Prophylactic Antibiotics before Gynecologic Surgery: A Comprehensive Review of Guidelines.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) refer to infections in the incision, organ, or postoperative space. As common healthcare-associated infections, SSIs correlate with prolonged hospital stay, additional procedures, ICU stay, and higher mortality rates. Around 8-10% of gynecologic surgery patients may experience infectious complications, influenced by microbial contamination, surgical nature, and patient factors. The goal of this narrative review is to compare and merge recommendations from globally published guidelines concerning the utilization of antibiotics in the perioperative phase. A comparative descriptive/narrative review of the guidelines issued by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada (SOGC), Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG), National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RANZCOG), European Society of Gynecologic Oncology (ESGO), Société Française d' Anésthesie et de Réanimation (SFAR), Spanish Society of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology (SEIMC), and Hellenic Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (HSOG) was conducted. For hysterectomy, first/second-generation cephalosporins are suggested, with metronidazole as an option. Laparoscopy without entering the bowel or vagina typically does not require prophylaxis. Uterine evacuation and hysteroscopy may involve doxycycline or azithromycin based on risk factors, whereas, for vulvectomy, cefazolin is recommended. Urogynecology procedures may include cefazolin with metronidazole. In cases of penicillin allergy, cephalosporins are suggested, and, for obese patients, adjusted doses are advised. Additional doses may be needed for prolonged procedures or excessive blood loss. Timing recommendations are 15-60 min before incision, adjusting for specific antibiotics. Clear indications exist for certain surgeries like hysterectomy, termination of pregnancy, and urogynecologic procedures. Conversely, procedures such as intrauterine device insertion, hysteroscopy, and laparoscopy typically do not necessitate antibiotic prophylaxis. For several other procedures, the evidence is inconclusive, while considering dose, timing, and indications can mitigate infectious complications and provide benefits for the healthcare system.

Clinical significance and main parameters promoting the breast­feeding strategy (Review).

Breastfeeding provides numerous nutritional and immunological benefits, promotes neurological and cognitive development, and protects against chronic and infectious diseases, rendering it beneficial to the survival and well-being of infants. According to international recommendations, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months. However, despite global health recommendations and funding initiatives, exclusive breastfeeding rates remain low worldwide. A number of studies attribute the low rates to factors that can be grouped into demographic, psychosocial, economic and midwifery factors, and outline the profile of each mother who opts to exclusively breastfeed her infant. In addition, the number of previous pregnancies, induced labor, the use of epidurals at birth or the possibility of the newborn being delivered prematurely, and the need for admission to an intensive care unit are the factors that reduce the likelihood of exclusive breastfeeding. Further research is required to understand the factors influencing the initiation and maintenance of exclusive breastfeeding, as international interventions have been ineffective. The aim of the present review was to provide an up-to-date summary of these various factors in an aim to assist health care professionals and policy makers in developing effective interventions with which to promote and support exclusive breastfeeding.

Human papillomaviruses and breast cancer: A systematic review and meta­analysis.

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading malignancy worldwide. The association between human papillomavirus (HPV) and BC is debatable. The present systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of HPV DNA in malignant breast tumors. An extensive search of the PubMed and SCOPUS databases was carried out for case-control studies published between January 1, 2003 and January 7, 2023, which compared HPV DNA detection in breast tissue specimens of female patients with BC and women with absent or benign breast disorders. Once the initial title/abstract screening was completed by two independent investigators, the full texts of the included studies from that stage were reviewed by the aforementioned investigators to determine if they should be included in the present study. Data extraction was independently conducted by two investigators. A third investigator was consulted to resolve disagreements through free discussion. MedCalc was used for quantitative synthesis. The significance of association was estimated by pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) calculated using the random-effects model. A total of 23 primary studies, including 3,243 subjects (2,027 patients and 1,216 controls), were eligible for quantitative analysis. HPV prevalence in patients with BC and controls was 21.95 and 8.96%, respectively. The prevalence of HPV differed significantly between the two groups (OR 3.83; 95% CI 2.03-7.25; P<0.01). Heterogeneity among studies was quantified using the I2 index which was 69.57% (95% CI 51.89-80.75). The risk of bias was assessed using an appropriate tool contributed by the CLARITY Group at McMaster University. Seven studies had a low risk of bias, 15 studies had a moderate risk of bias and only one study had a serious risk of bias. These results reinforce the hypothesis that HPV is involved in BC development and progression, indicating a possible role of HPV vaccination in BC prevention.

