COVID-19 in children and adolescents: MIS(-C)-taken diagnoses.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an inflammatory condition associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is characterized by fever, gastro-intestinal symptoms, cardiovascular complications, conjunctivitis, skin involvement, elevated inflammatory markers, and coagulation abnormalities. The current ongoing COVID-19 pandemic causes an increased alertness to MIS-C. In combination with the heterogeneous clinical spectrum, this could potentially lead to diagnostic blindness, misdiagnosis of MIS-C, and overtreatment with expensive IVIG treatment. This report demonstrates the challenge of accurately distinguishing MIS-C from other more common inflammatory pediatric diseases, and the need to act with caution to avoid misdiagnoses in the current pandemic. We present a case series of 11 patients suspected of MIS-C based on the current definitions. Three of them were eventually diagnosed with a different disease. CONCLUSION: Current definitions and diagnostic criteria lack specificity which potentially leads to misdiagnosis and overtreatment of MIS-C. We emphasize the need to act with caution in order to avoid MIS(-C)-taken diagnoses in the current pandemic. WHAT IS KNOWN: • A pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease associated with SARS-CoV-2 has been described (MIS-C). • There are three definitions being used for MIS-C, all including fever for at least 24 h, laboratory evidence of inflammation, clinically severe illness with multi-organ (≥ 2) involvement, and no alternative plausible diagnosis. WHAT IS NEW: • MIS-C has a heterogeneous clinical spectrum without distinctive features compared to more common childhood diseases. Current definitions and diagnostic criteria for MIS-C lack specificity which leads to misdiagnosis and overtreatment. • Amid the current excessive attention to COVID-19 and MIS-C, pediatricians should remain vigilant to avoid mistaken diagnoses.

Lymphovascular invasion has a significant prognostic impact in patients with early breast cancer, results from a large, national, multicenter, retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: We determined the prognostic impact of lymphovascular invasion (LVI) in a large, national, multicenter, retrospective cohort of patients with early breast cancer (BC) according to numerous factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We collected data on 17 322 early BC patients treated in 13 French cancer centers from 1991 to 2013. Survival functions were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and multivariate survival analyses were carried out using the Cox proportional hazards regression model adjusted for significant variables associated with LVI or not. Two propensity score-based matching approaches were used to balance differences in known prognostic variables associated with LVI status and to assess the impact of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) in LVI-positive luminal A-like patients. RESULTS: LVI was present in 24.3% (4205) of patients. LVI was significantly and independently associated with all clinical and pathological characteristics analyzed in the entire population and according to endocrine receptor (ER) status except for the time period in binary logistic regression. According to multivariate analyses including ER status, AC, grade, and tumor subtypes, the presence of LVI was significantly associated with a negative prognostic impact on overall (OS), disease-free (DFS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS) in all patients [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.345, HR = 1.312, and HR = 1.415, respectively; P < 0.0001], which was also observed in the propensity score-based analysis in addition to the association of AC with a significant increase in both OS and DFS in LVI-positive luminal A-like patients. LVI did not have a significant impact in either patients with ER-positive grade 3 tumors or those with AC-treated luminal A-like tumors. CONCLUSION: The presence of LVI has an independent negative prognostic impact on OS, DFS, and MFS in early BC patients, except in ER-positive grade 3 tumors and in those with luminal A-like tumors treated with AC. Therefore, LVI may indicate the existence of a subset of luminal A-like patients who may still benefit from adjuvant therapy.

Prophylactic nipple-sparing mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction: results of a French prospective trial.

BACKGROUND: Nipple-sparing mastectomy (NSM) with immediate breast reconstruction (IBR) is used increasingly when performing a prophylactic mastectomy. Few prospective studies have reported on complication rates. This complementary trial to the French prospective multicentre MAPAM trial aimed to evaluate the nipple-areola complex (NAC) necrosis rate in prophylactic NSM with IBR. METHODS: Patient characteristics and surgical data were recorded. Morbidity after prophylactic NSM with a focus on NAC necrosis was analysed. RESULTS: Among 59 women undergoing prophylactic NSM, 19 (32 per cent) of the incisions were partly on the NAC. Reconstructions were performed with 46 definitive implants and 13 expanders. The crude rate of postoperative complications was 25 per cent (15 patients). Complete NAC necrosis was reported in two women (3 per cent) and partial or total necrosis in nine (15 per cent). No NAC resection was necessary. Median BMI was lower in women with total or partial NAC necrosis compared with the others (20.0 versus 21.3 kg/m2 respectively; P = 0.034). CONCLUSION: Results of this prospective study confirm that prophylactic NSM with IBR is associated with a low risk of total NAC necrosis.

