Using advanced wound care and hyperbaric oxygen to manage wound complications following treatment of vulvovaginal carcinoma.

Postoperative management of patients with vulvar cancer is associated with a high incidence of poor wound healing and radiation -induced late tissue necrosis. This case series demonstrates the impact on wound healing with the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy and advanced wound care following radical vulvectomy and/or radiation therapy. A retrospective case series was performed of all patients from 2016 to 2017 with lower genital cancer who underwent radical surgery with or without chemoradiation treatment, experienced wound dehiscence or late tissue radionecrosis, and were treated with advanced wound care, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO). Five patients were included with a mean age of 63; four had squamous cell carcinoma and one patient had vaginal adenocarcinoma secondary to prior diethylstilbestrol exposure. Three patients underwent radical vulvectomy. All received pelvic radiation therapy, subsequently experienced wound complications, and were managed with advanced wound care and HBO. The mean reduction in wound area at the final wound follow up visit after completion of HBO therapy was found to be 76%, ranging 42-95%, with an average follow up of five months. The mean number of HBO sessions per patient was 58. Complete tissue granulation or significant improvement in tissue radionecrosis was present in all patients. Advanced wound care and hyperbaric oxygen therapy are beneficial in the management of postoperative wound complications. Prospective studies are needed to identify the optimal use of perioperative hyperbaric oxygen and appropriate wound care for patients with gynecologic malignancies.

Polymicrobial abdominal wall necrotizing fasciitis after cesarean section.

We report a case of a previously healthy woman after an uneventful caesarean section who developed polymicrobial necrotizing fasciitis. She was given a non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drug (NSAID) after her delivery. Her post-delivery course was complicated by septic shock, and required multiple debridements before abdominal reconstruction. This case describes the increased risk of necrotizing fasciitis with NSAID use. Unusual were the organisms causing the polymicrobial necrotizing fasciitis: Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter agglomerans, Acinetobacter baumannii, and two strains of Enterobacter cloacae.

Mesna, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and dacarbazine (MAID) chemotherapy for gynecological sarcomas.

This report summarizes our experience with the combination of mesna, doxorubicin, ifosfamide, and dacarbazine (MAID) for patients with gynecological sarcomas. We reviewed the records of all patients who had received the MAID regimen for a gynecological sarcoma between 1993 and 2000. The MAID regimen was administered intravenously every 4 weeks in the hospital as follows: (1) mesna 1500 mg/m2/day x 4 days; (2) doxorubicin 15 mg/m2/day x 3 days; (3) ifosfamide 1500 mg/m2/day x 3 days; (4) dacarbazine 250 mg/m2/day x 3 days. The results of treatment with MAID were disappointing. Overall, the response rate was 9% with one complete response and one partial response (both in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma). We did not observe any responses among the patients with carcinosarcomas of either ovarian or uterine origin. The median progression-free interval and survival were 11 months and 29 months, respectively. This regimen was associated with substantial toxicity (including a death from neutropenic sepsis) as well as high cost and inconvenience due to the requirement for inpatient administration. Although our study contains a limited number of patients with a variety of gynecological sarcomas, our review has led us to discontinue using MAID. It remains to be established if any combination chemotherapy regimen is better than single agent treatment.

Sustained complete remission in a patient with platinum-resistant ovarian yolk sac tumor.

BACKGROUND: Yolk sac tumors of the ovary are generally very responsive to chemotherapy; however, they are difficult to manage in the setting of platinum resistance where treatment options are limited and outcomes are poorer. CASE: We present a 39-year-old woman who had a platinum-resistant yolk sac ovarian tumor. She achieved complete remission on an innovative regimen of docetaxel, gemcitabine, and thalidomide. CONCLUSION: The combination of docetaxel, gemcitabine, and thalidomide might be an active regimen for platinum-resistant ovarian nondysgerminomas and further investigation of this combination is warranted.

Panniculectomy in morbidly obese gynecologic oncology patients.