Sentinel lymph node biopsy for breast cancer during pregnancy: A comprehensive update.

BACKGROUND: Pregnant patients diagnosed with breast cancer (PrBC) may receive substantially different treatments compared to general population, considering that certain treatment options cannot be applied during pregnancy due to their potential harmful effects to the foetus. Regarding the use of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) in pregnant patients, potential concerns include foetal harm from radiation exposure, possible teratogenic effects of blue dyes and maternal anaphylaxis to isosulfan. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the present systematic review is to summarize and present current knowledge and up-to-date evidence about the safety and efficacy of SLNB in PABC. METHODS: MEDLINE, Google Scholar and UpToDate databases were searched up to 22 January 2023. Articles studying the safety and effectiveness of SLNB in patients for PrBC were eligible for inclusion in the present review. RESULTS: In total, 63 articles that met the inclusion criteria were included in this study. Forty-seven articles were strongly in favour of performing SLNB in PABC, 4 articles were partially in favour, 10 articles were strongly against and 2 articles were partially against performing SLNB in PABC. Sub-categorization based on type of study showed that the majority of studies in favour were of higher level of evidence than those against. Furthermore, there were overall 12 studies reporting on outcomes. There were overall 382 women with PrBC that underwent SLNB. Full data were reported for 237 cases. Overall live birth rate was 95.8%, while overall neonatal complication rate was 3.4%. No case of maternal side effects or anaphylactic reaction, maternal death, stillbirth and neonatal death was reported (0%). CONCLUSIONS: Sentinel lymph node biopsy seems to be safe and effective technique for breast cancer during pregnancy.

Effects of Low Luteinizing Hormone Serum Levels on Oocyte Retrieval, Fertilization Rate, and Embryo Quality during Controlled Ovarian Stimulation: Results from a Prospective Cohort Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Luteinizing hormone (LH) plays a key role in normal follicular development and oocyte maturation in controlled ovarian stimulation. LH stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of theca cells for the secretion of androgens, synergistically increasing estrogen production. This study aimed to investigate the effects of low LH concentrations on oocyte retrieval, fertilization, and embryo development in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection. DESIGN: We prospectively (ClinicalTrials ID: NCT05755529) analyzed patients undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection, subdividing them into three groups according to their age. Serum LH levels were evaluated on day 3, during stimulation (day 10) and before ovulation induction (day 12). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS: Forty-three consecutive women were scheduled for IVF and received ovarian stimulation with follitropin alfa (Gonal F, Merck Serono, Germany) and ganirelix (Fyremaldel, Sun Pharma, Italy). Statistical analysis was performed with InStat 3.10, GraphPad software, San Diego, CA, USA. Normal distribution was tested by the Shapiro-Wilk test. Continuous variables were expressed as the mean and standard deviation. Categorical variables are expressed as frequencies and percentages. RESULTS: Our data analysis suggests that serum LH levels progressively decrease during controlled ovarian stimulation, and this effect is more evident in the early phase of this procedure. From this perspective, circulating LH levels may significantly decrease during the late follicular phase due to the negative feedback of ovarian hormones from multiple follicular developments or after the suppressive effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonists. LIMITATIONS: Although our study confirms that exogenous LH can be considered a strategy in women with reduced LH levels during ovarian stimulation to improve oocyte quality and reproductive outcome, the generalizability of the results is limited by the low number of participants enrolled. CONCLUSIONS: Exogenous LH may be considered a strategy in women with a decrease in LH levels during ovarian stimulation to improve oocyte quality and reproductive outcome.

Impact of weight loss after treatment on survival outcomes of overweight and obese patients with early­stage endometrial cancer.