Breast cancer robotic nipple sparing mastectomy: evaluation of several surgical procedures and learning curve.

BACKGROUND: Few studies of robotic nipple sparing mastectomy (NSM) were reported. We report feasibility of robotic NSM and determine standard surgical procedure and learning curve threefold. METHODS: A cohort of patients with robotic NSM for breast cancer was analyzed. Complications and post-operative hospitalization stay were reported. The same technic was used for all patients except for skin and nipple areolar complex (NAC) dissection. Differences between three surgical procedures of NAC dissection were analyzed: group 1, dissection with robotic scissors using coagulation; group 2, dissection with robotic scissors without coagulation; and group 3, dissection with non-robotic scissors and then robotic dissection. We explored possible effect of learning curve among patients from group 1 with the same surgical procedure. RESULTS: Twenty-seven NSM with immediate breast reconstruction for breast cancers, 22 invasive and 5 in situ, were performed, with robotic latissimus dorsi-flap (RLDF) only in 17 cases, RLDF and breast implant in 6 cases, and implant alone in 4 cases. Repartition according to 3 surgical procedure groups was 16, 5, and 6 patients. Mean time of surgery and anesthesia decrease according to groups 1 to 3. Among 16 patients from group 1, time of surgery and anesthesia decreased with learning curve. Post-operative hospitalization decreased from group 1 to 3. We reported a total of 11 complications, with significant difference between groups (10 for group 1). Skin complications were higher for group 1 in comparison with groups 2-3 (p = 0.02). CONCLUSION: Robotic NSM can be performed with a brief learning. Standardized technique is proposed with non-robotic scissors superficial dissection and then dissection with robot.

Survival after breast cancer local recurrence according to therapeutic strategies.

AIMS: To compare survival outcomes after mastectomy (Mt) and lumpectomy plus interstitial brachytherapy (LpIB) in the treatment of breast cancer local recurrence (LR) occurring after conservative surgery. METHODS: Medical records of patients treated for an isolated LR from January 1, 1981 to December 31, 2009 were reviewed. To overcome the bias due to the fact that treatment choice (Mt or LpIB) was based on prognostic factors with LpIB proposed preferentially to women with good prognosis, Mt and LpIB populations were matched and compared with regard to overall survival (OS) and metastasis free survival (MFS). RESULTS: Among 348 patients analyzed, 66.7% underwent Mt, 17.8% LpIB and 15.5% Lp alone. After a median follow-up of 73.3 months, 65 patients had died (42/232 Mt, 8/62 LpIB, 15/54 Lp). Before matching, OS and MFS at 5 years were significantly better in the LpIB compared to the Mt group, due to significantly more frequent poor prognostic factors in the latter (p = 0,07 and p = 0,09 respectively, log-rank significance limit of 10%). After matching, the benefits of LpIB disappeared since MFS and OS rates were not significantly different in both groups (p = 0.68 and 0.88 respectively). After LpIB, the second LR rate was 17% at 5 years and 30% at 10 years. CONCLUSION: A second conservative breast cancer treatment associating lumpectomy and interstitial brachytherapy is possible for selected patients with LR, without decrease in neither OS nor MFS compared to mastectomy.

[Mastectomy in ambulatory hospitalization or 24hours: Feasibility, satisfaction and preferences of the patients]. / Mastectomie en hospitalisation ambulatoire ou de 24heures : faisabilité, satisfaction et préférences des patientes.

