Relationships among sexual function, marital intimacy, type D personality and quality of life in patients with ovarian cancer, with spouses.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to identify the relationships among sexual function, marital intimacy, type D personality and quality of life (QoL) in patients with ovarian cancer, with spouses. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used, and 104 patients were recruited using convenience sampling, from the inpatient and outpatient gynaecological clinics of two tertiary medical centres using structured questionnaires. RESULTS: Of the 104 participants, 31.7% were classified as having a type D personality. The type D group had lower marital intimacy, higher symptoms and lower QoL than the non-type D personality group. The results of a hierarchical regression analysis showed that monthly income, symptoms, marital intimacy and type D personality were independent factors that influenced QoL in patients with ovarian cancer, with spouses. CONCLUSION: Demographic characteristics, symptoms, marital intimacy and type D personality should be considered in patients with ovarian cancer, with spouses when evaluating QoL. Intervention strategies considering these characteristics could improve QoL for patients with ovarian cancer patient, with spouses.

Simultaneous laparoscopic and arthroscopic excision of a huge juxta-articular ganglionic cyst compressing the sciatic nerve: A case report.

BACKGROUND: A large ganglionic cyst extending from the hip joint to the intrapelvic cavity through the sciatic notch is a rare space-occupying lesion associated with compressive lower-extremity neuropathy. A cyst in the pelvic cavity compressing the intrapelvic-sciatic nerve is easily missed in the diagnostic process because it usually presents as atypical symptoms of an extraperitoneal-intrapelvic tumor. We present a case of a huge ganglionic cyst that was successfully excised laparoscopically and endoscopically by a gynecologist and an orthopedic surgeon. CASE SUMMARY: A 52-year-old woman visited our hospital complaining of pain and numbness in her left buttock while sitting. The pain began 3 years ago and worsened, while the numbness in the left lower extremity lasted 1 mo. She was diagnosed and unsuccessfully treated at several tertiary referral centers many years ago. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a suspected paralabral cyst (5 cm × 5 cm × 4.6 cm) in the left hip joint, extending to the pelvic cavity through the greater sciatic notch. The CA-125 and CA19-9 tumor marker levels were within normal limits. However, the cyst was compressing the sciatic nerve. Accordingly, endoscopic and laparoscopic neural decompression and mass excision were performed simultaneously. A laparoscopic examination revealed a tennis-ball-sized cyst filled with gelatinous liquid, stretching deep into the hip joint. An excisional biopsy performed in the pelvic cavity and deep gluteal space confirmed the accumulation of ganglionic cysts from the hip joint into the extrapelvic intraperitoneal cavity. CONCLUSION: Intra- or extra- sciatic nerve-compressing lesion should be considered in cases of sitting pain radiating down the ipsilateral lower extremity. This large juxta-articular ganglionic cyst was successfully treated simultaneously using laparoscopy and arthroscopy.

SCRIB Is Involved in the Progression of Ovarian Carcinomas in Association with the Factors Linked to Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition and Predicts Shorter Survival of Diagnosed Patients.

SCRIB is a polarity protein important in maintaining cell junctions. However, recent reports have raised the possibility that SCRIB might have a role in human cancers. Thus, this study evaluated the roles of SCRIB in ovarian cancers. In 102 human ovarian carcinomas, nuclear expression of SCRIB predicted shorter survival of ovarian carcinoma patients, especially in the patients who received post-operative chemotherapy. In SKOV3 and SNU119 ovarian cancer cells, overexpression of SCRIB stimulated the proliferation and invasion of cells. Knockout of SCRIB inhibited in vivo tumor growth of SKOV3 cells and overexpression of SCRIB promoted tumor growth. Overexpression of SCRIB stimulated epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition by increasing the expression of N-cadherin, snail, TGF-ß1, and smad2/3, and decreasing the expression of E-cadherin; the converse was observed with inhibition of SCRIB. In conclusion, this study presents the nuclear expression of SCRIB as a prognostic marker of ovarian carcinomas and suggests that SCRIB is involved in the progression of ovarian carcinomas by stimulating proliferation and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition-related invasiveness.

Primary hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary: A case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary (HCO) is a rare disease that originates from the ovarian surface epithelium. It is histologically characterized as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a hepatocyte-rich granular cytoplasm. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 65-year-old female patient was admitted with complaints of indigestion, abdominal bloating, and pain. DIAGNOSIS: The patient showed an elevated level of serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) with abdominal bloating and pain. After surgery and histopathology analysis, she was finally diagnosed with HCO, Figo stage IC. INTERVENTIONS: After cytoreductive surgery, she underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with carboplatin and paclitaxel. Although the disease was diagnosed at an early stage, it recurred 6 months after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy. Elevation of serum AFP level and removal of a mass from the lumbar vertebra confirmed the recurrence of this disease. Subsequently, the patient underwent radiation therapy and palliative chemotherapy. OUTCOMES: She died 31 months after the diagnosis due to disease progression. CONCLUSION: The aggressive nature of HCO was clearly observed in this case despite early diagnosis and treatment. Further studies are needed to understand the proper treatment and prognostic factors of HCO.

Primary malignant melanoma arising from ruptured ovarian mature cystic teratoma with elevated serum CA 19-9: a case report and review of literature.

BACKGROUND: Ovarian mature cystic teratomas comprise tissues derived from all three germ layers. In rare incidences, malignant tumors may arise from ovarian mature cystic teratoma, which occurs in 0.2-1.8% of cases. A variety of tumors can arise within mature cystic teratoma, among which malignant melanoma is exceedingly rare. CASE PRESENTATION: A 42-year-old woman presented with abdominal pain. Transvaginal ultrasonography showed mixed echogenic cystic masses in both ovaries. Her serum cancer antigen (CA19-9) level was elevated at 29,770 U/ml. Surgical excision was performed. Histologic examination showed infiltrating nests of pleomorphic cells with prominent nucleoli and black pigments in the background of a mature cystic teratoma. These pleomorphic cells showed strong immunoreactivity for Melan-A and HMB-45. The patient was re-evaluated and the possibility of a melanoma at any other site was ruled out. Based on these findings, we concluded that the malignant melanoma originated from the ovarian mature cystic teratoma. CONCLUSION: We report a rare case of primary malignant melanoma derived from an ovarian mature cystic teratoma.