BACKGROUND: It is clear that morbid obesity presents a serious risk to women undergoing major intra-abdominal gynecologic surgery. Unfortunately, many gynecologic malignancies and benign conditions are best treated surgically. Thus, the gynecologic surgeon must choose an incision that permits adequate exposure with acceptables rates of complications. Panniculectomy as an approach to the peritoneal cavity is becoming increasingly popular. Recent reports suggest that panniculectomy is reasonably straightforward to perform, provides adequate exposure and is associated with an acceptable rate of manageable complications. In these circumstances, panniculectomy is not a cosmetic procedure, but medically necessary to perform indicated major gynecologic intra-abdominal surgery. AIMS: To present our experience with panniculectomy in morbidly obese women undergoing major intra-abdominal surgery on a gynecologic oncology service. METHODS: The medical records of 48 morbidly obese women (Quetelet Index > 40 kg/m2) with a large dependent pannus who underwent major intra-abdominal surgery via a panniculectomy between May 1990 and October 1999 were reviewed. Data regarding demographics, concomitant medical conditions, operative indications and results, and postoperative outcomes were abstracted for analysis. RESULTS: The mean age was 54.9 years, the mean body mass was 130.2 kg, the mean height was 1.63 m and the mean Quetelet Index was 49.3 kg/m2. The mean operating time was 188 min and the mean estimated blood loss was 615 ml. Two patients suffered intraoperative urologic injuries which were repaired without sequelae; there were no bowel, vascular or neurologic injuries. Eighteen patients had a suprafascial wound breakdown (3 complete and 15 superficial) and 15 patients developed an infection. There were no documented deep venous thromboses, pulmonary emboli or fascial dehiscences. Two patients died in the postoperative period; one from a myocardial infarction on Day 2 and one from overwhelming sepsis on Day 76. CONCLUSIONS: Morbid obesity is associated with substantial operative and postoperative risks. Panniculectomy provides operative exposure with acceptable risks of complications.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as an adjunct for controlling chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in gynecologic oncology patients.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the efficacy of a miniaturized portable transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit (ReliefBand) as an adjunct to standard antiemetic therapy for controlling nausea and vomiting induced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy in gynecologic oncology patients. METHODS: Forty-two patients were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel-subjects trial with a follow-up crossover trial. All patients received a standardized antiemetic protocol, then wore the ReliefBand continuously for 7 days. RESULTS: Thirty-two patients were evaluable for the parallel-subjects component, 16 in each group. The percentage of patients with absent or minimal nausea was 59% overall, which was similar to that for both the active (56%) and placebo (62%) groups. The incidence and severity of nausea and vomiting was similar for each group. Eighteen patients completed two consecutive cycles and were evaluable for the crossover component. The average age of the crossover patients and their dose intensity were comparable with those of the overall study population (56.3 versus 58.6 years and 22.7 versus 22.7 mg/m2/week, respectively). The percentage of cycles with absent or minimal nausea was 47% overall, which was similar to that of the active (50%) and placebo (44%) cycles. However, the severity of nausea was significantly lower in the active cycles during days 2 to 4. Patients averaged less than one episode of vomiting daily in each cycle. CONCLUSIONS: The ReliefBand is an effective adjunct to standard antiemetic agents for controlling nausea induced by cisplatin-based chemotherapy in gynecologic oncology patients.

A randomized controlled trial of early postoperative feeding in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of early oral feeding after intra-abdominal surgery in gynecologic oncology patients. METHODS: During a 1-year period, 200 gynecologic oncology patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of early compared with traditional oral postoperative feeding. Patients allocated to early postoperative oral feeding began a clear liquid diet on the first postoperative day and then advanced to a regular diet as tolerated. Patients allocated to traditional postoperative oral feeding received nothing by mouth until return of bowel function (defined as the passage of flatus in the absence of vomiting or abdominal distention), then began a clear liquid diet, and advanced to a regular diet as tolerated. RESULTS: Age, case distribution, surgery length, blood loss, and first passage of flatus were similar in the early and traditional feeding groups. Significantly more patients in the early group developed nausea. Despite this, the incidence of vomiting, abdominal distention, incidence and duration of nasogastric tube use, and percentage of patients who tolerated clear liquid and regular diets on the first attempt were comparable in both groups. Time to development of bowel sounds, time to initiation of clear liquid and regular diets, and hospital stay were significantly longer in the traditional group. Major complications (eg, pneumonia, atelectasis, and wound complications) and febrile morbidity occurred equally in both groups. There were no known anastamotic complications or aspirations in either group. Postoperative changes in hematologic indices and electrolytes were comparable in both groups. CONCLUSION: Early postoperative feeding in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery is safe and well tolerated.

