Nonpalpable implant removals at centre of experience in France: a cohort study.

STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective study, we reviewed all cases referred to our specialised centre for nonpalpable contraceptive implants from January 2018 to August 2022. RESULTS: Out of the cohort studied, 47 female subjects exhibited nonpalpable implants. The implant was nonpalpable for thirty-six patients (76,6%) immediately after the insertion whereas it was not palpable several months after the insertion for eleven patients (23.4%). Twelve patients (25.5%) had one or more failed removal attempts before referral.All 47 implants were successfully visualised via ultrasound in the upper arm: 40 implants (85.1%) were located in the subdermal tissue, 4 (8.5%) were intrafascial and 3 (6.4%) were intramuscular. Depth of the implant was 4.0 mm [1.7 - 12.0]. No clinical factors were statistically associated with differences in depth or location (subdermal vs subfascial). Removal procedures were mainly under local anaesthesia in 74.5% of cases in an outpatient setting. There were two Clavien-Dindo grade 1 complications (one case of cutaneous scar dehiscence and one transient postoperative neuropathic complaint in the upper arm resolved within 3 months under analgetics). CONCLUSIONS: Identification of deep implants requires following the ultrasound modality protocol. Ultrasound detection makes easy and safe implant removal. Training programs for the insertion as well as for the removal of correct and incorrect inserted implants should be continued and developed all around the world.

Clinical improvement after Essure® devices removal: a systematic review.

PURPOSE: Essure® implant is a permanently implanted minimally invasive birth control device for women (female sterilisation) widely used between 2002 and 2018. Many adverse events were reported by patients. Increasingly removal procedures have been performed in symptomatic patients. However, there is a lack of in-depth studies on clinical improvement after Essure® removal. We aimed to review all clinical studies about symptoms and quality of life (QoL) after removal procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A review of literature in electronic search in Medline and Embase databases from January 2002 to January 2022 using the following keywords: Essure; Essure removal; quality of life; symptomatology improvement. RESULTS: Out of 764 articles in the initial database, 18 clinical studies were eligible for inclusion in our literature review. Overall clinical improvement rates after removal ranged from 21% to 98%. All symptoms were less frequent after Essure® removal, although with large discrepancies between studies. Lack of improvement was reported between 1% to 15% of patients. Rate of patients with improvement of QoL after removal ranged from 58 to 98%. The pain was reported as significantly reduced after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In the available literature, Essure® removal in symptomatic patients may improve symptoms and quality of life. This should be discussed in the benefits and risks ratio before deciding on the best option of management.

Essure® removal in symptomatic patients may improve symptoms and quality of life.

Clinical and histopathological correlations in symptomatic patients with salpingectomy for Essure® implant removal: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: Many concerns have been raised about adverse effects related to Essure® device. Several pathophysiological hypotheses have been proposed including allergic reactions, Autoimmune/Autoinflammatory Syndrome Induced by Adjuvants, galvanic corrosion with release of heavy metals and inflammation. In the present study, we aimed to focus on inflammation process by performing a histopathological evaluation of Fallopian tubes in symptomatic patients with Essure® removal. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study with identification of the type of inflammatory response and characterisation of inflammatory cells in the surrounding tubal tissue around the Essure® (STTE) and at distance from the implant. Histopathological and clinical correlations were also investigated. RESULTS: In the STTE from 47 cases, acute inflammation was observed in 3/47 (6.4%) cases. Chronic inflammation with lymphocytes (42.5%, 20/47) was associated with a significant higher pre-operative pain score (p = .03). Fibrosis was noted in 43/47 (91.5%) cases. Fibrosis without lymphocytes (51.1%, 24/47) was statistically associated with significant reduced pain (p = .04). At distance from the Essure® implant, only chronic inflammation with lymphocytes was present in 10/47 (21.7%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation response do not seem to be enough to explain all the Essure-related adverse outcomes, suggesting the involvement of other biological mechanisms. CLINICALTRIALS.GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT03281564.

