In vivo confocal laser endomicroscopy during laparoscopy for gynecological surgery: A promising tool.

INTRODUCTION: To investigate the technical feasibility of optical biopsy (probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy [pCLE]) during laparoscopy and by the vaginal route in the exploration of pelvic gynecological cancers. METHODS: Prospective study including 31 patients undergoing laparoscopic hysterectomy (benign or malignant indication). Confocal microlaparoscopy (analysis of tubes, ovaries, and depending on the type de cancer, pelvic adenopathies) and optical biopsy of the endometrium were first carried out by the vaginal route under general anesthesia. The surgical procedure was then carried out. RESULTS: Thirty-one consecutive patients were included (16 for benign hysterectomy, 12 for endometrial cancer and 3 for ovarian carcinoma). pCLE offered dynamic pictures that were correlated with the histopathological images. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: pCLE provides high resolution imaging of cancerous and benign tissues in real-time similar to histopathological results. Both feasibility and safety were confirmed.

[Lucy's cancer(s): A prehistorical origin?] / Le(s) cancer(s) de Lucy : une origine préhistorique ?

OBJECTIVES: The recent discovery of the earliest hominin cancer, a 1.7-million-year-old osteosarcoma from South Africa has raised the question of the origin of cancer and its determinants. We aimed to determine whether malignant and benign tumors exist in the past societies. METHODS: A review of literature using Medline database and Google about benign and malignant tumors in prehistory and antiquity. Only cases with morphological and paraclinical analysis were included. The following keywords were used: cancer; paleopathology; malignant neoplasia; benign tumor; leiomyoma; myoma; breast cancer; mummies; soft tissue tumor; Antiquity. RESULTS: Thirty-five articles were found in wich there were 34 malignant tumors, 10 benign tumors and 11 gynecological benign tumors. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that there were some malignant tumors, even few tumors and probably underdiagnosed, in the past may be evidence that cancer is not only a disease of the modern world. Cancer may be indeed a moving target: we have likely predisposing genes to cancer inherited from our ancestors. The malignant disease could therefore appear because of our modern lifestyle (carcinogens and risk factors related to the modern industrial society).

[Current surgical practice of prophylactic and opportunistic salpingectomy in France]. / État des lieux de la salpingectomie prophylatique en France.

OBJECTIVES: Since the recent evidence of a tubal origin of most ovarian cancers, opportunistic salpingectomy could be discussed as a prophylactic strategy in the general population and with hereditary predisposition. We aimed to survey French gynecological surgeons about their current surgical practice of prophylactic salpingectomy. METHODS: An anonymous online survey was sent to French obstetrician-gynaecologists and gynecological surgeons. There were 13 questions about their current clinical practice and techniques of salpingectomy during a benign hysterectomy or as a tubal sterilization method, salpingectomy versus salpingo-oophorectomy in the population with genetic risk, salpingectomy in relationship with endometriosis and questions including histopathological considerations. RESULTS: Among the 569 respondents, opportunistic salpingectomy was always performed between 42.48% and 43.44% during laparoscopic, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal or laparotomic hysterectomy and only 12.26% in case of vaginal route. In the genetic population, salpingo-oophorectomy was mainly performed. Tubal sterilization was often practiced by the hysteroscopic route. More than 90% of respondents didn't perform salpingectomy in case of endometriosis. There was not any specific tubal histopathological protocol in 71.54% of cases. CONCLUSIONS: Salpingectomy may be a preventing strategy in the low- and high-risk population. The survey's responses show that salpingectomy seems to be a current practice during benign hysterectomy for more than 40% doctors. However, there is not any change with no more salpingectomy in the population with genetic risk, or in case of endometriosis or tubal sterilization.

[Is endometriosis a precancerous lesion? Perspectives and clinical implications]. / L'endométriose est-elle une lésion pré-cancéreuse ? Perspectives et implications cliniques.

Epidemiological studies have shown a relationship between endometriosis and clear cell/endometrioid ovarian cancers (named "Endometriosis Associated Ovarian Cancer" or EAOC). The recent discovery of signaling pathways (especially the SWI/SNF and PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathways) that linked endometriosis and EAOC could lead to the development of specific biomarkers as ARID1A to screen benign to premalignant endometriosis and to new targeted treatment. Moreover, the better understanding of the pathogenesis of the epithelial ovarian cancer arising from the Fallopian tube could allow new early prevention strategies that will be described in this review.

[Feasibility of opportunistic salpingectomy at the time of vaginal hysterectomy for benign pathology and evaluation of occult tubal lesions prevalence: Preliminary study]. / Faisabilité de la salpingectomie prophylactique lors d'une hystérectomie d'indication bénigne par voie vaginale et évaluation de la prévalence des lésions tubaires occultes : étude préliminaire.

AIM: To assess the feasibility of prophylactic salpingectomy during vaginal hysterectomy for benign pathology and the prevalence of occult tubal lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this prospective study from 09/01/2013 to 11/01/2014, patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy with salpingectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy were included. The prevalence of bilateral salpingectomy with or without ovariectomy and the prevalence of histopathological and immunohistochemical (p53 expression) abnormalities were evaluated. RESULTS: Bilateral salpingectomy was performed in 51/69 patients (73.9%). An elevated BMI was statistically associated with a failure of the salpingectomy (29.4 vs 25.8; P=0.01). There was only one case of postoperative hemorrhage in the salpingectomy group. On the 51fallopian tubes, there were 4 (12.9%) immunohistochemical abnormalities "p53 signature". CONCLUSION: The recent tubal origin of most ovarian cancer cases raised the question of the prophylactic salpingectomy in the population with genetic risk as well as in the general population. Bilateral salpingectomy may be performed during vaginal hysterectomy. However caution is needed because we do not know what is the exact evolution of the p53 signatures.