Loss of p53 function in uterine papillary serous carcinoma.

In contrast to endometrioid carcinoma, uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is an aggressive type of endometrial cancer. Loss of p53 function is critical for the molecular pathogenesis of UPSC. Both UPSC and its putative precursor, endometrial intraepithelial carcinoma (EIC), show abnormal p53 overexpression in most tumors. To further assess the nature of p53 alterations in UPSC, we systematically reevaluated a subset of our previous cohort of UPSC patients. In the current study, we correlate mutations of the p53 gene as detected by direct sequencing of exons 5 through 8 with p53 accumulation and expression of Waf-1 in 32 UPSC tumors. Waf-1 is a downstream effector of p53-mediated G1 arrest after DNA damage and, thus, an indicator of p53 functionality. Although 78% of tumors exhibited strong nuclear p53 immunoreactivity in 100% of tumor cells, we were able to detect p53 mutations in 53%. As expected, all p53 mutant tumors (17 cases) exhibited p53 overexpression. Seventy percent of those (12 tumors) showed concomitant lack of Waf-1 expression consistent with transcriptionally inactive p53, whereas the other five tumors showed Waf-1 staining in only a minor fraction of tumor cells consistent with p53-independent Waf-1 expression. In contrast, 47% (15 cases) of tumors failed to exhibit p53 mutations; interestingly, more than half of those (eight cases) showed strong nuclear p53 accumulation in all tumor cells but lacked concomitant Waf-1 expression. These findings are consistent with a mutation-dependent and -independent type of p53 inactivation in UPSC that are both associated with nuclear overexpression. Our findings suggest that the combined immunocytochemical analysis of p53 and Waf-1 is a valuable means of assessing the functional status of p53. In summary, p53 alterations are common in UPSC and probably responsible for its aggressive biological behavior.

Panniculectomy and supraumbilical vertical midline incisions in morbidly obese gynecologic oncology patients.

BACKGROUND: We reviewed the outcomes of panniculectomy and supraumbilical vertical midline incisions in morbidly obese women undergoing gynecologic operations. STUDY DESIGN: Medical records were reviewed for 62 morbidly obese women with a large dependent pannus who underwent gynecologic operations on the Gynecologic Oncology Service at the State University of New York at Stony Brook between May 1990 and July 1997. Thirty-five patients underwent panniculectomy and 27 had a supraumbilical vertical midline incision, forming the study groups. The patient charts were abstracted for demographic, perioperative, and postoperative data. RESULTS: For the entire study population, the average age was 56 years, the mean body mass was 128.6 kg, and the mean Quetelet Index was 48.3 kg/m2. The mean operative time and estimated blood loss were similar for both groups. Eight percent of the patients had urologic injuries, evenly distributed between the groups. Postoperative infections, wound breakdowns, and hospital stay were greater for the panniculectomy group than for the supraumbilical vertical midline incision group (p < 0.05). Uniform use of subcutaneous closed-suction drains (since 1995) was associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of wound breakdowns and a shorter hospital stay in the panniculectomy group. CONCLUSIONS: Panniculectomy and supraumbilical vertical midline incision provide reasonable peritoneal access with acceptable rates of postoperative complications for morbidly obese women undergoing gynecologic operations.