Inflammation and fibrosis are found in the surrounding tubal tissue around the Essure^®. Inflammation process alone doesn't seem to be enough to explain symptomatology.

Opportunistic salpingectomy during vaginal hysterectomy for a benign pathological condition.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The objective was to evaluate the surgical feasibility of opportunistic salpingectomy or salpingo-oophorectomy during benign vaginal hysterectomy (HV) and the prevalence of occult tubal lesions. METHODS: In this prospective study from 1 September 2013 to 1 November 2015, the prevalence of bilateral salpingectomy with or without ovariectomy and the prevalence of histopathological and immunohistochemical tubal abnormalities were assessed. RESULTS: A total 115 patients were included. Bilateral salpingectomy was performed in 85 patients (73.92%; group A) and was technically impossible in 30 patients (26.08%; group B). Older patients (62.9 vs 57.5 years, p = 0.009), menopausal status (83.33% vs 62.35%, p = 0.03) and elevated BMI (27.58 vs 25.05 p = 0.03) were statistically associated with failure of salpingectomy. There was only one case of postoperative hemorrhage in group A. There was no difference with regard to intra- or postoperative complications, blood loss, and operating time between the two groups. Among the 67 fallopian tubes analyzed with a validated histopathological protocol, there were 8 (11.94%) immunohistochemical abnormalities with a "p53 signature." CONCLUSIONS: With the recent demonstration of a tubal origin of most ovarian cancer, opportunistic salpingectomy could be a theoretically relevant prevention strategy. Bilateral salpingectomy could be performed during benign vaginal hysterectomy by experienced surgeons. The advantages and disadvantages of exclusive salpingectomy during pelvic floor surgery should be discussed with the patients.

Assessment of Synthetic Glue for Mesh Attachment in Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy: A Prospective Multicenter Pilot Study.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the anatomic efficacy and safety of synthetic glue to fix prosthetic material in laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. DESIGN: A 1-year follow-up in a prospective multicenter pilot study between November 2013 and November 2014 (Canadian Task Force Classification II-2). SETTING: An academic urogynecology research hospital. PATIENTS: Seventy consecutive patients with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification stage ≥3 anterior and/or medial prolapse underwent laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy. INTERVENTIONS: All women underwent laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy with the same standardized technique using a synthetic surgical glue to fix anterior and posterior meshes. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Patients were followed up at 1 month and 1 year, with anatomic and functional assessment (Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory-20, Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-7, and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire-12). Anatomic success was defined as 1-year Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification stage ≤1. Sixty-six patients were included; the mean age was 56.7 ± 1.2 years. The mean operative time was 145 ± 5 minutes. The mean glue fixation time was less than 2 minutes for both anterior and posterior meshes. The 1-year anatomic success rate was 87.5% in the anterior compartment (Ba at -2.3 cm, p < .0001) and 95.3% in the medial compartment (point C at -6.1 cm, p < .0001). There were no intra- or postoperative complications and no cases of mesh exposure; 5 cases of mesh shrinkage (7.8%) were observed at 1 year. The postoperative urinary stress incontinence rate was 29.7% at 1 year. Eight patients (12.1%) underwent revision surgery with transobturator tape. All quality of life scores showed significant improvement (p < .0001) at 1 year. CONCLUSION: Synthetic glue attachment of prosthetic material in laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy proved straightforward, safe, time-saving, and effective at 1 year. Prospective randomized studies will be needed to confirm the long-term benefit.

Vaginal Neoplasia Induced by an Unusual Papillomavirus Subtype in a Woman with Inherited Chromosomally Integrated Human Herpesvirus Type 6A.

