OBJECTIVE: To compare laparoscopic surgery with conventional abdominal surgery in patients with early stage endometrial cancer. METHODS: A retrospective review of 63 patients with early stage endometrial cancer managed between March 2003 and May 2005. Two groups were defined whether they had been treated by laparoscopy (case group: n=26) or by laparotomy (control group: n=37). We compared age, body mass index (BMI), hemoglobin change, operation time, number of pelvic lymph nodes, hospital stay, case with adjuvant treatment and recurrence between two groups. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in characteristics (age, BMI, nulliparity, previous abdominal surgery, FIGO stage, histologic grade). between case and control group. In addition, there was no statistical difference in operation data and outcomes between two groups. Hemoglobin changes were 1.1 g/dL (case group) vs 1.7 g/dL (control group) (p=0.072). Operation time was 131 min vs. 115 min. The numbers of lymph nodes obtained were 8.7 vs 7.7 (right) 9.2 vs. 7.6 (left). Hospital stays were 8.4 vs. 9.2 days. Adjuvant treatment cases were 7 vs. 15. Recurrent case was one in each group. Two patients initially evaluated by laparoscopy were converted to laparotomy due to bleeding and adhesion. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic surgery for treatment of early endometrial cancer is a safe and effective alternative to laparotomy . However, long-term survival and risk of recurrence have yet to be determined.
Body Mass Index ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal* ; Laparoscopy ; Laparotomy ; Length of Stay ; Lymph Nodes ; Parity ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to compare the perioperative outcomes in patients with symptomatic uterine myoma who underwent laparoscopic (LM) or laparoscopically assisted myomectomy (LAM). METHODS: A total of 207 patients with myoma underwent LM or LAM in Samsung Medical Center between October 2006 and March 2010. Of them, 121 patients with LM and 50 with LAM met the inclusion criteria and were compared for the perioperative outcomes. RESULTS: The operation time was significantly shorter in the LAM group than in the LM group (111 min versus 139 min; p<.001, respectively). Estimated blood loss was significantly higher in the LAM group (p<.001). Intraoperative, early postoperative complications, hospitalization days and postoperative analgesics use were similar between the 2 study groups. CONCLUSION: LM and LAM is comparable in the perioperative outcomes in patients with symptomatic uterine myoma.
Analgesics ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Laparoscopy ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Myoma ; Postoperative Complications

OBJECTIVE: Lynch syndrome is a hereditary cancer syndrome that increases the risks of colorectal and gynecologic malignancies such as endometrial and ovarian cancer. Studies have shown that mutations in mismatch repair genes (MSH2, MSH6, and MLH1) are associated with Lynch syndrome. The aim of our study was to estimate the value of MSH2, MSH6, and MLH1 immunohistochemistry based on family history in a Korean sample. METHODS: Thirty six women with synchronous gynecologic tumors of endometrial and ovarian cancer were identified among patients being treated at our institution. Among them, 32 patients had tumor blocks (total 62 slides) available for analysis. According to a diagnostic algorithm, we performed immunohistochemistry analyses. Staining was scored based on intensity and proportion (negative or 0: intensity undetectable or minimal, proportion <5%; weak or 1+: intensity mild, proportion 5-30%; strong or 2+: intensity moderate to marked, proportion 30-99%). RESULTS: Among 32 eligible patients, 9 (28%) had a family history of cancer. Six patients (19%) were negative for MLH1; among them, four (4/6) were negative at both sites. Nine patients (28%) were negative for MSH2 or MSH6 at both sites or negative for both MSH2 and MSH6. Among these three patients showed negative staining for both sites. The three patients showing negative staining for MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6 at both sites with family history were considered to be the screening positive groups of Lynch syndrome. CONCLUSION: In this study, the frequency of Lynch syndrome associated immunohistochemical staining (MLH1, MSH2, and MSH6) group was estimated as 9% (3/32) among Korean women with synchronous gynecologic tumors.
Colorectal Neoplasms, Hereditary Nonpolyposis ; DNA Mismatch Repair ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mass Screening ; Negative Staining ; Neoplastic Syndromes, Hereditary ; Ovarian Neoplasms

