[Atypical prostatic leiomyoma: a new case with cytodensitometric analysis]. / Léiomyome à cellules bizarres de la prostate: un nouveau cas avec étude cytométrique.

Atypical prostatic leiomyoma is a very rare benign tumor. We report here a new case with a cytodensitometric analysis. The result of cytodensitometry is a polyploid tumor that is well correlated with the morphology of nuclear multilobulated cells of this tumor. The differential diagnosis is essentially the leiomyosarcoma which is characterized by the absence of mitotic activity.

[Pelvic filling and perineal reconstruction using longissimus dorsalis myocutaneous flap after total pelvic exenteration]. / Comblement pelvien et reconstruction périnéale après exentération pelvienne totale par un lambeau libre myocutané de grand dorsal.

AIM: The study aim was to report an original technique for pelvic cavity filling and perineal floor reconstruction with longissimus dorsalis myocutaneous free flap after total pelvic exenteration and extensive perineumectomy. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This technique was used in three patients, two men and one women (mean age: 53.3 years) after total pelvic exenteration for recurrent carcinoma of the bladder and/or prostate (n = 1), recurrent rectal carcinoma (n = 1) and extended vulvar carcinoma (n = 1). In this female patient, who required an extended perineal resection, it was necessary to use a bilateral flap, but a unilateral flap is usually sufficient. The vessels of the flap were connected with the femoral vessels in the Scarpa's triangle by a manual microanastomosis. RESULTS: The postoperative course was uneventful except for one patient who had an hemorrhage unrelated to the technique. One patient died after 13 months of septic complications and the two other patients were alive after 6 and 7 months. CONCLUSION: The use of longissimus dorsalis myocutaneous free flap is a suitable procedure in order to fill the pelvic cavity and restore the perineal skin after a total pelvic exenteration with large perineal resection. Further experience is necessary to confirm these first attempts.

[Recurrence of giant-cell fibroblastoma as dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans in the adult]. / Récidive d'un fibroblastome à cellules géantes de l'enfant sous forme de dermatofibrosarcome protubérant à l'âge adulte.

Giant cell fibroblastoma is a rare, subcutaneous tumor of children. Local recurrences frequently occur after surgical excision, occasionally taking the form of dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans. An immunohistochemical study is associated in this case report.

Intraoperative radiation therapy in recurrent carcinoma of the uterine cervix: report of the French intraoperative group on 70 patients.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility and oncologic results of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) for recurrent uterine cervical carcinoma in a cohort of patients treated in seven French institutions. METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1985 to 1993, 70 patients with pelvic recurrences underwent IORT with/ without external radiation therapy (ERT) and chemotherapy (CT). Treatment modalities for recurrence were IORT alone (40 out of 70), IORT + ERT (30 out of 70), additional chemotherapy (20 out of 70). Gross complete resection (CR) was performed in 30 out of 70 cases, partial resection (PR) in 37 out of 70, and unspecified surgery in 3 out of 70. Sixty-five patients had electron beam IORT and 5, 100 KV photon IORT. Mean IORT cone size, electron beam energy, and dose (calculated at the 90% isodose line) were, respectively, 75 mm (40 to 90), 12 MeV (6 to 20), and 18 Gy (10 to 25) after CR and 80 mm (45 to 100), 15 MeV (7 to 24), and 19 Gy (10 to 30) after PR. RESULTS: Mean follow-up after IORT was 15 months (2 to 69). One, 2- and 3-year overall survival rates were 47, 17, and 8%, respectively; median survival was 11 months and local control, 21%. Median survival and local control rates increased after CR (13 months, 27%) vs. PR (10 months, 17%) and when initial treatment consisted of surgery (S) alone (15 months, 25%) vs. radiation therapy (RT +/- S) (10 months, 16%). However, these differences were not statistically significant. No death-related toxicity was observed. Grade 2 or 3 toxicity was observed in 19 out of 70 patients (27%), including 9 not directly IORT-related complications (13%) (three digestive tract fistulas, one rectal stricture, three urinary fistulas, two infections) and 10 directly IORT-related complications (14%) (five neuropathies, four ureteral obstructions, and one rectal stricture). CONCLUSION: This retrospective study demonstrates the feasibility of IORT. The usefulness of IORT still needs to be evaluated in primary treatment of advanced stages of cervical carcinoma.