We describe here a case of high-grade vaginal squamous lesion in a 54-year-old woman with a papillomaviruses (HPV) genital infection that developed from a cervical low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) to a high-grade SIL (H-SIL) on cytological examination. A colposcopy exam led to the detection of suspect vaginal lesions with granulomatous infiltrations, which were classified as a Vaginal Intra-Epithelial Neoplasia grade 2 after pathologists' analyses. After a laser vaginal surgery and a loop excision of the transformation zone, the analyses of the anatomical pieces using a near-complete HPV screening panel revealed an HPV-4 infection that was not detected before in cervical smears. This HPV-infection is associated with a high human herpesvirus type 6A (HHV-6A) viral load in the same anatomical piece. The presence of an inherited chromosomally integrated HHV-6A (iciHHV-6A) was proved in this patient by real-time polymerase chain reaction on hair follicles and nail. This case suggests reconsidering both the benign nature of low-grade lesions in the female genital tract and the well-known "good" prognosis of low-risk HPV infection, especially when iciHHV-6A is diagnosed. This clinical course insists on the benefits of the multiplex panel use or global sequencing in order to optimize biological testing sensitivity, and so enhance clinical management of infection-induced neoplasia.

A retrospective comparison of two vaginal mesh kits in the management of anterior and apical vaginal prolapse: long-term results for apical fixation and quality of life.

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: To compare apical correction in stage ≥3 cystocele between two mesh kits. METHODS: This was a retrospective, nonrandomized study that compared two groups matched on anterior/apical POP-Q stage: 84 received Elevate Ant™ single-incision mesh (Elevate Ant group) and 42 Perigee™ transvaginal mesh (Perigee group). Follow-up at 1 and 2 years comprised objective (POP-Q) and subjective (PFDI-20, PFIQ-7, PISQ-12) assessments. The primary endpoint was objective success: 2-year apical POP-Q stage ≤1. Secondary endpoints were anterior POP-Q stage, subjective results and complications. RESULTS: Groups were comparable in terms of age (66.6 and 64.7 years, respectively; p = 0.19), BMI (both 25.4 kg/m2; p = 0.93), and history of hysterectomy (7.2 % and 14.3 %; p = 0.21) or prolapse surgery (12 % and 14.3 %; p = 0.72). Operative time was shorter in the Elevate Ant group (54.1 vs. 62.5 min; p = 0.048), and the 2-year objective apical success rate was higher (92.9 % vs. 66.7 %; p < 0.0001), with better point C correction (-5 vs. -3.8; p = 0.006). Function improved in both groups, with significantly better PFIQ-7 (p = 0.03) and PFDI-20 (p = 0.02) scores in the Elevate Ant group at 2 years. Vaginal exposure was not seen in the Elevate Ant group but occurred in two patients in the Perigee group (p = 0.33). Factors associated with success were age >65 years (OR 7.16, 95 % CI 1.83 - 27.97) and treatment with Elevate Ant mesh (OR 10.16, 95 % CI 2.78 - 37.14). Postoperative stress urinary incontinence rate was greater with the Elevate Ant group (29.8 % and 16.7 %; p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the Elevate Ant mesh was associated with significantly better apical correction at 2 years. Function improved in both groups, but with a significantly better PFDI-20 score in the Elevate Ant group at 1 and 2 years. The postoperative stress urinary incontinence rate, however, tended to be greater in the Elevate Ant group. The results need confirming with longer follow-up of these cohorts and in randomized studies.

Pathophysiological aspects of cystocele with a 3D finite elements model.

PURPOSES: The objective of this study is to design a 3D biomechanical model of the female pelvic system to assess pelvic organ suspension theories and understand cystocele mechanisms. METHODS: A finite elements (FE) model was constructed to calculate the impact of suspension structure geometry on cystocele. The sample was a geometric model of a control patient's pelvic organs. The method used geometric reconstruction, implemented by the biomechanical properties of each anatomic structure. Various geometric configurations were simulated on the FE method to analyse the role of each structure and compare the two main anatomic theories. RESULTS: The main outcome measure was a 3D biomechanical model of the female pelvic system. The various configurations of bladder displacement simulated mechanisms underlying medial, lateral and apical cystocele. FE simulation revealed that pubocervical fascia is the most influential structure in the onset of median cystocele (essentially after 40 % impairment). Lateral cystocele showed a stronger influence of arcus tendineus fasciae pelvis (ATFP) on vaginal wall displacement under short ATFP lengthening. In apical cystocele, the uterosacral ligament showed greater influence than the cardinal ligament. Suspension system elongation increased displacement by 25 % in each type of cystocele. CONCLUSIONS: A 3D digital model enabled simulations of anatomic structures underlying cystocele to better understand cystocele pathophysiology. The model could be used to predict cystocele surgery results and personalising technique by preoperative simulation.