The aim of this study is to analyze the feasibility of ambulatory hospitalization or 24hours hospitalization for breast cancer treatment by mastectomy, as well as the satisfaction and the preferences of patients with regard to these ways of hospitalization. METHODS: This observational retrospective study listed the patients operated for breast cancer who had required a mastectomy at the institute Paoli-Calmettes between the 1st of January 2013 and June 30th, 2015. A questionnaire of satisfaction was proposed to the patients regarding their mode of hospitalization. RESULTS: One hundred and thirteen patients were included among which 29 were in the ambulatory group and 84 in the 24hours hospitalization group. The complications were represented by the rate of hematomas (3.5 %), which required a surgical resumption for two of the patients in the 24hours hospitalization group and for one patient in the ambulatory group (P=0.75). Patient's satisfaction rate was globally high: 72.7 % regardless of the mode of hospitalization (P=0.064). CONCLUSION: The realization of mastectomy in ambulatory hospitalization seems feasible when the organization in pre- and postoperative is anticipated with a high degree of satisfaction of the patients. The psychological impact of this radical surgery seems to be a factor to be taken into account and requires a meticulous selection of the patients.

Pathological complete response in invasive breast cancer treated by skin sparing mastectomy and immediate reconstruction following neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiation therapy: Comparison between immunohistochemical subtypes.

CONTEXT: Even if neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and oncoplastic techniques have increased the breast conserving surgery rate, mastectomy is still a standard for multifocal or extensive breast cancers (BC). In the prospect of increasing breast reconstruction, an alternative therapeutic protocol was developed combining NACT with neoadjuvant radiation therapy (NART), followed by mastectomy with immediate breast reconstruction (IBR). The oncological safety of this therapeutic plan still needs further exploration. We assessed pathological complete response (pCR) as a surrogate endpoint for disease free survival. METHODS: Between 2010 and 2016, 103 patients undergoing mastectomy after NACT and NART were recruited. After CT and RT were administrated, a completion mastectomy with IBR by latissimus dorsi flap was achieved 6 to 8 weeks later. pCR was defined by the absence of residual invasive disease in both nodes and breast. Histologic response was analyzed for each immunohistochemical subset. RESULTS: pCR was obtained for 53.4% of the patients. This pCR rate was higher in hormonal receptor negative (HER2 and triple negative) patients when compared to luminal tumours (69.7% vs 45.7%, p=0.023). DISCUSSION: The pCR rate found in this study is higher than those published in studies analyzing NACT (12.5%-27.1%). This can be explained by the combination of anthracycline and taxane, the use of trastuzumab when HER2 was overexpressed but also by RT associated to NACT. CONCLUSION: Inverting the sequence protocol for BC, requiring both CT and RT, allows more IBR without diminishing pCR and should therefore be considered as an acceptable therapeutic option.

[Sentinel lymph node-multicentric and multifocal tumors: a valid technique?]. / Ganglion sentinelle et tumeurs multifocales-multicentriques : une technique valide ?

Sentinel node biopsy without complementary axillary lymph node dissection was validated for T1-2 N0 unifocal breast cancer without previous treatment since several years. In the situation of multifocal multicentric breast tumors, this procedure was considered as a contraindication. The aim of this work was to analyse literature results to determine if sentinel lymph node biopsy can be considered as a valid option without complementary axillary lymph node dissection for negative sentinel lymph node.

[Regional treatment for axillary lymph node micrometastases of breast cancer]. / Traitement régional des cancers du sein en cas de micrométastase ganglionnaire axillaire.

In patients with breast cancer, axillary lymph node micrometastasis detection has been more frequent with a better definition since the introduction of the sentinel node procedure. In this review, we focus on pN1mi micrometastasis and review the literature in order to determine factors involved in making the decision of a regional treatment.

Biomarkers to predict asthma in wheezing preschool children.

