Para-aortic lymphadenectomy for primary fallopian tube cancer

Objective

To investigate the topography of lymph node spread and the need for para-aortic lymphadenectomy in primary fallopian tube cancer (PFTC).

Methods

Twenty-six women were diagnosed with PFTC at Cheil General Hospital and Women's Healthcare Center, Seoul, Korea, between March 1992 and November 2009. Of the 26 patients, we retrospectively analyzed 15 patients who underwent complete staging surgery, including bilateral pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy.

Results

The median follow-up period was 57.9 months (range, 3-185 months) and the 5-year survival rate was 86.3%. Five (33.3%) patients were diagnosed with FIGO stage I, 1 (6.7%) with stage II, and 9 (60%) with stage III cancer. The median number of lymph nodes removed was 53.8 (range, 18-106 nodes). Four (26.7%) patients had nodal involvement: 2 patients with para-aortic lymph node involvement and 2 patients with both pelvic and para-aortic lymph node involvement. None of the patients was positive for pelvic lymph nodes alone.

Conclusion

A comprehensive para-aortic lymphadenectomy was necessary for accurate staging in PFTC.     

Differentiation of metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes in patients with uterine cervical cancer using diffusion-weighted imaging

Objective

This study aims to determine the diagnostic value of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the differentiation of metastatic lymph nodes from non-metastatic lymph nodes in uterine cervical cancer.

Methods

In 42 patients who underwent lymph node dissection for uterine cervical cancer, conventional MRI and DWI examinations were performed before surgery. Of the 1109 total dissected pelvic lymph nodes, 188 enlarged nodes with a short-axis diameter of 5 mm or greater were included for further analysis. Each of the size-based criteria (i.e., short-axis diameter and long-axis diameter) and ADC-based criteria (i.e., mean ADC, minimum ADC, mean rADC (relative ADC) and minimum rADC) were compared between metastatic lymph nodes and non-metastatic lymph nodes.

Results

There were statistically significant differences between metastatic and non-metastatic lymph nodes in the short-axis diameter, long-axis diameter, mean ADC, minimum ADC, mean rADC and minimum rADC (P < 0.001). The Az of the minimum ADC (0.990) was greater than that of the other ADC-based criteria (0.974, 0.939, 0.976 for mean ADC, mean rADC and minimum rADC, respectively) and all size-based criteria (0.878 for short-axis diameter and 0.858 for long-axis diameter) (P < 0.05). Using the minimum ADC criteria (≤ 0.881 × 10^− 3mm²/s), the sensitivity and specificity for differentiating metastatic from non-metastatic lymph nodes were 95.7% and 96.5%, respectively.

Conclusions

DWI is feasible for differentiating metastatic from non-metastatic pelvic lymph nodes in patients with uterine cervical cancer and minimum ADC could be served as a representative marker.     

Renal ultrasound to detect hydronephrosis: a need for routine imaging after radical hysterectomy?

Background

Hydronephrosis can be a side effect of radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. The incidence of clinically relevant hydronephrosis has not been studied in a large sample and the benefit of early detection of hydronephrosis is not clear.

Objective

To assess the incidence of hydronephrosis, following radical hysterectomy and evaluate the usefulness of routine renal ultrasound (RH).

Methods

Retrospective study, January 1998 and December 2008. Cervical cancer patients (FIGO stage IBI-IIA), treated with radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection with or without adjuvant radiotherapy, without surgical lesion of the ureter, followed-up 6 months in the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam. Routine renal ultrasound was performed four weeks after RH, and in some on indication before or after the routine ultrasound. We documented which interventions for hydronephrosis were performed and evaluated the profile of patients at risk for hydronephrosis.