DNA damage signaling and apoptosis in preinvasive tubal lesions of ovarian carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: High-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSC) is the most life-threatening gynecological malignancy despite surgery and chemotherapy. A better understanding of the molecular basis of the preinvasive stages might be helpful in early detection and diagnosis. Genetic instability is 1 of the characteristics shared by most human cancers, and its level is variable through precancerous lesions to advanced cancer. Because DNA damage response (DDR) has been described as 1 of the first phases in genomic instability, we investigated the level of DDR activation and the apoptosis pathway in serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), the potential precursor of HGSC. METHODS/MATERIALS: A tissue microarray including 21 benign fallopian tubes, 21 STICs, 17 HGSCs from patients with STICs (associated ovarian cancer [AOC]) from the same individuals, and 30 HGSCs without STICs (non-AOC) was used in this study.Immunohistochemistry was performed to evaluate the level of DDR proteins (pATM, pChk2, γH2AX, 53BP1, and TRF2), apoptosis proteins (Bcl2, BAX, and BIM), and cyclin E. RESULTS: The expression of all DDR proteins increased from benign fallopian tubes to STICs. The level of expression of pATM, pChk2, γH2AX, and TRF2 was also increased in STICs in comparison with AOC. BAX, BIM, and cyclin E expressions were high in STICs, whereas Bcl2 expression was low. Immunohistochemical profiles of AOC and non-AOC were also different. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest an activation of the DDR and apoptosis pathways in STICs, indicating that genomic instability may occur early in the precancerous lesions of HGSC.

The genital prolapse of Australopithecus Lucy?

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: The female bony pelvis has to fulfil opposing functions: it has to be sufficiently closed to support the pelvic viscera in the upright position, while remaining sufficiently open to allow vaginal delivery. We aim to give an evolutionary perspective and the possible evolution of the bony pelvis from Lucy to the modern female with the implications in terms of genital prolapse. METHODS: Thirteen pelvimetric measurements were performed on 178 bony pelves: 1 fossil pelvis from Australopithecus Lucy, 128 female Caucasian modern adult pelves and 49 female Catarrhine pelves (29 gorillas and 20 chimpanzees). RESULTS: Lucy's pelvis shape was the most transversely oval, short and broad, termed platypelloid. Modern female pelves were transversely oval only at the inlet. A protruding ischial spine, fairly small ischial tuberosities and a sacral concavity made Lucy closer to Homo sapiens and less like the great apes. In the last group, pelvic planes were anteroposteriorly oval, except in the gorilla, where the outlet was round or slightly transversely oval. The subpubic angle was narrowest in Lucy, whereas it was greater than 90° in the great apes. CONCLUSIONS: The female pelvis is involved in both visceral support and parturition and represents a compromise. The narrower pelvis of Australopithecus Lucy provided protection against genital prolapse, but resulted in complex obstetrical mechanics. From an evolutionary perspective, the pelvis of Homo sapiens became modified to make parturition easier, but increased the risk of genital prolapse: the ilia became wide open laterally and the sacrum broadened with a shorter distance between the sacroiliac and coxofemoral joints.

Long-term outcome after overlapping anterior anal sphincter repair for fecal incontinence.