The utility of pretreatment barium enema in women with endometrial carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the clinical utility of a pretreatment barium enema in women with endometrial cancer. METHODS: The medical records of 249 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent a pretreatment barium enema were retrospectively reviewed. The patients' charts were abstracted for demographic information, stage, grade, histology, current disease status, and barium enema results. RESULTS: The pretreatment barium enema was normal in 122 (49%) patients. Diverticulosis was the most common abnormality, reported in 112 (45%) patients. Apparent intraluminal abnormalities were found in 15 (6.0%) patients. Each of these patients underwent colonoscopy prior to treatment for endometrial carcinoma. During colonoscopy, benign colonic polyps were removed from 11 (4.4%) patients. Primary colonic adenocarcinoma was discovered in polypoid lesions removed from 2 (0.8%) patients. Significant luminal narrowing from extrinsic lesions was noted in 2 (0.8%) patients, one at the rectosigmoid and the other at the cecum. No patient was found to have colonic mucosal involvement by endometrial cancer. CONCLUSION: The results of this study do not justify routine pretreatment barium enema to assess the colonic mucosa for metastatic involvement by endometrial cancer or as a screening tool for colorectal cancer in women with endometrial cancer.

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma evolves via a p53-driven pathway.

Uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) is a highly aggressive type of endometrial cancer that occurs in the absence of hyperestrogenism and endometrial hyperplasia. Biologically, UPSC belongs to a distinct group of aggressive neoplasms of the extended Müllerian epithelium that are characterized by hypoestrogenism, advanced disease at diagnosis, a serous papillary histotype, and a dismal prognosis. There is mounting evidence that loss of p53 function is critical for the molecular genetic cause of all tumors in this group. To further assess the role of p53 alterations in UPSC, we studied 40 patients using immunohistochemical expression analysis. Thirty-four tumors (85%) showed intense nuclear overexpression of p53, whereas six tumors (15%) were p53 negative. Thirteen p53-positive tumors had multiple samplings from distinct anatomic sites, and all showed complete concordance in p53 staining, suggesting that p53 alterations occur early in UPSC carcinogenesis. p53 positivity was associated with loss of hormone receptors. Thirty-nine cases were concomitantly analyzed for estrogen or progesterone receptor expression. Among those, 31 tumors were p53 positive but hormone receptor negative throughout, in contrast to only two tumors that were diffusely p53 positive and focally hormone receptor positive. Patients whose tumors overexpressed p53 had a statistically significant shorter survival than those whose tumors did not at 24 and 48 months (P = .03). This study represents one of the two largest analyses published to date that confirm the strong association between UPSC and p53 overexpression. Furthermore, we suggest that the concept of UPSC be broadened: UPSC is a p53-driven neoplasm that biologically is a kin to other serous papillary malignancies of the ovaries and peritoneum. This group of tumors bypasses the slow hormone-dependent pathway of tumorigenesis but instead undergoes early p53 alterations that lead to rapid tumor development.

A randomized controlled trial of postoperative nasogastric tube decompression in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing intra-abdominal surgery.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of nasogastric decompression after extensive intra-abdominal surgery in gynecologic oncology patients. METHODS: Over a 1-year period, 110 gynecologic oncology patients undergoing extensive intra-abdominal surgery were enrolled in a randomized controlled trial of postoperative nasogastric tube versus intra-operative orogastric tube decompression. RESULTS: The nasogastric and orogastric groups were similar in age, case distribution, surgery length, and blood loss. The nasogastric group had significantly longer times to first passage of flatus and tolerance of a clear liquid diet than did the orogastric group. However, both groups were similar in time to tolerance of a regular diet and hospital stay. On average, the nasogastric tube was maintained for 3.2 +/- 2.1 days (range 1-8) after surgery. The average daily nasogastric output was 440 +/- 283 mL (range 68-1565). No patient in the orogastric group required a nasogastric tube postoperatively, but one patient in the nasogastric group had a nasogastric tube reinserted for recurrent nausea and vomiting. Use of a nasogastric tube led to significantly more subjective complaints, eg, ear pain, painful swallowing, and nasal soreness, but did not significantly reduce the incidence of abdominal distention or nausea and vomiting. Major complications, eg, pneumonia, atelectasis, gastrointestinal bleeding, and wound breakdown or infection, occurred equally in both groups. However, the incidence of febrile morbidity was significantly greater in the nasogastric group. There were no known anastamotic complications or aspirations in either group. Postoperative changes in hematological indices and electrolytes were comparable in both groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative nasogastric tube decompression in gynecologic oncology patients undergoing extensive intra-abdominal surgery does not appear to provide any substantial benefit but significantly increases patient discomfort. As a result of this study, we have eliminated postoperative nasogastric decompression except in highly selected circumstances, such as extensive bowel surgery in patients with prior irradiation or substantial edema from bowel obstruction.

Primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of low malignant potential: a case report and literature review.

A case of primary retroperitoneal mucinous cystadenocarcinoma of low malignant potential in the presence of normal ovaries is reported. The precise etiology of these neoplasms has not been defined; however, they may arise from heterotopic ovarian tissue, monodermal teratomas, embryonal urogenital remnants, intestinal duplication, or coelomic metaplasia. Although minimal data exist to define the appropriate management, it seems reasonable to extrapolate from the treatment of analogous ovarian neoplasms.

Chemotherapy, early surgical reassessment, and hyperfractionated abdominal radiotherapy in stage III ovarian cancer: results of a gynecologic oncology group study.

PURPOSE: To determine outcomes and treatment toxicities in patients with optimal (< or = 1 cm residual) Stage III ovarian carcinoma treated with three courses of cisplatin-cyclophosphamide, surgical reassessment (SRA), and hyperfractionated whole abdominal irradiation (WAI). METHODS AND MATERIALS: Forty-two eligible patients entered this prospective Phase II study conducted by the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG). Disease characteristics were as follows: age range, 32-76 years (median 58); Stage IIIA (n = 1, 2%), IIIB (n = 2, 5%), IIIC (n = 39, 93%); histology-serous papillary (n = 21, 50%); other (n = 21, 50%); Grade 1 (n = 1, 2%); 2 (n = 14, 33%); 3 (n = 27, 54%); residual disease after initial surgery (present: n = 23, 55%; absent: n = 19, 45%). Five patients progressed while on chemotherapy, could not be effectively cytoreduced, and were not eligible for WAI. Of the remaining 37 patients, 35 received WAI. Surgical reassessment was not performed in five patients. RESULTS: Of 37 patients with known SRA status after chemotherapy, 21 (57%) were grossly positive, 4 (11%) were microscopically positive, and 12 (32%) were negative. Based on measurements recorded following initial laparotomy and surgical reassessment, progression during chemotherapy was noted in 40%, stage disease in 37%, and objective response in 23%. Toxicity during hyperfractionated WAI was limited and reversible. No patient beginning WAI failed to complete or required a significant treatment break. Following WAI, six patients underwent laparotomies for abdominal symptoms; five had recurrent disease. Five additional patients were managed conservatively for small bowel obstruction (SBO) or malabsorption, of whom three subsequently developed recurrence. Twenty-two patients having pelvic boosts were significantly more likely to require management for gastrointestinal morbidity (p = 0.0021). Considering all eligible patients, median disease-free and overall survivals were 18.5 and 39 months, respectively. Considering patients completing chemotherapy and WAI, median disease-free and overall survivals were 24 and 46 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: (a) Disease progression occurred within three cycles of cisplatin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy in 40% of patients with optimal (< or = 1 cm residual) Stage III ovarian carcinoma. (b) Following limited chemotherapy, hyper-fractionated WAI was acutely well tolerated. (c) Late radiation-related toxicity was observed in only three patients (8.6%) in the absence of recurrent disease. Late gastrointestinal morbidity was significantly associated with the administration of a pelvic radiotherapy (RT) boost. (d) Short duration chemotherapy followed by SRA and hyperfractionated WAI without a pelvic boost is a promising management option for patients with optimal Stage III ovarian cancer. A Phase III trial will be necessary to determine how this treatment strategy compares with chemotherapy or RT alone in this patient population.

The gynecologist and surgical procedures for breast disease.

Patients with a palpable mass often benefit most from aspiration. As the clinician tries to aspirate, fluid may be obtained if the lesion is cystic. A solid lesion can be assessed with FNA biopsy with a very high degree of accuracy. Excisional biopsy should be used when a cystic lesion recurs, the mass does not disappear after the cyst is aspirated, or if the fluid obtained is bloody. A solid lesion may need to be excised if the aspirate is negative. The overall detection rate of breast cancer is approximately 20% for excisional biopsies. Mammographically detected lesions can be evaluated with needle-localization biopsies and stereotactic biopsies. The detection rates for breast carcinoma averages approximately 30%, with at least 20% of these lesions being noninvasive. The role of core needle biopsy of palpable lesions is limited; however, histologic confirmation of positive cytologic results from aspirate is possible with this approach. Stereotactic needle biopsy appears to correlate well with the specimen obtained at incisional biopsy and may decrease the need for needle-localized excisional biopsy.