Results

281 patients were included: 252 (90%) underwent routine renal ultrasound and 29 (10%) underwent imaging on indication before routine ultrasound. The overall incidence of hydronephrosis was 12%. In symptomatic patients, the incidence was 21% and 9% in asymptomatic women undergoing routine ultrasound. Four patients were invasively treated for hydronephrosis (1% of the total group) after imaging for clinical suspicion of hydronephrosis. Patients with hydronephrosis were significantly more often treated with radiotherapy than patients without (43% versus 25% (p = 0.03).

Conclusion

There is no place for routine renal ultrasound following radical hysterectomy. Patients should be instructed about the symptoms that may be related to hydronephrosis, to allow for renal ultrasound on indication.     

Incidence of metastasis in circumflex iliac nodes distal to the external iliac nodes in intermediate- and high-risk endometrial cancer

Objective

The aim of this study was to elucidate the incidence of metastasis in circumflex iliac nodes distal to the external iliac nodes (CINDEIN), which are also called suprainguinal nodes, in intermediate- and high-risk endometrial cancer. Removal of these nodes needs to be discussed from the viewpoint of patient's quality of life because removal of CINDEIN is strongly related to lower extremity lymphedema.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was carried out for 508 patients with intermediate- and high-risk endometrial cancer who were included in this study. We identified patients with lymph node metastasis. Lymph node sites were classified into four groups: (1) CINDEIN, (2) external iliac nodes, (3) Group A consisting of circumflex iliac nodes to the distal obturator nodes, internal iliac nodes, obturator nodes, cardinal ligament nodes (including deep obturator nodes), and sacral nodes, and (4) Group B consisting of common iliac nodes and para-aortic nodes. Logistic regression analysis was used to select risk factors for CINDEIN metastasis.

Results

In an analysis of 508 patients with intermediate- and high-risk disease, CINDEIN metastasis was found in fourteen (2.8%) of the patients. Multivariate analysis confirmed that high-risk histology (OR = 5.7, 95% CI = 1.2-16.1) and Group A node metastasis (OR = 9.7, 95% CI = 2.9-31.4) were independent risk factors for CINDEIN metastasis. None of the patients with G1 endometrioid adenocarcinoma had CINDEIN metastasis. Three (2.5%) of the patients with G2 endometrioid adenocarcinoma had CINDEIN metastasis and all of these three patients had other pelvic node metastasis.

Conclusion

Removal of CINDEIN can be eliminated in patients with G1 endometrial cancer and patients with G2 endometrial cancer who have no pelvic node metastasis.     

Feasibility of laparoscopic extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy in gynecologic malignancies

Objective

The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy (LEPL) in gynecologic malignancies.

Methods

Twenty-nine women with cervical, ovarian or endometrial cancer underwent laparoscopic extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy between July 2008 and December 2010. The operating time, nodal yield, blood loss and complications were recorded.

Results

The number of patients with cervical, ovarian and endometrial carcinoma was 14, 3 and 12, respectively. The median age of patients was 48.9 ± 12.6 years. The median body mass index was 25.6 ± 4.8. Conversion to the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach was necessary in 6 patients for peritoneal tears causing CO₂ gas leakage. Among the remaining 23 patients, the median operating time for laparoscopic extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy was 69 min (range 50-126 min), and the median estimated blood loss was 20 ml (range 5-105 ml). The median total number of resected nodes was 26 (range 14-42), and complications related to the procedure were rare.

Conclusions

Laparoscopic extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy is a feasible and safe procedure. It can be used in gynecologic malignancies.     

Indications and long-term clinical outcomes in 282 patients with pelvic exenteration for advanced or recurrent cervical cancer

Objective

The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical experience at our clinic with pelvic exenteration as a treatment for cervical cancer with special regard to the indications and outcomes of specific patient groups.

Methods

Medical records of 282 women who underwent pelvic exenteration to treat cervical cancer were analyzed.