Prognostic factors in soft tissue sarcomas. A multivariate analysis of 109 cases.

Prognostic factors were evaluated in 109 soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities, walls of the trunk, head, and neck. All lesions were graded according to the systems proposed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the French Federation of Cancer Centers (FNCLCC), and a correlation was found between tumor grade and prognosis. Univariate analysis selected the following variables as unfavorable prognostic factors: invasive tumor margins, extra-compartmental status, deep tumors, tumor diameters over 5 cm, inadequate excision, presence of necrosis, high mitotic count, histologically undifferentiated tumors, and blood vessel invasion. These variables were found to be interdependent. Multivariate analysis selected quality of surgery as the most important variable for predicting local recurrences. The factors selected with regard to overall and metastasis-free survival were tumor size, tumor margins, necrosis, and adequacy of excision. These results permitted classification of patients into four prognostic groups: two with good and two with bad prognosis. Five-year survival for the four groups was 100%, 83%, 53%, and 0%; 5-year metastatic rates were 0%, 12%, 67%, and 100%. Similar groups were obtained when the variables of tumor margins and size were combined with an adaptation of the NCI grading (low-grade tumors/high-grade tumors without necrosis/high-grade tumors with necrosis). Comparative analysis showed that patients with tumors of the same histologic grade or type were not necessarily classed in the same prognostic groups. A better clinicopathologic correlation was obtained using a combination of prognostic factors than with histologic grading or typing alone.

[A systematic radio-surgical combination in the treatment of sarcoma of soft tissues in adults. Results in 106 cases at the Centre François Baclesse]. / Association radio-chirurgicale systématique dans le traitement des sarcomes des tissus mous de l'adulte. Résultats dans 106 cas au Centre François Baclesse.

Based on a series of 143 cases of soft tissue sarcomas, including 106 cases treated curatively, the author stresses the importance of surgical resection with frozen section histological control, systematically combined with radiotherapy. Even when resection is complete, the frequency of loco-regional recurrences in all published series shows that neoplastic cells were already present around the resection site. Consequently, since 1972 at the Centre François Baclesse, whenever possible, surgery is preceded by concentrated regional irradiation (2 sessions of 6.50 Gy at 48 hour's interval) and postoperative complementary radiotherapy is always performed regardless of the quality of the resection 3 weeks after the preoperative irradiation. The dose is limited to a total of 50 Gy when the resection is complete and is increased to 60 to 70 Gy in the zones of doubtful or incomplete resection. This postoperative radiotherapy is associated with 5 injections of actinomycin D during the first sessions, but no adjuvant chemotherapy such as cyvadic is administered routinely. Under the conditions of treatment, the 5-year results obtained in 106 cases were as follows: local recurrences: 12.4%, metastases: 26%, survival rate: 76%. When the surgical resection was complete (62 cases), the 5-year local recurrence rate was 1.5% with 9% metastases and 92% survival. Metastases were related to factors of high malignancy which are beginning to be more clearly defined. These forms may benefit from intensive combination chemotherapy.

[Intraoperative abdominopelvic radiotherapy by single dose electrons]. / Radiothérapie abdomino-pelvienne per-opératoire par électrons à dose unique.

Thirty-four patients received, during laparotomy, a 15-20 Gy localized irradiation from a 10-13 MeV beam of electrons supplied by a linear accelerator and focalized by means of a localizer especially designed for this purpose. This technique is indicated for localized residual tumours of the pelvis and intra-operative irradiation of the lumbar aorta, as part of a chemo-radiotherapeutic programme in patients with advanced cancer of the cervix. It is too early to evaluate the medium-term results, but the technique is very well tolerated immediately.

Local control and survival in soft tissue sarcomas of the limbs, trunk walls and head and neck: a study of 113 cases.

One hundred thirteen patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the limbs, trunk walls, and head and neck have been treated at the Centre François Baclesse since 1972. Of these, 89 histologically confirmed patients were treated with a multimodality treatment protocol. Treatment policy was designed to use each treatment method as efficiently, economically and conservatively as possible: preoperative irradiation at moderate dose to a large volume (6.5 Gy, 2 sessions, 48 hr interval); surgery 48 hr after the last preoperative irradiation; surgical excision was guided and verified intra operatively by the pathologist (with frozen sections); postoperative irradiation aimed at sterilizing all residual isolated and radiosensitive tumor cells, possibly scattered throughout the anatomical region. The total dose is brought to the equivalent of 50 Gy (preoperative dose included). This dose was increased to 60 or even 70 Gy to a restricted volume, when limb conservation was sought, but tumor foci too large for total resection without amputation; actinomycin was added to the first five postoperative irradiations. The results at 5 years were as follows: local recurrence rate, 13.6%; metastatic rate, 28%; survival rate, overall (113 patients,) 65.6%, curative series (89 patients), 75%. When the surgical excision of the primary tumor was histologically complete (54 patients) the local recurrence rate was 1.9%, the metastatic rate 11.6%, and the survival rate 89.6% at 5 years.

[Operative mortality and morbidity in pelvic exenteration. Technical aspects]. / Mortalité et morbidité opératoires dans les exentérations pelviennes. Aspects techniques.

Postoperative complications in a continuous series of 23 pelvic exenterations for female genital tumor are analyzed, together with specific technical improvements capable of reducing morbidity and mortality of this major surgery. Emphasis is placed on the use of automatic suturing to improve hemostasis and to facilitate performance of digestive anastomoses. The preferred urinary bypass operation is ureterosigmoidostomy into an excluded loop, cutaneous ureterostomy being reserved for patients in a poor general condition. The only satisfactory procedure for filling of the pelviperineal cavity appears to be internal epiploplasty combined with perineal reconstruction by means of a musculus gracilis flap, which also allows the confection of a new vaginal cavity.

[Secondary cancers arising in mature benign cystic teratomas of the ovary (dermoid cysts). Review of the literature apropos of a new case]. / Cancérisation secondaire des tératomes matures kystiques bénins de l'ovaire (kystes dermoïdes). Revue de la littérature à propos d'un nouveau cas.

No new general review has appeared concerning the malignant changes that can occur in dermoid cysts of the ovary since the works of Peterson in 1957 and Climie and Heath in 1968. A personal case of epidermoid carcinoma--Stage II B--which occurred in a dermoid cyst gave us the opportunity of reviewing the 132 cases published between 1968 and 1985, which bring the total cases published to more than 400. The cancer arises in 1.78% of mature cystic teratomas. The mean age at diagnosis is 53 years and this pathological change is found five times more frequently after than before the menopause. Before laparotomy is carried out there is no clinical sign nor paraclinical evidence of the diagnosis over and above that of a benign cyst. There are all kinds of histological changes but the epidermoid carcinomas occur in 75% of cases. The survival rate for this kind of ovarian tumour is very poor, with 27% survival after 3 years, taking into account all states and all histological types. Epidermoid carcinomas seem to have a better prognosis than other histological types, and an important prognostic feature is the spread and the ability to remove the tumour surgically when it has extended beyond the capsule of the ovary. Although it is not easy to lay down the best therapy for this condition, by and large extended surgery followed by polychemotherapy or radiotherapy are apparently the only ways of improving the poor prognosis for these tumours.

[Para-aortic lymphadenectomy in the surgical evaluation of ovarian cancer]. / La lymphadénectomie para-aortique dans le bilan chirurgical des cancers de l'ovaire.