Despite the fact that obesity is the main risk factor for endometrial cancer, there is limited evidence regarding the effects of body weight change on overweight and obese women treated for early-stage endometrial can its impact on cancer outcomes. A retrospective cohort study was performed including all overweight and obese patients with early-stage type-I endometrial cancer that were treated at the Insular University Hospital of Las Palmas (Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain) between January 2007 and December 2019. Body weight change at 12 months of treatment was evaluated, as well as its impact on cancer outcomes. Weight loss ≥5% was independently evaluated regarding its impact on survival. A total of 526 women were studied, of which 152 (28.90%) were overweight (BMI ≥25 and <30) and 374 (71.10%) were obese (BMI ≥30). The median follow-up was 76.17 months, during which time 77 (14.64%) women died. In the survivor group, body weight at initial diagnosis was 86.4±17.9 kg compared with 84.6±16.4 kg 1 year after treatment, which corresponded to a significant mean weight loss of 1.47 kg (P<0.001). However, in the group of non-survivors, body weight at initial diagnosis was 84.7±15.7 kg compared with 84.7±14.6 kg 1 year after treatment, which demonstrated a non-significant mean weight loss of 0.63 kg (P=0.180). When comparing between the patients who maintained or gained ≥5% weight and those who lost ≥5% weight, there were no significant differences taking into account the whole cohort and follow-up time; however, when adjusting for the period between 32 and 98 months, survival was significantly higher in those patients that lost ≥5% of their initial body weight (P=0.025; log-rank test). Based on the final univariate and cer and multivariate analyses, body weight change at 12 months was not indicated to be a factor significantly affecting overall survival; adjusted hazard ratio was 1.01 (95% CI 0.97-1.05, P=0.723). In conclusion, even if greater weight loss is observed in patients with endometrial cancer that survive the disease, no significant impact on survival outcomes is observed based on multivariate analysis.

Mixed High-Risk Endometrial Carcinoma Initially Presented With Atypical Squamous Cells of Undetermined Significance (ASC-US) Cytology: Lessons to Be Learned.

Endometrial carcinoma represents the most common gynecologic malignancy, affecting mainly postmenopausal women. Early detection and proper management may allow not only a successful treatment but also an acceptable quality of life. Although its usual clinical manifestations, such as vaginal bleeding or a mass stuck out of the cervix, often arouse medical concern, in some cases, there is a dilemma regarding the differential diagnosis of endocervical cancer. Additionally, tumors arising from and confined to the uterine isthmus may often pose a greater diagnostic challenge. Defining the primary origin of the carcinoma is of paramount importance as the treatment plan may be widely different in these two scenarios. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), markers, and biopsy with immunohistochemistry could facilitate the diagnostic process, but the final diagnosis may even be made from the final surgical specimen in such demanding cases. We present the case of a mixed-type, stage IIIC2, endometrial carcinoma arising from the lower uterine segment initially suspected from atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) cytology.

HIPEC for gynaecological malignancies: A last update (Review).

Advanced-stage gynaecological cancer represents a clinical entity with challenging surgical treatment in an effort to optimize prognosis. Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) following cytoreductive surgery (CRS) has been reported as a method potentially eligible to improve prognosis. However, no definitive conclusions have yet been made on which types of cancer and which context HIPEC may actually have a beneficial impact. The present review discusses the efficacy and safety of HIPEC as a treatment option for patients with primary/recurrent ovarian, endometrial and cervix cancer, as well as peritoneal sarcomatosis. A literature search was conducted using MeSH terms for each topic in the PubMed database and supplemented with a manual search to retrieve additional articles eligible for inclusion/fulfilling the inclusion criteria. The implementation of HIPEC appears to be beneficial in terms of survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy, as well as in patients with recurrent EOC. Statistical superiority is not justified by current studies regarding other gynaecological malignancies with peritoneal dissemination. Furthermore, as regards safety, HIPEC following CRS does not appear to significantly increase the mortality and morbidity rates compared to the use of CRS alone. The rationale for using HIPEC and CRS in the treatment of ovarian cancer, particularly in the neoadjuvant setting, as well as for recurrences, is adequately evidenced, with acceptable safety and post-operative complication rate profiles. Its current place in the multimodal strategy for patients with peritoneal metastases remains uncertain, however. Randomized clinical trials are warranted to further examine the use of HIPEC and establish the optimal regimen and temperature settings. The role of optimal cytoreduction and no residual disease, as well as the proper patient selection remain basic parameters for maximizing survival parameters.

Breast Carcinogenesis during Pregnancy: Molecular Mechanisms, Maternal and Fetal Adverse Outcomes.

