Fertility-sparing surgery in young women with mucinous adenocarcinoma of the ovary.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical outcome of patients with stage IA mucinous epithelial ovarian cancer (mEOC) treated with fertility-sparing surgery (FSS). METHODS: After a central pathological review and search of the medical records from multiple institutions, a total of 148 stage I mEOC patients were retrospectively evaluated in the current study. All mEOC patients were divided into three groups: group A (FSS; age, 40≥); groups B and C {radical surgery; age, 40≥ (B); 40< (C)}. Survival analysis was performed among these three groups using Kaplan-Meier methods. RESULTS: The median follow-up time of all mEOC patients was 71.6 (4.8-448.3) months. Among the 41 patients in group A, 27 patients (65.9%) had IA disease, and 14 (34.1%) had IC disease. Five-year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates of patients in the groups were as follows: group A, 97.3% (OS)/90.5% (DFS); group B, 94.4% (OS)/94.4% (DFS); group C; 97.3% (OS)/89.3% (DFS). Collectively, there was no significant difference in OS or DFS among these groups even though they were stratified to each substage (IA/IC) (OS, P=0.180; DFS, P=0.445, respectively). Furthermore, in multivariate analyses, the surgical procedure was not an independent prognostic factor for either OS or DFS (OS, HR: 0.340, 95% CI: 0.034-3.775, P=0.352; DFS, HR: 0.660, 95% CI: 0.142-3.070, P=0.596). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with stage I mEOC treated with FSS did not necessarily show a poorer prognosis than those receiving radical surgery.

Comparison between serous and non-serous ovarian cancer as a prognostic factor in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma after primary debulking surgery.

BACKGROUND: Residual tumor size after primary surgery is the most important prognostic factor in advanced ovarian cancer. We conducted a retrospective study in Japanese women to evaluate the association of various residual disease diameters and histological subtypes with overall survival (OS) in patients with residual disease ≥1 cm. METHODS: Demographic and clinicopathological data were obtained from the Tokai Ovarian Tumor Study Group; 294 patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III and IV epithelial ovarian carcinoma who had undergone primary debulking surgery between 1986 and 2007 and had ≥1 cm residual tumor were identified. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the association of prognostic factors with OS. RESULTS: Non-serous advanced ovarian cancer was associated with a significant increase in the risk of death. For serous ovarian cancer, residual tumor size was not an independent prognostic factor [multivariate hazard ratio (HR) = 1.63, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.96-2.79 (2-5 cm); HR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.72-2.17 (>5 cm); trend P = 0.480], whereas taxane-based chemotherapy was associated with a better prognosis (HR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.44-0.99, P = 0.046). For non-serous ovarian cancer, in contrast, residual tumor size was associated with an increased risk of death [multivariate HR = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.36-2.14 (2-5 cm); HR = 2.21, 95% CI = 0.96-5.08 (>5 cm); trend P = 0.067], whereas taxane-based chemotherapy was not a prognostic factor [HR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.29-1.65, P = 0.409 (taxane-based)]. CONCLUSIONS: Although primary maximal cytoreduction is essential to improving OS in advanced ovarian cancer, our findings suggest the management of patients with suboptimal residual tumor should take into account differences between histological subtypes.

Is there any possibility of fertility-sparing surgery in patients with clear-cell carcinoma of the ovary?

BACKGROUND: In epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), fertility-sparing surgery (FSS) has mainly been chosen for stage IA disease. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical outcome of patients with clear-cell carcinoma of the ovary (CCC) who would usually undergo radical surgery. CASES: After a central pathological review and search of the medical records from multiple institutions between 1988 and 2005, a total of 10 CCC patients treated with FSS were retrospectively evaluated in the current study. The mean age was 35.9 years (range: 32-39 years). The median follow-up time was 35.4 months (range: 21.7-153.2 months). The stage was IA in 4 patients, and IC in 6 patients [IC(b) in 5 patients, and IC(2) in one]. Nine patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Nine patients were alive and one patient with stage IC(2) died of the disease at a follow-up time of 36.8 months. Five pregnancies were observed in 4 patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although there is no worldwide criterion for FSS in CCC patients at present, it seems that, in selected patients, this surgical approach could be adopted. This should be investigated by additional studies in a larger series.

[Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects: awareness and folate intake among pregnant women in 2006].

Folic acid plays an important role in proliferating cells and tissues of the fetus. A randomized control trial demonstrated in 1991 that 4 mg of folic acid supplements successfully prevented 72% of recurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs) in women who had had afflicted pregnancy. In 2000, the Japanese Government recommended women of childbearing age to take 400 microgram of folate supplements per day from 4 weeks prior to and 12 weeks after conception. A questionnaire study was performed in pregnant women by post on their awareness of the role folic acid plays, their life style, and folate intake by dietary consumption. Thirty-five percent of 1,251 pregnant women were aware of the important role of folic acid in the critical stage of fetal development and 31% actually took the supplement. Information on folic acid was obtained through mass media in 47% of the women, through the internet in 17%, through healthcare providers in 13% and so forth. The food record analysis revealed that the dietary intake of folic acid averaged 341 microg/day that was 60 microg less than what was recommended by the Government and that 33 of 86 women took the supplement. Overall, a half of pregnant women are required to take 400 microg folate supplement per day. It is to be stressed that primary prevention of NTDs by periconceptional intake of folic acid is a major public health opportunity and that prevention is more important than cure in the management of NTDs.