Implication of new figo surgical staging on patterns of failure and survival in endometrial carcinoma.

Continued emphasis on treating endometrial cancer primarily as a surgical disease has led to the institution, in 1988, of a new staging system based on operative findings. Since the system is new, limited experience has been published confirming its theoretical advantage in predicting clinical outcome. In a four year period, 117 patients with newly diagnosed endometrial cancer were referred for adjuvant radiation therapy to the Department of Radiation Oncology. All patients were restaged based on surgical findings according to the revised 1988 FIGO Staging System. This requires an assessment of peritoneal washings, myometrial invasion, cervical involvement, adnexal and pelvic/para-aortic lymph node metastasis. 39 patients were excluded, leaving 78 patients who were distributed in each stage as follows: Stage I-39 pts (IA 2 pts, IB 24 pts, IC 13 pts), Stage II-10 pts (IIA 5 pts, IIB 5 pts), Stage III-21 pts (IIIA 6 pts, IIIB 1 pt, IIIC 14 pts). and Stage IV-8 pts (IVA 1 pt, IVB 7 pts). The median follow-up time was 40 months, ranging from 3-82 months. The three year absolute and disease-free survival in each stage were: Stage I-97% and 97%, Stage II-79% and 80%, Stage III-37% and 24%, and Stage IV-13% and 0%, respectively. The locoregional and distant failure rates were: Stage I-3% and 5%, Stage II-20% and 0%, Stage III-10% and 76%, respectively. This retrospective analysis suggests that the survival and distant failure are well predicted by the revised FIGO Staging System, which relies completely on findings at surgical staging.

Percutaneous nephrostomy - recovered renal-function in 50 obstetric and gynecologic patients undergoing percutaneous nephrostomy.

Percutaneous nephrostomy (PN) will rapidly correct renal failure due to ureteral obstruction. Complications of the procedure are few and the procedure can be quickly accomplished on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. A retrospective review of fifty patients who underwent PN led to derivation of a formula which predicts the expected degree of correction of renal function. Measurement of renal intracalyceal pressures at the time of PN was not helpful in predicting-outcome.

A descriptive study of uterine sarcomas.

A descriptive study of 67 patients with uterine sarcoma reveals the patients to be elderly (mean age 73 years) with significant co-existent medical problems. Despite this, primary surgical therapy is associated with minimal morbidity. Overall, survival is 63% for disease confined to the uterine corpus, and considerably less for more extensive disease. Nodal status, depth of myometrial invasion, peritoneal washings, cervical involvement, histologic type of sarcoma and treatment do not accurately predict survival. Patients alive 26 months after treatment are likely to survive their disease.

Determinants of home versus hospital terminal care for patients with gynecologic cancer.

BACKGROUND: This study reviewed all patients managed by the Gynecologic Oncology service of a tertiary care facility (n = 468) whose deaths occurred between 1980 and 1990 to ascertain the site of death and potential factors affecting whether patients died at home or in a hospital. METHODS: Gynecologic Oncology Tumor Registry data were analyzed for patient diagnosis, age at diagnosis, age at death, marital status, insurance coverage, and year of death in relation to location of death. RESULTS: This study found that 78% of patients died in the hospital, and 22% died at home. The mean terminal hospital stay was 15 days. The variables examined in this study could only accurately predict location of death in 59% of the cases. Examination of the variable year of death, however, demonstrated that the likelihood of death in the hospital generally increased from 1980 to 1990, despite introduction of diagnosis related groups and aggressive efforts by caregivers to facilitate and encourage death at home. CONCLUSIONS: Philosophical and economic considerations to the contrary, a significant majority of terminal patients with gynecologic cancers will die in a hospital, thus extensively utilizing our limited health resources.