Breast cancer is a common type of cancer diagnosed during pregnancy, with increasing incidence over the last years, as more women choose to delay childbearing. Compared to breast cancer in general population, pregnancy-associated breast cancer (PABC) is significantly different in its terms of epidemiology, diagnostic and therapeutic management, while it exhibits particularly aggressive behavior, deriving from its unique molecular and biological profile. Although not fully elucidated, the pathophysiological basis of PABC can be traced back to a combination of hormonal and immune changes during pregnancy, breast involution and altered gene expression. There is considerable controversy in the existing literature about the influence of PABC on pregnancy outcomes, regarding both short- and long-term effects on maternal and fetal/neonatal health. The majority of PABC patients have advanced-stage disease at initial diagnosis and face a significantly poorer prognosis, with decreased survival rates. The most commonly reported adverse obstetrical-fetal events are preterm delivery and prematurity-associated neonatal morbidity, while other neonatal treatment-associated complications might also occur, even when safe therapeutic options are applied during pregnancy. The objective of the present comprehensive review was to summarize current knowledge and up-to-date evidence about the pathophysiological, molecular and biological basis of PABC, as well as its association with adverse maternal, obstetrical, fetal and neonatal outcomes.

Evaluating the potential role of human papilloma virus infection in breast carcinogenesis via real-time polymerase chain reaction analyzes of breast fine needle aspiration samples from Greek patients.

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus (HPV), in addition to its known clinical contribution to cervical cancer is probably actively involved in the development of breast tumors in various populations worldwide. Predominant HPV types in breast cancer patients vary geographically. The present study further examines HPV incidence in Greece, based on molecular analysis of clinical cytological samples. METHODS: Greek patient fine needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy samples were examined using RT-PCR and immunohistological staining. FNA biopsy samples were collected from 114 female patients, diagnosed between the years 2018 and 2021, 57 with C5 diagnosed breast cancer lesions and 57 diagnosed with benign diseases. RESULTS: A total of three different HPV types were identified within the patient sample. HPV-39 was found only in the control group, in 1.8% of patients, while HPV-59 was present in both control and study groups in 1.8% and 3.5% respectively. HPV-16, on the other hand, was present only in the study group in 12.3% of cases. HPV type presence was statistically differentiated between histological groups. HPV-16 was exclusively in IDC, HPV-39 was present in one cyst diagnosed sample and HPV-59 was present in 3 samples that included fibroadenoma, IDC and LN diagnosis. CONCLUSION: More international comparative studies are required to investigate population differences and HPV genotype distribution to offer definite answers to the effect that certain HPV types might have a role in breast cancer, as this study also supports, albeit in a cofactory role.

Sarcoma Botryoides: Optimal Therapeutic Management and Prognosis of an Unfavorable Malignant Neoplasm of Female Children.

Embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (ERMS) is a rare malignancy and occurs primarily in the first two decades of life. Botryoid rhabdomyosarcoma is an aggressive subtype of ERMS that often manifests in the genital tract of female infants and children. Due to its rarity, the optimal treatment approach has been a matter of debate. We conducted a search in the PubMed database and supplemented it with a manual search to retrieve additional papers eligible for inclusion. We retrieved 13 case reports and case series, from which we summarized that the current trend is to approach each patient with a personalized treatment plan. This consists of a combination of local debulking surgery and adjuvant or neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). Effort is made in every approach to avoid radiation for the sake of preserving fertility. Radical surgeries and radiation still have a role to play in extensive disease and in cases of relapse. Despite the rarity and aggressiveness of this tumor, disease-free survival and overall prognosis is excellent, especially when it is diagnosed early, compared with other subtypes of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). We conclude that the practice of a multidisciplinary approach is appropriate, with favorable outcomes; however, larger-scale studies need to be organized to have a definite consensus on optimal management.

Therapeutic Management and Prognostic Factors for Ovarian Malignant Tumours in Adolescents: A Comprehensive Review of Current Guidelines.

Background: Ovarian malignant tumours are rarely diagnosed in adolescents but may have a significant impact on their survival, future fertility and quality of life. The management of such cases is rather complex and requires expertise and careful planning according to scarce existing evidence and recommendations. Objective: The aim of this study was to review and compare recommendations from published guidelines regarding the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of malignant ovarian tumours in adolescents. Evidence acquisition: A comparative descriptive/narrative review of guidelines issued by L'Observatoire des Tumeurs Malignes Rares Gynécologiques, the British Society for Paediatric & Adolescent Gynaecology, the European Society for Medical Oncology, the European Society of Gynecological Oncology-European Society for Paediatric Oncology and the European Cooperative Study Group for Pediatric Rare Tumors was conducted. Results: All guidelines recommend a thorough diagnostic work-up, consisting of both imaging tests and serum tumour marker measurement, as well as the use of immunohistochemical methods to confirm the diagnosis and complete surgical staging prior to constructing the treatment plan. There is a lack of recommendations regarding the assessment of prognostic factors, with only one guideline providing detailed information. Treatment strategies, as suggested by the majority of guidelines and with only a few discrepancies between them, should include both surgery and adjuvant therapies, mainly chemotherapy, with great emphasis on fertility preservation when it is considered oncologically safe and on the significance of regular and long-term follow-up. Conclusions: There is a significant degree of agreement among recommendations of existing guidelines. The reported differences, although limited, highlight the need for the adoption of an international consensus in order to further improve the management of adolescent ovarian cancer.

