Preoperative Evaluation of Myometrial Invasion in Endometrial Carcinoma: Prospective Intra-individual Comparison of Magnetic Resonance Volumetry, Diffusion-weighted and Dynamic Contrast-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

AIM: The purpose of this prospective study was to compare the diagnostic performance of diffusion-weighted (DWI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging (DCE) and volumetric analyses in the preoperative assessment of myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-five patients with endometrial cancer underwent preoperative magnetic resonance imaging including DWI and DCE for evaluation of the depth of myometrial invasion and volumetric analyses [tumor volume (TV), uterine volume (UV), tumor to volume ratio (TVR=(TV/TU)×100)]. The results of the evaluations were compared to the histopathological examinations. RESULTS: DWI and DCE showed a sensitivity and specificity in evaluating the depth of myometrial invasion of 92% and 96% and 92% and 86%, respectively, while volumetric analyses showed a sensitivity and specificity of 85% and 86% (TVR cut-off=10%) and 69% and 100% (TVR cut-off=25%), respectively. CONCLUSION: DWI and DCE are both good diagnostic tools for the preoperative assessment of myometrial invasion. From our results and literature research, there is potential for omitting gadolinium-based contrast agents given the high diagnostic value of DWI. In our patient collective, the predictive power of volumetric analyses was lower than that of DWI.

The Impact of Surgical Staging on the Prognosis of Mucinous Borderline Tumors of the Ovaries: A Multicenter Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The purpose of this study was to prove the effect of complete surgical staging of patients with mucinous borderline ovarian tumors (mBOTs) especially appendectomy on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The database of 14 gynecological oncology departments from Turkey and Germany were comprehensively searched for women who underwent primary surgery for an ovarian tumor between January 1, 1998, and December 31, 2015, and whose final diagnosis was mBOT. RESULTS: A total of 364 patients with mBOT with a median age of 43.1 years were included in this analysis. The median OS of all patients was 53.1 months. The majority of cases had Stage IA (78.6%). In univariate and multivariate analyses, radical surgery, omentectomy, appendectomy, lymphadenectomy, and adding adjuvant chemotherapy were not independent prognostic factors for PFS and OS. Furthermore, FIGO stage (≥IC vs.

Preoperative CA-125 Values as a Predictive Factor for the Postoperative Outcome in Primary Serous Ovarian Cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The purpose of the study was to examine the preoperative CA-125 values as a predictive factor for postoperative outcome in primary serous ovarian cancer (POC) for complete tumor resection (CTR) and evaluate the preoperative CA-125 levels with other vital clinical dynamics such as ascites, lymph node involvement, diffuse peritoneal carcinomatosis, grading and staging. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cohort of 277 POC-patients aged 18-75 years, who had undergone primary cytoreductive surgery at the Department of Gynecology & Oncological Surgery, Charité, Campus Virchow Klinikum (CVK) between 2000 und 2009 was analyzed in correlation with the preoperative CA-125 values. RESULTS: The median preoperative CA-125 value in high-grade serous POC patients was 636 U/ml (204- 2312 U/ml) compared to 284 U/ml (148.5-1,378 U/ml) in low-grade serous POC patients (p=0.016). For the survival analyses both the cut-off values 252 and 475 U/ml, with highest sum from sensitivity (79.1% and 65.9%, respectively) and specificity (41.9% and 55.1%, respectively), were used to compare the relationship between preoperative CA-125 levels and (CTR), progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). There was no significant difference between PFS and OS in three different groups of patients (preoperative CA-125 levels <252 U/ml, CA 125 levels between 252-475 U/ml and >475 U/ml). CONCLUSION: Preoperative CA-125 is a poor, but statistically significant predictive factor for CTR after PCS. Preoperative CA-125 can predict neither the progression-free nor overall survival for POC patients.