PURPOSE: The aim was to assess long-term results and quality of life following anterior anal sphincter repair for anal incontinence. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three female patients underwent anterior anal sphincteroplasty over a 10-year period between January 1999 and January 2009 in a gynecological surgery department. Patients were asked to complete pre- and postoperative questionnaires comprising the Jorge and Wexner incontinence score. The secondary objective was to assess pre- and post-sphincteroplasty symptom severity and sexual quality of life. Mean follow-up was 87 months (median, 91.5 months). Kaplan-Meier time-to-event analysis was applied. RESULTS: Mean age was 52 years (±15.2), and mean postoperative Jorge and Wexner score, 7.5/20 (±4.1). Seventeen patients (85 %) declared themselves satisfied by the repair; 12 (60 %) showed good fecal continence. Fecal incontinence had a negative impact on quality of life for 15 % and on sexuality for 50 % of patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed 85 % conservation of anal continence correction at 1 year, 74 % at 48 months, 67 % at 60 months, and 48 % at 84 months. CONCLUSIONS: Overlapping anterior anal sphincter repair provided lasting improvement in fecal incontinence, with satisfactory long-term functional results. At 84 months' follow-up, 48 % of patients maintained good fecal continence, with a satisfaction rate of 85 %. Anal sphincteroplasty may be a first-line attitude in young female fecal incontinence patients with a recent sphincter defect following initially undiagnosed obstetric trauma and also restores perineal comfort.

Morphological and immunohistochemical analysis in ovaries and fallopian tubes of tamoxifen, letrozole and clomiphene-treated rats.

PURPOSE: Ovarian and tubal dysplasia may be precursors to ovarian cancer. The goal of this study was to check whether these histopathological lesions would be found after ovulation induction using tamoxifen, clomiphene citrate and letrozole. METHODS: Seventy-two rats were divided into four groups. In the first group, 24 rats received normal saline. The second group (16 rats) received clomiphene citrate for six cycles. The third group, divided into two sub-groups of eight rats each, were stimulated with tamoxifen for six cycles, with a dosage, respectively, of 0.4 and 0.8 mg/kg/day. In the last group, eight rats received letrozole 0.1 mg/kg/day and eight other rats received letrozole 0.5 mg/kg/day, for six cycles. Once the six cycles had been completed the rats were killed in order to remove ovaries and tubes for histopathological analysis (morphological, p53 and Ki67 immunohistochemical assessment). RESULTS: Histopathological lesions were found in both ovaries and tubes. The mean ovarian dysplasia score was significantly higher in the tamoxifen group whatever the dosage (p = 0.006 and 0.0002) and in the letrozole group with 0.5 mg/kg/day (p = 0.0002) compared with the control group. The mean tubal dysplasia score was significantly higher in all groups that received drug treatment compared with the control group, whatever the dosage used. The proliferation index (Ki67) was significantly higher in the tamoxifen and letrozole groups while no significant difference was found for apoptosis marker p53. CONCLUSIONS: Ovulation induction may induce histopathological abnormalities in ovaries and tubes with a different immunohistochemical profile in comparison with salpingo-oophorectomies for genetic risk.

The minimally invasive sacrospinous fixation under visual guidance: An anatomical study.

OBJECTIVE: Sacrospinous fixation is the gold standard procedure for management of apical pelvic organ prolapse by the vaginal route. However, there may be a relevant risk of neurovascular injury due to the proximity of neurovascular structures. We propose an anatomical study concerning the sacrospinous ligament with a new innovative minimally invasive technology using both a suture capturing device and a chip-on-the-tip endoscope to perform sacropinous fixation. STUDY DESIGN: Bilateral sacrospinous fixation was performed in three female cadavers, in the course of the anatomical study conducted with a specific device (the Suture Capturing I Stitch™ Device) under real time visual guidance with a chip-on -the-tip endoscope, the NanoScope™ system. RESULTS: Identification of ischial spine and sacrospinous ligament as well as feasibility of sacrospinous fixation under NanoScope™ control were always possible on both sides. CONCLUSIONS: This new innovative minimally invasive technology using both a suture capturing device and a chip-on-the-tip endoscope is relevant and could be an advantage in terms of safety and better placement of the suture on the sacrospinous ligament.