Results

In total, 70 patients (25%) underwent primary exenteration, and 212 (75%) underwent secondary exenteration. Exenteration was anterior for 14 (5%) patients, posterior for 6 (2%) and total for 262 (93%). The overall survival (OS) of the 282 patients was 41% at 5 years and 37% at 10 years. The disease-free survival at 5 years was 61%. For 133 patients for whom pelvic exenteration was a curative procedure, the OS was 64% at 5 years and 57% at 10 years. For cases of pelvic exenteration as a palliative intervention, the OS was 19% at 5 years and 18% at 10 years. No difference was seen in the OS at 5 years between patients who received primary and secondary operations. No significant difference in the OS was found regardless of whether the patients had positive pelvic lymph nodes, whereas in cases of paraaortic lymph node metastasis, the OS was significantly lower. Out of all of the procedures, 139 (49%) involved no perioperative or postoperative complications. One major complication was reported for 72 (26%) patients, two complications occurred for 42 patients (15%) and more than three complications were noted for 29 (10%) patients.

Conclusion

Pelvic exenteration is an effective technique with a high percentage of long-term survivors. To the best of our knowledge, our study involves the largest published number of patients treated with pelvic exenteration for a single gynecological cancer and shows that previous contraindications for pelvic exenteration, such as lymph node metastasis (especially when confined to the pelvic lymph nodes), older age or palliative intent, should be reconsidered.     

Th2 type inflammation promotes the gradual progression of HPV-infected cervical cells to cervical carcinoma

Objectives

To investigate the role of immunological parameters in tumorigenesis of cervical cancer in women infected with high risk human papillomavirus (hr-HPV), and determine whether key findings with human material can be recapitulated in the mouse TC1 carcinoma model which expresses hr-HPV epitopes.

Methods

Epithelial and lymphoid cells in cervical tissues were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and serum IL10 levels were determined by ELISA. Tumor draining lymph nodes were analyzed in the mouse TC1 model by flow cytometry.

Results

The mucosa was infiltrated by CD20 + and CD138 + cells already at cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 1 (CIN1) and infiltration increased in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3 (CIN3)/carcinoma in situ (CIS) and invasive cervical cancer (ICC), where it strongly correlated with infiltration by CD32B + and FoxP3 + lymphocytes. GATA3 + and T-bet + lymphoid cells were increased in ICC compared to normal, and expression in epithelial cells of the Th2 inflammation-promoting cytokine TSLP and of IDO1 was higher in CIN3/CIS and ICC. As a corollary, serum levels of IL10 were higher in women with CIN3/CIS or ICC than in normals. Finally we demonstrated in the mouse TC1 carcinoma, which expresses hr-HPV epitopes, an increase of cells expressing B cell or plasma cell markers or Fc receptors in tumor-draining than distal lymph nodes or spleen.

Conclusions

hr-HPV initiates a local Th2 inflammation at an early stage, involving antibody forming cells, and fosters an immunosuppressive microenvironment that aids tumor progression.     

Location of aortic node metastases in locally advanced cervical cancer

Background

To assess the location of aortic node metastasis in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer undergoing extraperitoneal aortic lymphadenectomy to define the extent of the aortic lymphadenectomy.

Material and methods

Between August 2001 and December 2010, 100 consecutive patients with primary locally advanced cervical cancer underwent extraperitoneal laparoscopic aortic and common iliac lymphadenectomy. The location of aortic node metastases, inframesenteric or infrarenal was noted.

Results

The mean number ± standard deviation (SD) of aortic nodes removed was 15.9 ± 7.8 (range 4-62). The mean number ± SD of inframesenteric (including common iliac) nodes removed was 8.8 ± 4.5 (range 2-41) and the mean number ± SD of infrarenal nodes removed was 7.8 ± 4.1 (range 2-21). Positive aortic nodes were observed in 16 patients, and in 5 (31.2%) of them the infrarenal nodes were the only nodes involved, with negative inframesenteric nodes.

Conclusion

Inframesenteric aortic nodes are negative in the presence of positive infrarenal nodes in about one third of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer and aortic metastases.     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy plus radical surgery followed by chemotherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy, in terms of safety, overall survival and progression free survival of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy in patients affected by locally advanced cervical cancer (stage IB2-IIB) with or without node metastases.