Wheezing in preschool children is a very common symptom. An adequate prediction of asthma in these children is difficult and cannot be reliably assessed with conventional clinical tools. The study of potential predictive biomarkers in various media, ranging from invasive sampling (e.g. bronchoscopy) to non-invasive sampling (lung function testing and exhaled breath analysis), was comprehensively reviewed. The evolution in biomarker discovery has resulted in an 'omics' approach, in which hundreds of biomarkers in the field of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and 'breath-omics' can be simultaneously studied. First, results on gene expression and exhaled breath profiles in predicting an early asthma diagnosis are promising. However, many hurdles need to be overcome before clinical implementation is possible. To reliably predict asthma in a wheezing child, probably a holistic approach is needed, combining clinical information with blood sampling, lung function tests, and potentially exhaled breath analysis. The further development of predictive, non-invasive biomarkers may eventually improve an early asthma diagnosis in wheezing preschool children and assist clinicians in early treatment decision-making.

[Conservation of the nipple-areola complex in case of mastectomy]. / Conservation de la plaque aréolo-mamelonnaire en cas de mastectomie.

Nipple-Sparing Mastectomy (NSM) is a procedure with skin-sparing mastectomy and nipple-areolar complex preservation in association with immediate reconstruction. The aim of this publication is to perform a review of oncological results, technical procedure, complications and indications of NSM with discussion of post-mastectomy radiotherapy indication. Local areolar recurrence is rare and treatment is performed by resection of the nipple-areolar complex. The nipple-areolar complex necrosis rate is a specific complication, observed between 1 to 30% in literature studies. Incisions and surgical procedure of dissection are discussed.

[Feasibility, morbidity and survival of surgery combined with HIPEC in the management of recurrent ovarian cancer]. / Faisabilité, morbidité et survie de la chirurgie avec CHIP dans la prise en charge des récidives du cancer de l'ovaire.

OBJECTIVE: The management of recurrent ovarian cancer is based on intravenous chemotherapy with or without debulking surgery. The hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is sometimes proposed as a complement to complete surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, morbidity and survival of HIPEC associated with complete surgical cytoreduction in the management of patients with a first recurrence of ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 2005 and 2010, 27 patients underwent surgery for a recurrence of ovarian cancer. Among them, 17 patients (63%) have received HIPEC. RESULTS: Sixteen patients (94%) were completely resected after surgery. No patient died postoperatively. Two patients had intraoperative complications: a bladder injury and a section of the ureter. Eight patients had postoperative complications including 3 grade 3 or higher (two organ failure and one reoperation). Fifteen patients had a recurrence with a median DFS of 11.9 months (95% CI [5.4-32.9]) from the HIPEC. The median overall survival from diagnosis was 107.8 months. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These results showed that the association of HIPEC with a complete cytoreduction for recurrent ovarian cancer presents acceptable morbidity and survival. The results of the ongoing French multicenter study (CHIPOR) are expected to generalize this support.

[Feasibility study about the single-port in gynecologic oncology surgery]. / Étude de faisabilité sur le mono-trocart en chirurgie gynécologique oncologique.

OBJECTIVES: To describe our single-port experience in gynecologic oncology surgery, and emphasize the feasibility to use the single-port in this surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: It is a retrospective, feasibility study, monocentric. All patients who were operated by the single-port, between 1st January 2010 to 1st November 2011, were included. RESULTS: We note that 107 patients were included. We made different interventions: uni- and bilateral salpingo-ovariectomy, hysterectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling or lymphadenectomy in gynecologic malignancies. The median age of the population and the body mass index were respectively 52 and 22.6 kg/m(2). In total, six interventions will be converted. The median hospital stay of patients, all procedures combined, was 2 days. We find low rate of postoperative complications. CONCLUSION: Gynecological cancer surgery appears feasible for single-port. However, we need other studies to confirm a benefit of using the single-port compared to conventional laparoscopy.