Surgical restaging of patients with early­stage endometrial cancer with lymphovascular invasion does not significantly impact their survival outcomes.

Lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) is considered to be a poor prognostic factor in endometrial cancer. However, management of patients with early-stage endometrial cancer with positive LVSI remains controversial. The main objective of the present study was to investigate whether surgical restaging of such patients has a significant effect on survival outcomes or may be otherwise omitted. A retrospective cohort study was conducted at the Gynaecologic Oncology Unit, Insitut Bergonie, Bordeaux, France for the period January 2003-December 2019. The present study included patients with definitive histopathological diagnosis of early-stage, grade 1-2 endometrial cancer with positive LVSI. Patients were divided into two groups: Those being restaged with pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (group 1) and those not restaged and receiving complementary therapy (group 2). The primary outcomes of the study were overall survival and progression-free survival. Epidemiological data, clinical and histopathological characteristics as well as complementary treatment received were also studied. Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed. Data from 30 patients were retrieved, of which restaging with lymphadenectomy was performed in 21 patients (group 1), while another 9 patients (group 2) were not restaged and received complementary therapy. Lymph node metastasis was observed in 23.8% of patients in group 1 (n=5). No significant difference was observed between groups 1 and 2 in terms of survival outcomes. The median overall survival was 91.31 months in group 1 and 90.61 months in group 2 [hazard ratio (HR), 0.71; 95% CI, 0.03-16.58; P=0.829]. The median disease-free survival was 87.95 months in group 1 and 81.52 months in group 2 (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.12-5.91; P=0.869). In conclusion, restaging with lymphadenectomy did not alter prognosis of early-stage, LVSI-positive patients. As there was no clinical and therapeutic benefit, restaging with lymphadenectomy could be omitted in such patients.

Contraceptive methods in adolescence: a narrative review of guidelines.

PURPOSE: Adolescent pregnancy, while recently in decline, remains a matter in need of addressing. Education and counselling are deemed crucial and this review aims at comparing published contraceptive guidelines, thus resolving any surrounding misconceptions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Recently published contraception guidelines regarding adolescent pregnancy were retrieved. In particular, guidelines and recommendations from ACOG, RCOG, SOCG, AAP, CPS, NICE, CDC, and WHO were compared and reviewed based on each guideline's method of reporting. RESULTS: Three categories of contraceptive methods are available for adolescents and recommendations on their initiation should be made based on their efficacy, according to all guidelines. Therefore, long acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs) should be highly recommended as the most effective method (typical use failure rate: 0.05%), followed by short-acting hormonal contraceptives (typical use failure rate: 3-9%). The third contraceptive option includes contraceptives used in the moment of intercourse and displays the lowest effectiveness (typical use failure rate: 12-25%), mostly due to its dependence on personal consistency, however offers protection against STI transmission. CONCLUSION: Adolescents should be encouraged to initiate contraception, with LARCs being the primary choice followed by short-acting hormonal contraception. However, regardless of the chosen effective contraceptive method, the use of condom is necessary for STI prevention.

Adolescent pregnancy, while recently in decline, remains a matter in need of addressing. The use of contraceptive methods such as LARCs and short-acting hormonal contraceptives should be encouraged and suggested based on effectiveness with the addition of condom for STI prevention.

The expression and possible role of corticotropin-releasing hormone family peptides and their corresponding receptors in gynaecological malignancies and premalignant conditions: a systematic review.