Extra pelvic endometriosis is considered to be rare. This paper reports a case of catamenial hemoptysis accompanied by subcutaneous endometriosis in 26-year-old woman. A computed tomography scan of the chest revealed a focal ground-glass opacity lesion in the posterior segment of the right upper lobe. Histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of endometriosis of right lung and concurrent subcutaneous endometriosis. She was treated with surgical resection of the endometriosis lesions on two different sites and perioperative gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist therapy. The 6-month follow-up after combination treatment showed no recurrence. Though long-term follow-up result is needed, aggressive treatment using combination treatment (surgery and perioperative medication) should be considered for symptomatic extra pelvic endometriosis.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Endometriosis* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Hemoptysis* ; Humans ; Lung ; Recurrence ; Thorax

In order to establish optimal management for aortoenteric fistula (AEF) the records of five patients treated for AEF (four aortoduodenal and one aortogastric fistula) were retrospectively reviewed. The arterial reconstruction procedures were selected according to the surgical findings, underlying cause, and patient status. In situ aortic reconstructions with prosthetic grafts were performed on three patients who had no gross findings of periaortic infection, whereas axillo-bifemoral bypass was carried out in the other two patients with periaortic purulence. In all patients, after retroperitoneal irrigation a pedicled omentum was used to cover the aortic graft or aortic stump. In the preoperative abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan there was a periaortic air shadow in four out of five patients. There was no surgical mortality or graft infection observed during a mean follow-up period of 40 months (range, 24-68 months). Therefore, the treatment results of an AEF can be improved using intravenous contrast-enhanced abdominal CT for rapid diagnosis and selection of an appropriate surgical procedure based on the surgical findings and underlying cause.
Aged ; Aorta, Abdominal/*pathology ; Aortic Aneurysm/surgery ; Aortic Diseases/*surgery ; Contrast Media/pharmacology ; Fistula/*surgery ; Humans ; Intestinal Fistula/*surgery ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/methods ; Treatment Outcome

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the feasibility of single-site robotic surgery for benign gynecologic tumors and early stage gynecologic cancers. METHODS: In this single institution, prospective analysis, we analyzed six patients who had undergone single-site robotic surgery between December 2013 and August 2014. Surgery was performed using the da Vinci Si Surgical System. Patient characteristics and surgical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: Single-site robotic surgery was performed successfully in all six cases. The median patient age was 48 years, and the median body mass index was 25.5 kg/m2 (range, 22 to 33 kg/m2). The median total operative time was 211 minutes, and the median duration of intracorporeal vaginal cuff suturing was 32 minutes (range, 22 to 47 minutes). The median duration of pelvic lymph node dissection was 31 minutes on one side and 27 minutes on the other side. Patients' postoperative courses were uneventful. The median postoperative hospital stay was 4 days. No postoperative complications occurred. CONCLUSION: When used to treat benign gynecologic tumors and early stage gynecologic cancers, the single-site da Vinci robotic surgery is feasible, safe, and produces favorable surgical outcomes.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female/*surgery ; Humans ; Length of Stay/statistics & numerical data ; Lymph Node Excision/methods ; Middle Aged ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures/adverse effects/methods ; Operative Time ; Pilot Projects ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/adverse effects/*methods ; Treatment Outcome