[Robot-assisted laparoscopy in the management of recurrent pelvic cancer]. / Place de la cœlioscopie robot-assistée dans la prise en charge des récidives de cancers pelviens.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to establish the feasibility of the management of recurrent pelvic cancers by robot-assisted laparoscopy, and particularly the feasibility of robot-assisted laparoscopy anterior pelvic exenteration, from a single center series of seven patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From February 2007 to April 2010, all patients cared for recurrent pelvic cancer have been included (n=7). Five patients have been cared for a cervical cancer recurrence, one patient for recurrent VAIN 3, and one patient for squamous cell carcinoma of the vaginal vault after hysterectomy for cervical carcinoma in situ. All patients were benefited from robot-assisted laparoscopy: two had surgery such as anterior pelvic exenteration with Miami Pouch urinary reconstruction, and five had colpectomy with or without lymph node removal, including one with vaginal preparation first before vaginal cuff resection. Data were collected prospectively identifying treatment history, intraoperative data, immediate outcomes, pathological findings, and long-term outcomes. RESULTS: From February 2007 to April 2010, 195 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopy at the Institut Paoli-Calmettes. Among them, seven patients had pelvic cancer recurrence. The median age was 53 years (44 to 67). The median BMI was 25 (19.7 to 35.3). The median Karnofsky index was 100 (80-100). The median operative time was 210 min (90 to 300) for colpectomy, 480 min for pelvectomy, 240 min (90-480) for the serie. The mean duration of the installation of the robot, all procedures combined, is estimated at 22.5 min (±4.8 min). There was no conversion to laparotomy, the median blood loss was 340 ml (100 to 800). One patient was transfused with two red blood cells. There was a surgical complication (wound of the inferior mesenteric artery). There were no early postoperative complications and the median hospital stay was 6 days (3-24). There was a late postoperative complication: a patient who underwent anterior pelvic exenteration had impaired wound healing, with scarring requiring led by the VAC system. On pathological findings, the average number of nodes removed in the pelvic was 8.5 (±2) on the left, and 4 (±1.4) on the right. Three patients had involved margins; it was an anterior pelvic exenteration and two colpectomy. There was no hospital mortality, neither post-operative mortality at D30 and D90. After a median follow up of 22 months (9-34), the recurrence rate was 71% (5 patients out of 7), and one patient died 10 months after the intervention of a pulmonary embolism. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The surgical management of recurrent cervical cancer by laparoscopy-assisted robot is feasible for selected indications, and could be proposed as an alternative to laparotomy. Monitoring data in this series raise the question of the validity of conservative treatment in cases of recurrent pelvic cancer. The possibilities in terms of urinary and vaginal reconstruction remain to be defined. The impact of this surgical approach on oncological data must be confirmed.

Accuracy of 18-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography in the pretherapeutic detection of occult para-aortic node involvement in patients with a locally advanced cervical carcinoma.

PURPOSE: Patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) are usually treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Extended-field chemoradiotherapy is indicated in case of para-aortic node involvement at initial assessment. 18-Fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18-FDG PET/CT) is currently considered to be the most accurate method of detection of node or distant metastases. The goal of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of PET at detecting para-aortic lymph node metastases in LACC patients with a negative morphological imaging. METHODS: Patients from five French institutions with LACC and both negative morphologic (magnetic resonance imaging, CT scan) and functional (PET or PET/CT) findings at the para-aortic level and distantly were submitted to a systematic infrarenal para-aortic node dissection either by laparoscopy or laparotomy. On the basis of pathological results, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of PET/CT were assessed for para-aortic lymph node involvement. RESULTS: A total of 125 LACC patients (stage IB2-IVA disease with two local recurrences) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. All had an ilio-infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy, either by laparoscopy (n = 117) or laparotomy (n = 8). Twenty-one patients (16.8%) had pathologically proven para-aortic metastases. Among them, 14 (66.7%) had negative PET/CT. Overall morbidity of surgery was 7.2%. All but one of the complications were mild and did not delay chemoradiotherapy. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive value of the PET/CT were 33.3, 94.2, 53.8, and 87.5%, respectively, for the detection of microscopic lymph node metastases. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic staging surgery seems warranted in LACC patients with negative PET scan who are candidates for definitive concurrent chemoradiotherapy or exenteration.