The aim of this systematic review is to investigate the impact of corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) family peptides and their corresponding receptors on human physiology and disease onset, with a specific focus on gynaecological malignancies such as breast, endometrial, ovarian, vulvar, and cervical cancer. A comprehensive systematic review of 3 medical databases was conducted by 2 independent reviewers. We reviewed studies that explored the expression and role of CRH peptides in various aspects of cancer biology, in the context of breast, endometrial, ovarian, vulvar, and cervical cancer. Our findings reveal that CRH family peptides and their receptors, CRHR1 and CRHR2, are expressed in diverse gynaecological tissues, including cancer cells. Notably, we observed differential expression patterns among different gynaecological cancer types and stages, indicating potential associations with tumour aggressiveness and patient prognosis. Furthermore, CRH peptides were found to exert significant influences on critical cellular processes, such as cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and immune response, in gynaecological cancers. These findings highlight the multifaceted roles of CRH family peptides in gynaecological malignancies and emphasize the need for further research in this field. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying the involvement of CRH family peptides in tumourigenesis may open new avenues for targeted therapeutic strategies in gynaecological malignancies.

Sentinel Lymph Node Staging in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: A Comprehensive Review.

Cervical cancer (CC) continues to be a significant global public health concern, even with preventive measures in place. In women with early-stage CC, the status of lymph nodes is of paramount importance, not only for the final prognosis but also for determining the best therapeutic strategy. According to main international guidelines, pelvic full lymphadenectomy (PLND) is recommended for lymph node staging. However, in these early stages of CC, sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has emerged as a precise technique for evaluating lymph node involvement, improving its morbidity profile. We performed a literature review through PubMed articles about progress on the application of SLNB in women with early-stage CC focusing on the comparison with PET/CT and PLND in terms of oncological outcomes and diagnostic accuracy. While the superiority of SLNB is clear compared to radiologic modalities, it demonstrates no clear oncologic inferiority over PLND, given the higher detection rate of positive lymph nodes and predominance of no lymph node recurrences. However, due to a lack of prospective evidence, particularly concerning long-term oncological safety, SLNB is not the current gold standard. With careful patient selection and adherence to straightforward protocols, a low false-negative rate can be ensured. The aim of the ongoing prospective trials is to address these issues.

Sentinel lymph node mapping in endometrial cancer to reduce surgical morbidity: always, sometimes, or never.

Introduction: Surgical staging of nodal status is of utmost significance to determine the stage of endometrial cancer and construct a targeted treatment plan. Systematic lymphadenectomy has for years been the procedure of choice for staging purposes, enabling thorough assessment of lymph nodes. Nevertheless, it is associated with increased morbidity and severe postoperative complications. In an attempt to avoid the disadvantages of lymphadenectomy, the use of sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has been examined as an alternative staging procedure.The purpose of the present review is to summarize and provide up-to-date evidence about the role of SLN biopsy in the staging and management of endometrial cancer cases in the terms of optimal technique, efficacy, safety, and postoperative morbidity, as an alternative approach to regional lymphadenectomy. Material and methods: A thorough literature search was conducted in MEDLINE and SCOPUS to identify recent primary research and previous review articles that explore the use of SLN mapping as a staging procedure in patients with endometrial cancer. Results: There is increasing evidence that SLN mapping is efficient in identifying metastatic nodal disease without compromising oncological safety, achieving comparable or even superior detection rates to those of lymphadenectomy, when optimal technique and careful intraoperative nodal assessment are applied. Conclusions: Sentinel lymph node mapping can safely replace lymphadenectomy as an acceptable alternative staging method for endometrial cancer; however, future research might further strengthen this suggestion by resolving potential areas of doubt and debate, especially for high-risk endometrial cancer cases.

Clinical Manifestation and Obstetric Outcomes in Pregnant Women with SARS-CoV-2 Infection at Delivery: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

This retrospective cohort study aimed to analyze the clinical manifestations, complications, and maternal-fetal outcomes in patients affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection during delivery. The cohort included 61 pregnant women positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection at the time of delivery. Patients were divided into two groups: symptomatic and asymptomatic. We found a significantly higher rate of leukocytosis (p < 0.00078) and lymphopenia (p < 0.0024) in symptomatic women compared with asymptomatic ones. Other laboratory parameters, such as CRP (p = 0.002), AST (p = 0.007), LDH (p = 0.0142), ferritin (p = 0.0036), and D-dimer (p = 0.00124), were also significantly more often increased in the group of symptomatic pregnant women. Overall, symptomatic pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection at the delivery show more often altered laboratory parameters compared with asymptomatic ones; nevertheless, they have a slightly higher but non-significant rate of preterm delivery, cesarean section, as well as lower neonatal birth weight and Apgar score, compared with asymptomatic women.