How to be sure of a complete removal of Essure® implant ? A radiological study of Essure® microinserts.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic cornuectomy, one of the most performed surgical techniques to remove Essure® implants, is associated with a risk of fragmentation of the device. We aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of the intraoperative radiograph of the removed Essure® microinserts compared with intraoperative inspection of the device. STUDY DESIGN: In this French retrospective cohort study including 66 patients, two experienced gynecologists and two residents evaluated the intraoperative radiograph in a blind manner. Diagnostic accuracy was calculated for each observer. RESULTS: The global sensitivity and specificity for intraoperative radiograph to detect a residual fragment for both senior gynecologists and residents were respectively 87.5% (±3.3) and 80.0% (+/12.2). Pooled positive (PPV) and negative predictive values (NPV) for intraoperative radiograph were respectively 99.2% (±0.5) and 21.6% (±6.4). There was a statistically significant difference in intraoperative radiograph analysis between senior gynecologists and residents (sensitivity: 91.4%±0.8 vs 79.6%±1.5, p=0.02; specificity: 100% vs 50.0%, p<0.0001; PPV: 100% vs 98.0% ±0.1, p=0.0007; NPV: 26.8% ±1.8 vs 7.2% ±0.5, p=0.009). Sensitivity and specificity of the intraoperative inspection of the removal specimen was respectively 95.3% and 100% (PPV and NPV were respectively 100 and 40%). There were no statistically significant differences in diagnostic accuracy between intraoperative radiographs analysis and intraoperative inspection of the device for the senior gynecologists. CONCLUSIONS: Intraoperative radiograph of the removed Essure® implants analysis is a difficult skill needing specific training. Postoperative pelvic X-ray is still recommended in clinical practice after laparoscopic cornuectomy.

Plasma and peritoneal fluid cytokine profiles in patient with Essure® implant: Towards a molecular signature?

OBJECTIVE(S): Many patients with Essure® implant may experience adverse events related to the device. Although local inflammation does not appear to be the pathophysiological mechanism underlying the symptoms, systemic inflammation could play a role. In the present study, as cytokines are involved in the inflammatory process, we proposed to investigate the profile of circulating and peritoneal cytokines. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective study, we evaluated the levels of cytokines in peritoneal fluid (PF) as well as in plasma sample from three different groups: Essure® group, endometriosis group (known to be associated with immune dysregulation), and control group. RESULTS: There were 60 symptomatic patients with Essure® device, 30 patients with endometriosis and a control group of 30 patients. The PF levels of Interleukin-10 (IL-10), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), and Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) were statistically higher in endometriosis group than in Essure® group and control group. The plasma level of MCP-1 was higher in Essure® group than in endometriosis group and control group. The plasma level of TNF-α was higher in Essure® group than in control group. CONCLUSIONS: The chemokine MCP-1 as well as the pro-inflammatory TNF-α, are known to be increased in patients with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome. Since patients with Essure® may exhibit symptoms similar to fibromyalgia, MCP-1 and TNF-α may be relevant markers in symptomatic patients with Essure®. Because of the lack of longitudinal data (no evaluation of postoperative cytokine profile and no assessment of the level of clinical improvement), other studies are needed to confirm these preliminary results.

Estimated Fetal Radiation Dose From 18 F-FDG PET/CT During the Second and Third Trimesters of Pregnancy.