Methods

Between June 2000 and February 2007, all patients with diagnosis of locally advanced cervical cancer referred to the Division of Gynecologic Oncology of the University Campus Bio-Medico of Rome were eligible for this protocol. All enrolled patients received 3 cycles of platinum-based chemotherapy every 3 weeks according to the scheme Cisplatin 100 mg/mq and Paclitaxel 175 mg/mq. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy all patients with stable or progressive disease were excluded from the protocol, the others were submitted to classical radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and bilateral systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy and 4 cycles of adjuvant treatment with platinum based chemotherapy were executed.

Results

Concerning intention to treat basis analysis, 5 year overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) are 77% and 61%, respectively. The 5-year OS of patients with positive pelvic nodes and those with negative nodes metastases was respectively 60% and 87%. Concerning the according to protocol analysis, the 5-year OS and DFS are 81% and 70% respectively. The 5-year OS in patient with positive and negative lymph nodes is 75% and 88% respectively.

Conclusions

The adjuvant chemotherapy regimen after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical surgery represents a valid treatment for patients with locally advanced cervical cancer.     

Factors associated with parametrial involvement in stage IB1 cervical cancer and identification of patients suitable for less radical surgery

Objective

The purpose of the present study was to determine possible factors associated with parametrial spread in patients with stage IB1 cervical cancer and define parameters associated with a low risk for parametrial spread, in order to identify candidates for less radical surgery.

Patients and methods

We retrospectively reviewed 200 patients with stage IB1 cervical cancer who had undergone radical hysterectomy (class III) and pelvic lymphadenectomy.

Results

Overall, 20 (10.0%) of the 200 patients revealed parametrial spread, of which 11 (55%) had only direct microscopic extension of the disease, 3 (15%) had only disease spread to parametrial lymph nodes, 1 (5%) had both direct microscopic extension and disease spread to parametrial lymph nodes, and 5 (25%) had only tumor emboli within the lymph vascular channels in the parametrial tissue. Elderly age, depth of invasion, tumor size, lymph vascular space invasion (LVSI), positive pelvic nodes, and ovarian metastasis were significantly associated with parametrial involvement. The multivariate analysis model included factors that could be determined by a cone biopsy and showed LVSI, deep stromal invasion, and elderly age to be the independent predictors of parametrial involvement. Ninety-one patients had a depth of invasion of ≤ 10 mm and no LVSI, of which only 1 (1.1%) had parametrial involvement. When patients aged ≤ 50 years were further stratified into those with a depth of invasion of ≤ 10 mm and no LVSI, parametrial involvement was found to be 0.0% (0/68).

Conclusion

Patients with a tumor depth of invasion of ≤ 10 mm, no LVSI, and aged ≤ 50 years, could be considered for less radical surgery such as modified radical hysterectomy or simple hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy.     

Sentinel lymph node mapping for endometrial cancer improves the detection of metastatic disease to regional lymph nodes

Objective

To compare the incidence of metastatic cancer cells in sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) vs. non-sentinel nodes in patients who had lymphatic mapping for endometrial cancer and to determine the contribution of metastases detected on ultrastaging to the overall nodal metastasis rate.

Methods

All patients who underwent lymphatic mapping for endometrial cancer were reviewed. Cervical injection of blue dye was used in all cases. Sentinel nodes were examined by routine hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), and if negative, by standardized institutional pathology protocol that included additional sections and immunohistochemistry (IHC).

Results

Between 09/2005 and 03/2010, 266 patients with endometrial cancer underwent lymphatic mapping. Sentinel node identification was successful in 223 (84%) cases. Positive nodes were diagnosed in 32/266 (12%) patients. Of those, 8/266 patients (3%) had the metastasis detected only by additional section or IHC as part of SLN ultrastaging. Excluding the 8 cases with positive SLN on ultrastaging only, 24/801 (2.99%) SLN and 30/2698 (1.11%) non-SLN were positive for metastatic disease (p = 0.0003).