Increased fetal heart rate variability in periventricular leukomalacia.

OBJECTIVE: This study used quantitative analysis to determine whether increased variability in fetal heart rate (FHR) is related to the risk of developing periventricular leukomalacia (PVL). METHODS: We analyzed 124 FHR traces of neonates delivered preterm at 27-33 weeks' gestation to 105 mothers. FHR traces 1-3h before delivery were translated into power-spectrum curves using a fast Fourier transformation. The total power (the area under the curve of 1-10 cycles per minute), segmental power of every cycle per minute, peak power, and frequency edges were calculated, and their relationship with the subsequent development of PVL was examined. RESULTS: Total power was significantly higher in the PVL group (n=9, median 1813, range 1064-2426) compared to the non-PVL group (n=114, median 1383, range 381-3324, p=0.029). Infants in the PVL group had greater segmental power in segments with 1-2, 2-3, and 9-10 cycles per minute, than those in the non-PVL group. Total power of ⩾1550 was significantly correlated with the subsequent development of PVL and premature rupture of membranes. Furthermore, the frequency of pregnancy-induced hypertension was significantly reduced in the fetuses with a total power of ⩾1550. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that a fetus with increased FHR variability is at risk of developing PVL. This study provides additional evidence supporting the contribution of antenatal factors to the subsequent development of PVL.

Possible antenatal and perinatal related factors in development of cystic periventricular leukomalacia.

Cystic periventricular leukomalacia (cPVL), the principal ischemic brain injury in premature infants, is characterized by necrosis of the white matter in the periventricular region and the major neuropathology for spastic motor deficits in cerebral palsy or epilepsy. Recent reports strongly suggest that the brain injury associated with cPVL may have already occurred in utero. In this study we searched retrospectively for possible clinical situations related to cPVL to facilitate assessment of optimal management. A total of 201 babies born at gestational ages from 24 to 33 weeks were entered into the study (1992-1997) and examined for involvement of 18 factors in cPVL retrospectively. And psychomotor development was examined at least until 18 months of corrected age. Among 201 premature babies 35 cases were diagnosed as cPVL later developed spastic diplegia. There are 23 cases of preeclampsia, no infant suffering from cPVL. In the univariate analysis, exposure to antenatal indomethacin, cord length > or =40 cm, and a low Apgar score were significantly associated with a 2-3 risk increased of cPVL occurrence, while antenatal magnesium sulfate reduced the risk. Chorioamnionitis was positively correlated with the risk, but did not reach statistical significance. In the multivariate analysis we found the statistical significance in exposure to antenatal indomethacin, a low Apgar score, and antenatal magnesium sulfate. Our results suggested that preeclampsia and antenatal exposure of magnesium sulfate reduced the risk while antenatal exposure of indomethacin and low Apgar score associated with the occurrence of cPVL. These findings support a growing consensus that cPVL is often the result of maternal and fetal factors as well as antenatal treatment.

Successful pregnancy after bromocriptine therapy in an anovulatory woman complicated with ovarian hyperstimulation caused by follicle-stimulating hormone-producing plurihormonal pituitary microadenoma.

Gonadotropin-producing pituitary adenomas are extremely rare in reproductive-age women. We report here a case of gonadotroph microadenoma with ovarian hyperstimulation. It was found in a 29-yr-old infertile Japanese woman with enlarged multicystic ovaries. The patient had an elevated basal serum estradiol level (up to 6755 pM, or 1840 pg/ml). Serum FSH and prolactin were mildly elevated (15.4 IU/liter, 1.4 nM or 31.4 ng/ml), whereas LH was low (0.5 IU/liter). The FSH level was paradoxically elevated in response to TRH administration. Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging revealed a pituitary microadenoma. Daily administration of bromocriptine, a dopamine agonist, normalized the ovarian size, and the patient ovulated naturally. She conceived after 3 months of bromocriptine therapy and delivered a normal child. She underwent elective transsphenoidal pituitary surgery, 3 yr after the delivery. Immunostaining of the resected tumor showed that 80% and less than 5% of the tumor cells stained for FSH-beta and prolactin, respectively. Furthermore, RT-PCR suggested that dopamine type 2 receptor was expressed in the adenoma. Gonadotroph microadenoma should be considered in women with spontaneous ovarian hyperstimulation, even if they have no neurological symptoms or marked pituitary enlargement. In such cases, bromocriptine therapy may be an alternative to pituitary surgery.