PURPOSE: Data published in the literature concerning the doses received by fetuses exposed to a 18 F-FDG PET are reassuring but were obtained from small and heterogeneous cohorts, and very few data are available concerning the fetal dose received after exposure to both PET and CT. The present study aimed to estimate the fetal dose received following a PET/CT exposure using methods that include anthropomorphic phantoms of pregnant women applied on a large cohort. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This retrospective multicenter study included 18 pregnant patients in the second and third trimesters. For PET exposure, the fetal volume and mean concentration of radioactivity in the fetus were measured by manually drawing regions of interest. Those data, combined with the time-integrated activities of the fetus and the mother's organs, were entered into the OLINDA/EXM software 2.0 to assess the fetal dose due to PET exposure. To estimate the fetal dose received due to CT exposure, 2 softwares were used: CT-Expo (based on geometric phantom models of nonpregnant patients) and VirtualDose (using pregnant patient phantoms). RESULTS: The fetal dose exposure for PET/CT examination in the second trimester ranged from 5.7 to 15.8 mGy using CT-Expo (mean, 11.6 mGy) and from 5.1 to 11.6 mGy using VirtualDose (mean, 8.6 mGy). In the third trimester, it ranged from 7.9 to 16.6 mGy using CT-Expo (mean, 10.7 mGy) and from 6.1 to 10.7 mGy using VirtualDose (mean, 7.6 mGy). CONCLUSIONS: The estimated fetal doses were in the same range of those previously published and are well below the threshold for deterministic effects. Pregnancy does not constitute an absolute contraindication for a clinically justified hybrid 18 F-FDG PET/CT.

Surgical implications of the potential new tubal pathway for ovarian carcinogenesis.

Since 2001, many studies by different investigators have demonstrated that the fallopian tube might be at the origin of most high-grade ovarian and peritoneal serous carcinomas. Simple changes in surgical practice (ie, prophylactic bilateral salpingectomy instead of salpingo-oophorectomy) could have significant implications for death from ovarian cancer and, on the other hand, for the morbidity caused by ovariectomy (surgical menopause). In this review, we describe the new tubal carcinogenic sequence, the advantages and disadvantages of exclusive use of salpingectomy in the general population, and in cases of hereditary predisposition to ovarian cancer such as for carriers of BRCA mutation.

Mid-Term Results of a New Transobturator Cystocele Repair by Vaginal Patch Plastron without Mesh.

Cystoceles are the most common prolapses. Limitation of the use of synthetic mesh has led to the comeback of native tissue repair procedures. We have developed a new transobturator technique with native tissue based on a mix of a vaginal plastron technique and the transobturator procedure. We present the functional and anatomical mid-term results. In this retrospective study, the vaginal plastron technique and the transobturator procedure were performed in 32 patients. Functional assessment with several validated quality-of-life questionnaires (SF-12, PFIQ-7, PFDI-20, PISQ12) and anatomical evaluation with pelvic examination were performed at 1, 6, and 12 months after surgery. The anatomical success rate was 94.4% at 12 months. There was one Clavien-Dindo grade 2 postoperative complication (one urinary tract infection). All of the quality-of-life scores were statistically significantly improved at one year follow-up. The transobturator technique combined with the vaginal plastron seems to be a promising, effective, innovative, and relevant technique for the repair of high-stage cystoceles.

Long-Term Results after Bilateral Sacrospinous Colposuspension: A Prospective Study.

The loss of apical support is usually present in patients with pelvic organ prolapse. An effective correction for the vaginal apex may be an essential part of a durable repair for these women. Apical suspension of the sacrospinous ligament is likely one of the best treatments by the vaginal route. We proposed the evaluation of the functional and anatomical long-term results of an ultralight and macroporous sling. In this prospective study, bilateral sacrospinous colposuspension was performed in 32 patients with a specific mesh. Functional assessment with several validated quality of life questionnaires and pelvic examination was performed at 1, 6, 12, and 24 months after surgery. Pelvic examination using the POP-Q classification showed a very good efficacy of the BSC mesh with only three prolapse recurrences at 24 months after surgery. All the following QoL scores were significantly improved by two years: PFIQ-7 (p < 0.0001), PFDI-20 (p < 0.0001), and SF-12 (p < 0.0001). No improvement was achieved by the PISQ12 questionnaire. This vaginal minimally invasive procedure is effective, quick, reproducible, and easy. It may be a relevant option for a vaginal vault or cervical or uterine prolapse.