Conclusion

Using a cervical injection for mapping, metastatic cells from endometrial cancer are three times as likely to be detected in SLN than in the non-sentinel nodes. This finding strongly supports the concept of lymphatic mapping in endometrial cancer to fine tune the nodal dissection topography. By adding SLN mapping to our current surgical staging procedures we may increase the likelihood of detecting metastatic cancer cells in regional lymph nodes. An additional benefit of incorporating pathologic ultrastaging of SLN is the detection of micrometastasis, which may be the only evidence of extrauterine spread.     

Robotically assisted fluorescence-guided lymph node mapping with ICG for gynecologic malignancies: a feasibility study

Objective

Traditional techniques of sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping for endometrial and cervical cancer present challenges which may be overcome with newer technologies such as near infrared (NIR) imaging of the fluorescent dye Indocyanine green (ICG). We performed a feasibility and dose-finding study to define the dose of ICG required to identify pelvic and para-aortic sentinel lymph nodes with robotically assisted endoscopic NIR imaging after cervical injection.

Methods

20 subjects with cervical or endometrial carcinoma were prospectively enrolled for SLN mapping. ICG was injected into the cervical stroma at 3 o'clock and 9 o'clock Data was collected for the number of nodes identified, the location of SLN's, the duration of procedure and the pathology characteristics of the SLN's compared to the non-sentinel lymph nodes.

Results

20 subjects received cervical injection with at least one SLN observed in 17 subjects. 15 of the 17 subjects who received 1 mg injections of ICG mapped a SLN for an observed detection rate of 88% (95% CI is (64%,99%)). A median of 4.5 SLN's was identified per patient. Three patients had lymphatic metastases, one of whom had a positive SLN. No adverse events were identified.

Conclusions

A 1 mg cervical injection of ICG identified a SLN in 88% of patients (95% CI is (64%, 99%)). Robotically assisted fluorescence imaging is a feasible, safe, time efficient and reliable method for lymphatic mapping in early stage cervical and endometrial cancer.     

Five-year outcomes of adjuvant carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy and intravaginal radiation for stage I-II papillary serous endometrial cancer

Objective

The purpose of this study is to report our single-institution experience with concurrent adjuvant intravaginal radiation (IVRT) and carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy for early stage uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC).

Methods

From 10/2000 to 12/2009, 41 women with stage I-II UPSC underwent surgery followed by IVRT (median dose of 21 Gy in 3 fractions) and concurrent carboplatin (AUC = 5-6) and paclitaxel (175 mg/m²) for six planned cycles. IVRT was administered on non-chemotherapy weeks. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival, and the log-rank test was used for comparisons.

Results

Median patient age was 67 years (51-80 years). Surgery included hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, peritoneal washings, omental biopsy, and pelvic and paraaortic lymph node sampling. FIGO 2009 stage was IA in 73%, IB in 10%, and II in 17%. Histology was pure serous in 71% of cases. Thirty-five patients (85%) completed all planned treatment. With a median follow-up time of 58 months, the 5-year disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 85% (95%CI, 73-96%) and 90% (95%CI, 80-100%). The 5-year pelvic, para-aortic, and distant recurrence rates were 9%, 5%, and 10%, respectively. There were no vaginal recurrences. Of the 4 pelvic recurrences, 2 were isolated and were successfully salvaged. Patients with stage II disease had lower DFS (71% vs. 88%; p = 0.017) and OS (71% vs. 93%; p = 0.001) than patients with stage I disease.

Conclusions

Concurrent adjuvant carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy and IVRT provide excellent outcomes for early stage UPSC. Whether this regimen is superior to pelvic radiation will require confirmation from the ongoing randomized trial.     

A validation study of the new revised FIGO staging system to estimate prognosis for patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer

Objective

The aim of this study was to validate the role of the new FIGO staging system for estimating prognosis for patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer.