Diaphragmatic Surgery in Advanced Ovarian, Tubal and Peritoneal Cancer. A 7-Year Retrospective Analysis of the Tumor Bank Ovarian Cancer Network.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze diaphragmatic interventions and their complications in primary cytoreductive surgery (PCS) and to study their impact on attaining complete tumor resection (CTR) in advanced ovarian cancer (AOC), which is purportedly reflected in better disease-free and overall survival. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study's collective consisted of 536 consecutive patients presenting a first diagnosis of AOC who underwent PCS between 2007 and 2013 at the Charité Medical University, Berlin. A total of 268 patients underwent diaphragmatic interventions, while 268 did not undergo any kind of diaphragmatic surgery. RESULTS: Diaphragmatic interventions were indicated in 50% of cases with AOC. The surgical interventions varied between diaphragmatic partial resection (44.8%), stripping (53%) and only infrared coagulation (2.2%). The postoperative complication rate was higher in the diaphragm-intervention group in comparison to the group without any diaphragmatic intervention (49.6% vs. 38.8%), but most postoperative complications were not directly related to the diaphragmatic intervention itself but to the statically significant increase of other radical surgical procedures in this group. Pleura effusion was the only increased complication with a direct correlation with diaphragmatic surgery (25.4% vs. 14.2%). Preoperatively apparent stage IV (pleura effusion) disease, very high cancer antigen-125 value, serous papillary tumors and the presence of massive ascites (>500 ml) were statistically significant predictors of the need for diaphragmatic surgery in order to achieve CTR. CONCLUSION: Our current findings consider diaphragmatic surgery as being acceptable, feasible and in many cases as an essential intervention to achieve CTR or suboptimal debulking with an acceptable complication rate.

Feasibility and Safety of Laparoscopic Total Mesometrial Resection in Early-stage Cervical Cancer.

AIM: In this study we aimed to analyze the safety and feasibility of total mesometrial resection (TMMR) using the laparoscopic approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Laparoscopic TMMR and pelvic lymphadenectomy (LNE) was carried out in 34 patients with cervical cancer FIGO IA-IIB from April 2012-April 2016 at our tertiary center. Para-aortic LNE was performed when indicated. The main outcomes included surgical margins, a number of retrieved lymph node, intra- and post-operative complications, and recurrence rates. RESULTS: Complete microscopic tumor resection was confirmed in 33/34 (97%) patients. No conversion to open surgery was necessary. Mean intra-operative blood loss was only 65.2 ml with no blood transfusions required. Intra-operative complications occurred in 4/34 (11.8%) cases (2 bladder injuries and 2 ureteric injuries). Post-operative complications were observed in 10/35 (29.4%) cases. Only one complication occurred after 30 days (vesico-vaginal fistula). There was a loco-regional recurrence within a mean follow-up time of 25.9 months. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic TMMR appears to be feasible and safe in the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. Further large-scale studies are required.

Risk Factors of Lymph Nodes Metastases by Endometrial Cancer: A Retrospective One-center Study.

BACKGROUND/AIM: We aimed to identify the surgical-pathological risk factors separately for pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes (LN) metastases in endometrial cancer (EC). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study cohort consisted of 179 patients with first diagnosis of EC, who were operated in our Institution between 2007 and 2014. RESULTS: Pelvic and para-aortic LN dissection was performed in 115 patients (64.2%). The positive pelvic and para-aortic LN were diagnosed in 11.3% and 16.1% of cases, respectively. Patients with bad differentiated tumors (G3) showed about 5-times more risk to have affected LN. Deep infiltration of myometrium elevated the risk of pelvic LN infiltration 5 times and of para-aortic LN infiltration 14 times. G3, myometrial infiltration >50% and type II endometrial cancer correlated with a worse progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). CONCLUSION: Tumor grade and deep myometrial invasion were the only significant predictors of pelvic and para-aortic lymph node metastases.

AGO Score As a Predictor of Surgical Outcome at Secondary Cytoreduction in Patients with Ovarian Cancer.

AIM: The present study aimed to compare the outcome of secondary cytoreductive surgery retrospectively in patients with positive and negative Arbeitsgemeinschaft Gynäkologische Onkologie (AGO) score that were operated on at the Department of Gynecology, Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University, between 2006 and 2013. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 209 consecutive patients presenting a first recurrence of epithelial ovarian cancer were enrolled: 139 patients had a positive AGO score, and 70 patients had at least one negative criterion of the AGO score. All patients underwent secondary cytoreductive surgery and data were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS: Total macroscopic tumor resection was obtained during secondary cytoreductive surgery in 127 patients (61%), 93 (67%) in the AGO-positive group and 34 (48.5%) in the AGO-negative group. Overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were identical in both groups of patients when secondary cytoreductive surgery succeeded in achieving complete tumor resection. PFS was 22 months in AGO-positive patients who were tumor-free after secondary cytoreductive surgery and 21 months in AGO-negative patients with complete resection after secondary cytoreductive surgery. There were no significant differences in morbidity and mortality rates for both groups. CONCLUSION: AGO score is a useful predictor for operability in patients with a first recurrence of ovarian cancer. Patients with negative scores may still have a 50% chance of achieving optimal tumor resection after secondary cytoreductive surgery. This will be a pivotal factor when counseling patients with recurrent disease regarding further management options.