Ultrasound and Histopathologic Correlation of Ovarian Cystadenofibromas: Diagnostic Value of the "Shadow Sign".

OBJECTIVES: Cystadenofibromas (CAFs) are rare benign ovarian tumors without a widely accepted ultrasound (US) pattern. They are usually described by as thin-walled, unilocular or multilocular, and at times septated cysts with scant blood flow and no solid components. We describe a unique US feature, the "shadow sign," seen in prospectively diagnosed benign CAFs. We also provide the histopathologic basis for this typical US appearance. METHODS: Ultrasound (US) examinations were performed in our obstetric and gynecologic US unit. Pathologic examinations were performed by a dedicated gynecologic pathology team. The US and pathology department's database was searched for the diagnosis of a CAF between 2010 and 2017. RESULTS: We identified 20 patients who underwent transvaginal US examinations with a sole US diagnosis of a CAF, and the tumors were surgically removed. The common US feature across the 20 cases was the presence of hyperechoic avascular shadowing nodules. The correlating histologic features were unilocular or multilocular cysts with a smooth internal wall surface lined by a simple epithelium and occasional robust polypoid fibrous stroma. CONCLUSIONS: This US marker helps in differentiating CAFs from borderline ovarian tumors, which do not show this US feature. We hope that recognizing the suggested shadow sign as an additional descriptor of CAFs will lead to minimizing their unnecessary removal and eliminating additional and unnecessary imaging by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging.

Origin, frequency and clinical significance of glandular cells in liquid-based pap tests from patients posthysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To quantify the frequency and significance of glandular cells in posthysterectomy liquid-based (SurePath, TriPath Imaging, Burlington, North Carolina, U.S.A.) vaginal Pap tests. STUDY DESIGN: The presence of benign glandular cells in vaginal Pap tests from posthysterectomy patients represents a diagnostic challenge and may pose management issues. We investigated the presence, frequency and significance of glandular cells in 52 liquid-based (SurePath) vaginal Pap tests from posthysterectomy patients by combining cytomorphologic findings with adjunctive immunohistochemistry and mucin stains performed on cell block preparations and correlated the findings with clinical data. RESULTS: After performing these special studies, the frequency of reporting glandular cells in posthysterectomy Pap tests decreased from 3.5% to 1.2% of all vaginal Pap tests performed in a 6-month period. CONCLUSION: A strong association of the presence of benign appearing glandular cells and a previous history of gynecological malignancy (71%) and chemotherapy/radiation (59%) were noted, likely representing a regenerative process in response to injury or therapy.

Biweekly 72-hour 9-aminocamptothecin infusion as second-line therapy for ovarian carcinoma: phase II study of the New York Gynecologic Oncology Group and the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.

PURPOSE: To determine the antitumor activity of the novel topoisomerase I inhibitor 9-aminocamptothecin (9-AC) given over 72 hours every 2 weeks in patients with ovarian carcinoma previously treated with one platinum-containing regimen. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with ovarian carcinoma who received one prior platinum-containing regimen were eligible. Patients were stratified based on whether their disease was measurable, or nonmeasurable but assessable. 9-AC 35 microg/m(2)/h was administered by continuous infusion for 72 hours every 2 weeks via ambulatory pump. RESULTS: Sixty patients were entered, 32 with measurable and 28 with nonmeasurable but assessable disease. Ten (16.7%) of 60 patients responded (95% CI, 7.2% to 26.1%), with four complete responses and six partial remissions. The response rate for patients with measurable and nonmeasurable but assessable disease was 22% (95% CI, 7.6% to 36.2%) and 10.7% (95% CI, 2.3% to 28.2%), respectively. None of the responders were platinum-resistant. Nineteen patients (32%) had stable disease. The major toxicities were hematologic, with 25% of patients having grade 3 and 35% having grade 4 neutropenia, including five episodes of febrile neutropenia, 17% having grade 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia, and 27% having grade 3 to 4 anemia. Nonhematologic toxicity included grade 3 to 4 nausea (27%) and grade 3 to 4 vomiting (12%). CONCLUSION: This phase II multicenter trial of biweekly 72 hour 9-AC infusion as second-line therapy for ovarian cancer demonstrates comparable activity to standard approved agents in patients with both measurable and nonmeasurable but assessable disease. Toxicity consists mainly of moderate but controllable myelosuppression. Further studies combining 9-AC with other agents active in ovarian cancer for use as second-line therapy are warranted.