Methods

A total of 93 cases with stage IIIC were entered in this study and classified into three groups: one group of patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLX) and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (PALX) and who were for positive for pelvic node metastasis (PLNM) and negative for para-aortic node metastasis (PANM) (Group 1), one group of patients who underwent PLX alone and were positive for PLNM (Group 2) and one group of patients who underwent PLX and PALX and were positive for PANM (Group 3). Information on clinicopathologic findings and treatments was obtained from medical charts. Cox regression analysis was used to select prognostic factors.

Results

The 5-years survival rates were 89.3% in Group 1, 46.5% in Group 2 and 59.9% in Group 3. The overall survival rate in Group 1 was significantly better than that in Group 2 (p = 0.0001) and Group 3 (p = 0.0016). No significant difference in overall survival was found between Group 2 and Group 3. Age, number of metastatic lymph nodes, type of lymphadenectomy and type of adjuvant therapy were significantly and independently related to overall survival. Only when patients received PALX, PANM was a prognostic risk factor.

Conclusion

Sub-classification of stage IIIC would be functional for estimating prognosis in the revised FIGO staging system. Systematic lymphadenectomy including PALX has therapeutic significance for patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer. Prognosis of patients with stage IIIC endometrial cancer would depend much more on application of lymphadenectomy including PALX than nodal status.     

Exenteration in the treatment of Stage III/IV vulvar cancer

Objectives and methods

Vulvar carcinomas are rare genital malignancies. While advanced primary cancer chemoradiation is often preferred over pelvic exenteration (PE), PE is often the only therapy available in cases of recurrence. In a retrospective study, we analyzed predictive factors and outcomes of patients who underwent exenteration for vulvar cancer in our department during the past 10 years.

Results

We identified 27 patients; 9 of them suffered from primary disease, and 18 had experienced a recurrence. A total of 18 patients presented with stage FIGO III, and 9 patients presented with stage IV. In 10 patients, the disease had spread to the inguinal lymph nodes, and in 3 patients, it had also spread to the pelvic nodes. At the end of surgery, all patients were macroscopically tumor free, which was confirmed microscopically in 20 patients (74%, R0), with the other 7 patients having microscopic tumor remnants. For all patients, median time of survival was 37 months, the five-year survival rate (5YSR) was 62%, and the overall survival (OS) was 59%. Patients with tumor-free lymph nodes had an OS of 76% and a 5YSR of 83% vs. 40% and 36%, respectively, for patients with tumorous spread to the nodes (p = 0.03). The 5YSR correlated to the degree of resection (R0 vs. R1, 74% vs. 21%, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

PE is a therapeutic option in advanced primary or relapsed vulvar carcinoma, offering median- to long-term survival for many patients. Carcinomatous spread to regional lymph nodes and complete resection are the most important prognostic factors.     

Clinical use of laparoscopic ultrasonography in detecting nodal metastasis in advanced-stage cervical carcinoma

Objective

To assess the clinical use of a laparoscopic ultrasound scan (LUS) to identify pelvic and para-aortic node metastasis in patients with advanced-stage cervical cancer.

Methods

After examination under general anesthesia and cystoscopy, LUS was used to examine the pelvic nodes of patients with advanced-stage cervical cancer. Abnormal nodes were excised before definitive treatment to confirm the nodal status. Patients without abnormal para-aortic nodes on preoperative computer tomography/magnetic resonance imaging in the past 3 years were surgically staged via laparoscopic extraperitoneal aortic node sampling, and the findings were correlated with LUS findings. The predictive values of abnormal pelvic nodes on LUS for pelvic and aortic node metastasis were determined.

Results

A total of 119 advanced-stage cervical cancer patients underwent LUS of pelvic nodes. Abnormal pelvic nodes were found in 62 (52.1%) patients, and metastasis was confirmed by histology in 38 (31.9%) patients. Three patients had micro-metastasis in para-aortic nodes, and all of these patients had abnormal pelvic lymph nodes on LUS.