Role of robot-assisted laparoscopy in adjuvant surgery for locally advanced cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility and efficacy of robot-assisted laparoscopy with traditional laparotomy and conventional laparoscopy in a series of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer managed in our two institutions. METHODS: Twenty-two patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopy were compared with 20 patients who underwent adjuvant surgery by laparotomy and 16 who underwent conventional laparoscopy, before the arrival of the Da Vinci surgical system. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of body mass index, FIGO stage, or tumor histology. The complication rate was similar in the three groups of patients, although there was a trend towards more lymphatic complications in the robot-assisted subgroup managed medically. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the robot-assisted laparoscopy, conventional laparoscopy and laparotomy groups (27.3%, 29.4% and 30%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Robot-assisted laparoscopy is feasible after concurrent chemoradiation and brachytherapy in cases of locally advanced cervical cancer. This new surgical approach reduces hospital stay, and seems to result in less severe complications than conventional laparotomy without modifying the oncological outcome.

Sentinel lymphadenectomy for the staging of clinical axillary node-negative breast cancer before neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Several authors reported sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC). Nevertheless, the ideal time of SLNB is still a matter of debate. METHODS: We evaluated the feasibility and the accuracy of SLNB before NC using a combined procedure (blue dye and radio-labelled detection) before NC. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed after completion of NC in a homogeneous cohort study with clinically axillary node-negative breast cancer. RESULTS: Among the 20 women who had metastatic SLNB (65%), 4 (20%) had additional metastatic node on ALND. By contrast, all the 11 women who had no metastatic SLNB had no involved nodes in the ALND. The SLN identification rate before NC was 100% with any false negative. CONCLUSIONS: SLNB before NC is a feasible and an accurate diagnostic tool to predict the pre-therapeutic axilla status. These findings suggest that ALND may be avoided in patients with a negative SLNB performed before NC.

[Margin status in invasive breast cancer]. / Marge d'exérèse dans les cancers infiltrants du sein.

Breast conserving surgery and mastectomy are equivalent for overall survival. However, the rate of local recurrence is higher for breast conserving surgery. Several predictive factors for local recurrence have been identified and some of them such as margins of resection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonotherapy can be modified. The aim of this study is to review arguments in the literature to define optimal margins of resection. The orientation of the specimen and the inking of lateral margins are essentials for the histopathological analysis. Lateral margins are the most important since the resection is close to the pectoral muscle. According to the literature, the rate of local recurrence is higher when margins are positive. Moreover, the presence of tumoral cells on specimen after a re-excision is correlated with the positivity of the margins. There are no agreements about the number of millimeters requested to consider a margin sufficient. However, two millimeters seem to show a decrease of local recurrence. The influence of extensive intraductal component on local recurrence risk has been studied. Several factors are correlated and to define independent factors seem to be interesting.

Robot-assisted laparoscopy in gynecologic oncology.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and the outcome of gynaecological cancer surgery with the Da Vinci S surgical system (Intuitive Surgical). METHODS: From February 2007 to September 2007, 28 patients underwent 32 gynaecological procedures in a single centre. Surgical procedures consisted of total hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and pelvic and/or lombo-aortic lymphadenectomy. In all cases, surgery was performed using both laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic techniques. In this heterogeneous series, a subgroup of 12 patients treated for advanced cervical cancer was compared with a retrospective series of 20 patients who underwent the same surgical procedure by laparotomy. RESULTS: Mean age of the entire population was 52.5 years (range 25-72 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 25 kg/m(2) (range 18-40 kg/m(2)). Indications for surgery were cervical cancer in 21 cases, endometrial cancer in 7 cases, ovarian cancer in 1 case and cervical dysplasia in 3 cases. Median operating time was 180 min (mean 175.25 min, range 80-360 min) and median estimated blood loss was 110 cc (range 0-400 cc); no transfusions were necessary. No perioperative complications were observed and median time of hospitalisation was 3 days (mean 3.9 days, range 2-8 days). In the subgroup of 12 advanced cervical cancer a significant difference was observed in terms of hospital stay compared with laparotomy; no difference was observed concerning operative time. Fewer complications were observed with laparotomy (33% versus 25%) but more serious complications than with robot-assisted laparoscopy. CONCLUSION: As suggested in the literature, the use of robot-assisted laparoscopy leads to less intraoperative blood loss, less post operative pain and shorter hospital stays compared with those treated by more traditional surgical approaches. Despite the need for more extensive studies, robot-assisted surgery seems to represent a similar technological evolution as the laparoscopic approach 50 years ago.