS-RH more frequently, and there was a statistically significant association of increased perioperative complications among higher volume centers. In contrast, higher surgical volume was associated with improved perioperative outcomes with the traditional MIS-RH and open-RH approaches.