Conclusion

Abnormal pelvic nodes are commonly found on LUS in patients with advanced-stage cervical cancer, and selective excision biopsy is needed to confirm pelvic node metastasis. Surgical staging of aortic nodes might be considered for patients with abnormal pelvic nodes on LUS.     

Risk factors for lymph node metastasis in apparent early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer: implications for surgical staging

Objectives

The extent of lymphadenectomy to be performed in apparent early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) is not well defined. We evaluated the patterns of lymphatic spread in apparent early-stage EOC and risk factors for lymph node metastasis, as these have potential implications for clinical decision making.

Methods

All cases of apparent early-stage EOC diagnosed at our institution between January 1994 and December 2003 were retrospectively identified. Apparent early-stage EOC was defined as gross disease that appeared confined to the pelvis without abdominal spread at the time of initial exploration. Demographics, pathologic findings, staging procedures performed, and clinical impression at surgery were analyzed. Patterns of lymph node positivity and risk factors associated with upstaging were assessed.

Results

One hundred and ninety patients with apparent early-stage EOC undergoing primary surgical staging met criteria for inclusion. All patients had at least some pathologic assessment of lymph nodes, with 115 having both bilateral pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy performed. After review of pathology and operative reports, the final FIGO staging within the cohort was 54 IA (28.4%), 10 IB (5.3%), 51 IC (26.8%), 1 IIA (0.5%), 4 IIB (2.1%), 37 IIC (19.5%), 8 IIIA (4.2%), 25 IIIC (13.2%). Overall 25/190 (13%) had lymph nodes metastasis as follows: 8 (32%) had positive pelvic nodes, 12 (48%) had positive paraaortic nodes, and 5 (20%) had both positive pelvic and paraaortic lymph nodes. Significant risk factors for lymph node metastasis included bilateral vs. unilateral primary lesion (26.8% vs. 7.5%, p < 0.001), positive cytologic washings vs. negative (22.4% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.012), ascites vs. no ascites (28.2% vs. 9.3%, p = 0.002), serous vs. other histology (28% vs. 9%, p = 0.001), grade 1 vs. grade 2 vs. grade 3 disease (2.7% vs. 1.9% vs. 23.2%, p < 0.001), and preoperative CA 125 levels of > 35 vs. ≤ 35 U/ml (22.4% vs.0% p = 0.006). No patients with mucinous cancers (n = 29) had lymph node metastases. Patterns of LN metastases were largely independent of laterality of primary lesions: among those with unilateral lesions and positive nodes (n = 10), 5 (50%) had ipsilateral lymph node involvement, 4 (40%) had bilateral involvement, and 1 (10%) had isolated contralateral lymph nodes positive.

Conclusions

Complete surgical staging in EOC patients with gross disease confined to the ovaries and pelvis should include bilateral pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy.Even in patients with unilateral lesions, lymph node metastases are commonly bilateral. Bilateral ovarian lesions, positive cytology, presence of ascites, high grade histology, and serous histology are risk factors for lymph node involvement. This information may be helpful in counseling patients presenting for consideration of re-staging after unexpected findings of malignancy.     

The incidence of isolated para-aortic nodal metastasis in completely staged endometrial cancer patients

Objective

To describe and review the incidence of para-aortic (PA) nodal metastasis in completely staged endometrial cancer patients who are negative for pelvic nodal metastasis.

Methods

Using an institutionally maintained database, we identified all patients with endometrial cancer from 2002 to 2006 who had both pelvic and aortic nodal dissections and determined the rate of isolated para-aortic nodal metastasis in non-malignant (i.e. negative) pelvic nodes.