Lymph node involvement was demonstrated by para-aortic lymphadenectomy in 6 out of 20 women treated for ovarian cancer with macroscopically limited lesions at first and second-look laparotomy. When added to those reported in the literature, these results suggest that 20% of stages I and II ovarian cancers involve the lymph nodes, which considerably influences the prognosis and treatment of cancers otherwise considered as limited. We therefore suggest that biopsy of the lumbar aortic lymph nodes should be systematically performed in the surgical evaluation of ovarian cancers at an early stage.

[Gracilis muscle flaps for covering losses of perineal substance in cancer surgery]. / Les lambeaux de droit interne dans la couverture des pertes de substance périnéale en chirurgie carcinologique.

Myocutaneous or purely muscular flaps were used in 14 patients after extended surgical excision in the perineal region. When taking out the flap, its one-pedicle and relatively weak blood supply must be taken into account. With this precaution, this technics can always be used for perineal resurfacing, particularly after total vulvectomy. In pelvic exenteration and amputation for anorectal cancer, it enables surgeons to fill the muscular gap, which seems to improve the post-operative course. It can also be used for vaginal, penile or sphincteric reconstruction.

[Asymmetric uterine malformations with menstrual retention. Apropos of a malformation associating atresia of the cervical isthmus and a pseudo-unicornous uterus]. / Réflexions sur les malformations utérines asymétriques avec rétention menstruelle. A propos d'une malformation associant atrésie cervico-isthmique et utérus pseudo-unicorne.

There is now more or less general agreement how to classify and how to work out the development of symmetrical malformations of the female genital tract. On the other hand, asymmetrical malformations, as well as abnormalities of the development of the cervix and the isthmus are only rarely written about in the literature. It has not yet been possible to draw up a system to display the physiopathology and the embryology of these malformations. We here report a rare case of atresia of the cervix and isthmus as well as a pseudo unicornous uterus. This case should take its place as a piece in the embryological puzzle helping to fill in the details which might one day solve this puzzle.

Radiotherapy as an integrated part of the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas.

A considerable improvement in the prognosis of soft tissue sarcomas in the adult has been obtained with a treatment schedule combining surgery and routine radiation therapy (possibly preoperative and certainly postoperative); local recurrences, the predominant element in the natural history of the disease, have become very rare and limb function is generally maintained. Metastatic risk presents the major problem, and in our series spread of the disease remained uncontrolled in 25% of cases. Further research is required in this area, and a better definition of the risk factors, especially with regard to histology, is needed. We suggest that the possibility of reinforcing treatment of those histological forms at high metastatic risk by the introduction of multidrug therapy after local treatment be investigated. Such studies can only be effectively conducted within the framework of a multicenter collaborative controlled clinical trial.

[Multidisciplinary treatment of soft tissue sarcomas: an improvement in prognosis (author's transl)]. / Sarcomes des tissus mous: progrès thérapeutiques par l'application d'un protocole pluridisciplinaire.

The results obtained in the treatment of 45 cases of soft tissue sarcomas are presented. All cases were reviewed and classified according to the modern criteria of malignancy. The treatment schedule comprised: (1) preoperative irradiation: 2 sessions of 6.50 Gy in 48 hours, target volume: whole limb segment; (2) surgical excision 48 hours later with systematic intraoperative histologic verification, until healthy tissue margins are obtained; (3) postoperative irradiation: 3 weeks later delivering a cumulative total dose of 50.00 Gy to the preoperative volume and 60.00 - 70.00 Gy to a reduced volume encompassing the surgical region with protection of vascular axes where possible; (4) chemotherapy: Actinomycin D 0.3 mg/m2 half and hour before the first 5 sessions of postoperative irradiation; (5) bilateral lung irradiation: 4 sessions of 3.75 Gy in 7 days to the whole chest. The results were as follows: local recurrence rate was 9.5 per cent at 5 years. In 21 cases in whom surgical excision was deemed histologically adequate, no recurrences was seen at 3 years (minimum follow-up). Survival at 5 years was 77 per cent. Deaths were due to metastatic spread, especially to the lungs. These results show an improvement as compared with historical series. New progress should be sought in combining a more aggressive type of chemotherapy for cases with high metastatic risk.