Minimally invasive salvage lymphadenectomy in gynecological cancer patients: A single institution series

Background

to assess the feasibility of minimally invasive surgery in the management of lymph-nodal recurrences of gynecological cancers, in terms of surgical and oncological outcomes.

Robotic versus laparoscopic radical hysterectomy in early cervical cancer: A case matched control study

Background

This study aims at evaluating the feasibility, surgical outcome and oncological results observed after robotic radical hysterectomy (RH) compared to laparoscopy for patients with early stage cervical cancer (ECC) patients.

Uterine fibroid embolization efficacy and safety: 15 years experience in an elevated turnout rate center

Objective

To evaluate effectiveness and safety of UFE as alternative to surgery, in treatment of uterine fibromatosis.

Methods/materials

255 patients (aged 26–55) with symptomatic UF, indication for surgery, followed in our center (2000–2014), single or multiple fibroids, pain and/or functional/compressive disorders, underwent embolization: injection of PVA particles (150–900 μm) from distal portion of uterine arteries (ascending section). Primary end-point: flow-stop distally to injection site, disappearance of lesion design, preservation of flow in main trunk of UA. Secondary end-point: control of pain and functional/compressive disorders during follow-up (2–7 years).

Results

Procedure was performed bilaterally in 250 patients (98%). Mean duration: 47 min (average fluoroscopy: 10:50 min). Post-embolization pelvic pain (according with VAS score) was on average 2.2 at discharge (24 h). Follow-up at 2 years: resolution of menstrual disorders in 78% of patients and improvement in 14%; pain disappeared in 66%; significant improvement of menstrual flow and HCT/HB levels, decrease in total uterine (57.7%)/dominant fibroid (76.1%) volume. Recurrence in 18 patients.

Conclusions

UFE represents an excellent alternative to surgical treatment: it is safe, tolerable and effective both in short and long term, with evident advantages in economic and social terms.

     

Management of hepatitis C positive patients undergoing active treatment for malignancies: A position paper from the Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica (AIOM) and the Società Italiana di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali (SIMIT)

Purpose

To develop, on behalf of Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica and Società Italiana di Malattie Infettive e Tropicali, evidence-based and practical recommendations for the management of cancer patients who are Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive and are undergoing antitumor treatment.

Outpatient operative hysteroscopy with bipolar electrode: a prospective multicentre randomized study between local anaesthesia and conscious sedation

BACKGROUND: The study was designed to compare local anaesthesia and conscious sedation for outpatient bipolar operative hysteroscopy in terms of pain control and patients' satisfaction. METHODS: A prospective multicentre randomized study was carried out in university hospitals and in a private endoscopy unit. A total of 166 women with surgically treatable lesions associated with infertility or abnormal uterine bleeding was considered eligible for the study. Patients were randomized, using a computer-generated randomization list, into two groups. Group A (82 patients) underwent operative hysteroscopy with local anaesthesia. Group B (84 patients) received conscious sedation. Operative hysteroscopy was performed with a bipolar electrosurgical device to cut, vaporize and coagulate. Main outcome measures were pain control during the procedure, the post-operative pain score at 15 and 60 min, and at 24 h after the procedure, and patients' satisfaction rate. RESULTS: All procedures were completed within 35 min, the amount of saline used varied from 400-1200 ml. There were no significant differences between local anaesthesia and conscious sedation in terms of pain control during the procedure and in postoperative pain at different intervals. Satisfaction rate was similar in the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Both local anaesthesia and conscious sedation can be used for operative hysteroscopy using a bipolar electrosurgical system without significant differences in terms of pain control and patients' satisfaction.     

Absence of association between Alzheimer disease and the regulatory region polymorphism of the PS2 gene in an Italian population

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disorder of aging. Identifying novel AD genetic risk factors is important for understanding its pathogenesis. A recent study demonstrated that the deletion of adenosine in the promoter region of the presenilin 2 gene (PS2) is a susceptibility factor for early-onset AD. The objective of our study was to test the possibility that this variation is associated with AD in the Italian population. A case-control association study was performed, using 200 sporadic AD cases and 160 normal controls matched by age, gender and ethnicity. The current study does not support the notion that the polymorphism in the PS2 gene constitutes a risk factor for either late-onset or early-onset AD, which means that other genetic factors play a role in the development of AD in the Italian population.     

18F-FDG PET/CT in the evaluation of cartilaginous bone neoplasms: the added value of tumor grading

Annals of Nuclear Medicine - Cartilaginous bone tumors represent a wide variety of neoplasms ranging from benign to extremely aggressive malignant lesions. Unlike other tumors, the biopsy cannot...     

Magnetic-resonance-guided focused ultrasound treatment of non-spinal osteoid osteoma in children: multicentre experience

Pediatric Radiology - Osteoid osteoma is a benign and painful musculoskeletal tumour that usually affects children. Current standard treatment is CT-guided radiofrequency ablation, a minimally...