Results

201 endometrial cancer patients were surgically treated at our institution from 2002 to 2006. 171 patients had both pelvic and PA nodes removed during surgery, and specimens examined by a pathologist. Only 2 (1.2%) had PA nodes that tested positive for malignance (i.e. positive PA nodes) with pelvic nodes that tested negative for malignance (i.e. negative pelvic nodes). The final International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grade for the endometrial tumor cells in the two patients was “G1” with endometrioid adenocarcinoma and “G3” with endometrioid adenocarcinoma and mucinous differentiation, respectively.

Conclusion

Based on the very low incidence of patients inflicted with endometrial cancer that have positive para-aortic lymph nodes (PALNs) with negative pelvic nodes found both in our literature review (1.5%) and in our own study (1.2%), the addition of PA lymphadenectomy in all patients was found to have minimal diagnostic and therapeutic value. At the present, the role of complete PA lymphadenectomy in all patients with endometrial cancer should be re-examined. Individualized algorithms should be developed based on risk factors and status of pelvic nodes.     

Physical strain and urgent need for ergonomic training among gynecologic oncologists who perform minimally invasive surgery

Objectives

There is limited data regarding physical strain and minimally invasive gynecologic surgery (MIS). We sought to evaluate ergonomic strain among gynecologic oncologists.

Methods

An online survey was sent to all physician members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology in North America in 2010. The survey contained 42 questions and data was analyzed using univariate and bivariate analyses with summary statistics, t-tests, and chi-squared test.

Results

There were 260 respondents (31.2%) to the survey. Case mix was 26% benign and 64% oncologic surgery. Over 52% of respondents had been in practice for greater than 11 years and 52% practice in an academic setting. Physical discomfort related to MIS was reported in 88% (216/244) of surgeons with 52% reporting persistent pain. Increased pain symptoms were associated with surgeon's height, glove size, age and female gender. Patient body mass index (BMI) was associated with pain symptoms in surgeons performing conventional laparoscopic surgery, but not robotic surgery. To decrease pain, surgeons changed positions (78%), limited the number of cases per day (14%), spread cases throughout the week (6%), or limited the total number of cases (3%). Only 29% had received treatment at any time for pain symptoms. Treatment included physical therapy (59%), medical management (28%), surgery (13%), and time off (1%). Only 16% of those with pain symptoms had received formal ergonomic training.

Conclusion

Physical strain rates of 88% are far greater than previously reported. Such prevalent occupational strain presents a growing problem in the face of increasing demand for MIS.     

Clinicopathological prognostic factors and the role of cytoreduction in surgical stage IVb endometrial cancer: A retrospective multi-institutional analysis of 248 patients in Japan

Objective

To evaluate clinicopathological prognostic factors and the impact of cytoreduction in patients with surgical stage IVb endometrial cancer (EMCA).

Methods

The records of 248 patients with stage IVb EMCA who underwent primary surgery including hysterectomy at multiple institutions from 1996 to 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. Data regarding disease distribution, surgical procedures, adjuvant therapy, and survival times were collected. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors associated with overall survival (OS).

Results

The median OS was 24 months. The most common histological types were endometrioid (grade 1: 15%, grade 2: 20%, grade 3: 24%) and serous (17%). The most common sites of intra-abdominal metastases were pelvis (65%), ovaries (58%), omentum (58%), retroperitoneal lymph nodes (52%), and upper abdominal peritoneum (44%). In 93 patients with extra-abdominal metastases, the most common site was the lung (n = 49). Complete resection of extra-abdominal metastases was achieved in only 13 patients. Complete resection of intra-abdominal metastases was achieved in 101 patients, 52 had ≤ 1 cm residual disease, and 95 had > 1 cm residual disease; the median OS times in these groups were 48, 23, and 14 months, respectively (p < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis showed that performance status, histology/grade, adjuvant treatment, and intra-abdominal residual disease were independent prognostic factors. Intra-abdominal residual disease was an independent prognostic factor in patients with and without extra-abdominal metastases.

Conclusions

Cytoreductive surgery and adjuvant therapy may improve survival in stage IVb EMCA, particularly in patients with favorable prognostic factors, even in the presence of extra-abdominal metastases.