Technical developments have made laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery increasingly more feasible for treating gynecological conditions, including cancer. However, complex surgeries such as radical hysterectomy have rarely been performed with single-port access because of technical difficulties. The majority of the difficulties are due to the inefficient retraction of tissue during dissection. Here, we report a detailed description of LESS radical hysterectomy plus pelvic lymph node dissection that was successfully performed in two patients with stage IB1 cervical cancer. We used our expertise with LESS to perform space development as much as possible before the ligaments were resected. The oncologic clearance was comparable to that of conventional laparoscopic radical hysterectomy.
Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Ligaments ; Lymph Node Excision ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: This study reports our initial experience of robotic high para-aortic lymph node dissection (PALND) with high port placement using same port for pelvic surgery in cervical and endometrial cancer patients. METHODS: Between July 2013 and January 2014, we performed robotic high PALND up to the left renal vein during staging surgeries. With high port placement and same port usage for pelvic surgery, high PALND was successfully performed without repositioning the robotic column. All data were registered consecutively and analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: All patients successfully underwent robotic high PALND, followed by hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. Median age was 45 years (range, 39 to 51 years) and median body mass index was 22 kg/m2 (range, 19.3 to 23.1 kg/m2). Median operative time for right PALND and left PALND was 37 minutes (range, 22 to 65 minutes) and 44 minutes (range, 36 to 50 minutes), respectively. Median number of right and left para-aortic lymph node by pathologic report was 12 (range, 8 to 15) and 13 (range, 5 to 26). CONCLUSION: With high port placement and one assistant port, robotic high PALND with the same port used in pelvic surgery is feasible to non-obese patients.
Adult ; Endometrial Neoplasms/*surgery ; Feasibility Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intraoperative Complications/etiology ; Laparoscopy/instrumentation/*methods ; Lymph Node Excision/instrumentation/*methods ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Operative Time ; Retrospective Studies ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/instrumentation/*methods ; Surgical Instruments ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*surgery

OBJECTIVE: Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is known to promote cell proliferation, survival, and resistance to radiation. The aim of this study was to determine whether mTOR expression was associated with survival and the response to radiation in patients with cervical cancer. METHODS: After reviewing 119 patients treated by primary radiotherapy for stage IIB-IVA cervical cancer, a case-control study was performed. The cases (n=12) with local recurrence or radiation failure after primary radiation therapy were selected. For each case, two controls that had no recurrence were selected. Using pretreatment paraffin-embedded tissues, the cytoplasmic expression of phosphorylated-mTOR (p-mTOR) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Staining was scored based on intensity (intensity score [IS] 0-3) and proportion (proportion score [PS] 0-100). The progression free survival (PFS) was defined from the end of treatment to the day of recurrence by imaging studies or biopsy. The staining distribution and PFS were compared between the two groups. The results were analyzed by the Student t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, Fisher's exact test, and Cox proportional hazards regression model. RESULTS: The p-mTOR cytoplasmic expression was significantly associated with a poor response to radiotherapy (p<0.01). With respect to survival, a higher cytoplasmic expression of p-mTOR was associated with a worse outcome (p=0.02). The hazard ratio for recurrence or radiation failure was 6.18 for mTOR IS and 1.04 for mTOR PS (p<0.05 for both), indicating that the degree of p-mTOR staining correlated with the recurrence risk. CONCLUSION: High expression of p-mTOR was associated with radiation resistance; therefore p-mTOR may be a prognostic marker for response to radiotherapy in patients with cervical cancer.
Biopsy ; Case-Control Studies ; Cell Proliferation ; Cytoplasm ; Disease-Free Survival ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Recurrence ; Sirolimus ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to compare survival outcomes of patients with uterine papillary serous carcinoma (UPSC) or clear cell carcinoma (CC) to those of patients with grade 3 endometrioid carcinoma (G3EC) according to 1988 and 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging systems. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all patients with endometrial cancer treated at a single institution between 1995 and 2009. Among the 647 patients with endometrial cancer, 51 with G3EC and 46 with UPSC and CC histology were confirmed. RESULTS: 1988 FIGO stage, 2009 FIGO stage, and extrauterine metastasis were significantly different between the UPSC and CC group and G3EC group (p=0.002, p=0.041, and p=0.020, respectively). Restaging from the 1988 FIGO to the 2009 FIGO criteria increased the number of stage I cases by 10 (11.0%). Overall, 8 in the UPSC and CC and 2 in the G3EC group were down-staged to stage I. In the UPSC and CC group, the 3-year overall survival for 1988 FIGO stage I was 92.9%. When UPSC and CC patients were restaged using the 2009 staging system, the 3-year overall survival of 2009 FIGO stage I dropped to 81.6%. UPSC and CC was associated with poor OS outcome compared with G3EC, after adjustment for 2009 FIGO stage and other clinicopathologic factors. CONCLUSION: We observed that UPSC and CC patients had different prognosis according to the old and new FIGO staging system. Our results suggest that UPSC and CC compared with the G3EC may retain the 1988 FIGO to be a slightly better discriminator than 2009 FIGO.
Carcinoma, Endometrioid ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Obstetrics ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies