OBJECTIVE: To create a comprehensive algorithmic approach to reconstruction after vulvar cancer ablative surgery, which includes both traditional and perforator flaps, evaluating anatomical subunits and shape of the defect. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 80 cases of reconstruction after vulvar cancer ablative surgery, performed between June 2006 and January 2016, transferring 101 flaps. We registered the possibility to achieve the complete wound closure, even in presence of very complex defects, and the postoperative complications. On the basis of these experience, analyzing the choices made and considering the complications, we developed an algorithm to help with the selection of the flap in vulvoperineal reconstruction after oncologic ablative surgery for vulvar cancer. RESULTS: We employed eight types of different flaps, including 54 traditional fasciocutaneous V-Y flaps, 23 rectus abdominis myocutaneous flaps, 11 anterolateral thigh flaps, three V-Y gracilis myocutaneous flaps, three free style perforators V-Y flaps from the inner thigh, two Limberg flaps, two lotus flaps, two deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flap, and one superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator flap. The structures most frequently involved in resection were vulva, perineum, mons pubis, groins, vagina, urethra and, more rarely, rectum, bladder, and lower abdominal wall. CONCLUSION: The algorithm we implemented can be a useful tool to help flap selection. The key points in the decision-making process are: anatomical subunits to be covered, overall shape and symmetry of the defect and some patient features such as skin laxity or previous radiotherapy. Perforator flaps, when feasible, must be considered standard in vulvoperineal reconstruction, although in some cases traditional flaps remain the best choice.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Algorithms ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures/adverse effects/methods ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/epidemiology ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Retrospective Studies ; Surgical Flaps/adverse effects ; Vulva/*surgery ; Vulvar Neoplasms/*surgery

Ovarian cystadenofibroma is a benign ovarian tumor that is characterized by a consistent percentage of masses, which remain indeterminate in ultrasonography and require magnetic resonance (MR) investigation; they may mimic borderline or malignant lesions. Three main morphologic patterns, resembling different ovarian neoplasms, can be identified in cystadenofibromas:multilocular solid lesions, unilocular cystic lesions with parietal thickening, and purely cystic masses. However, a cystoadenofibroma has typical features, such as T2-weighted hypointensity associated with no restrictions in diffusion-weighted imaging (the so-called “dark-dark appearance”) and progressive post-contrast enhancement (type I perfusion curve). The purpose of this study was to review the features of ovarian cystadenofibromas in MR imaging and to suggest pearls and pitfalls regarding their correct diagnosis.

OBJECTIVE: Evidences from animal models seem to suggest that minimally invasive surgery may enhance cisplatin diffusion when the drug is administered in the context of post-operative hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC). The present study evaluates the cisplatin pharmacokinetic profile in a prospective series of women with platinum sensitive recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer treated with open secondary cytoreductive surgery (O-SCS) or minimally-invasive secondary cytoreductive surgery (MI-SCS). METHODS: Cisplatin levels were assessed at 0, 20, 40, 60, and 120 minutes in: 1) blood samples, 2) peritoneal perfusate, and 3) peritoneal biopsies at the end of HIPEC. Median Cmax has been used to identify women with high and low drug levels. Progression-free survival (PFS) was calculated as the time elapsed between SCS+HIPEC and secondary recurrence or last follow-up visit. RESULTS: Nine (45.0%) women received MI-SCS, and 11 (55.0%) O-SCS. At 60 minutes, median cisplatin Cmax in peritoneal tissue was higher in patients treated with MI-SCS compared to O-SCS (Cmax=8.262 µg/mL vs. Cmax=4.057 µg/mL). Furthermore, median cisplatin plasma Cmax was higher in patients treated with MI-SCS compared to O-SCS (Cmax=0.511 vs. Cmax=0.254 µg/mL; p-value=0.012) at 120 minutes. With a median follow-up time of 24 months, women with higher cisplatin peritoneal Cmax showed a longer PFS compared to women with low cisplatin peritoneal levels (2-years PFS=70% vs. 35%; p-value=0.054). CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrate for the first time that minimally invasive route enhances cisplatin peritoneal tissue uptake during HIPEC, further evaluations are needed to confirm the correlation between peritoneal cisplatin levels after HIPEC and survival. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01539785
Biopsy ; Cisplatin ; Cytoreduction Surgical Procedures ; Diffusion ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Endoscopy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Models, Animal ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma ; Platinum ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence

1.1 g/dL, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤60 mL/min, ≥3 comorbidities were independently associated with a higher severe toxicity.CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with EOC can safely be treated with bevacizumab; factors other than age, as higher creatinine serum levels, eGFR and number of comorbidities should be considered to better estimate bevacizumab-related toxicity risk.]]>
Aged ; Bevacizumab ; Case-Control Studies ; Comorbidity ; Creatinine ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Ovarian Neoplasms

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze and draw the potential differences between the robotic-assisted surgery (RS) and the laparoscopy (LPS) in endometrial cancer staging. Methods: In this single-institution retrospective study we enrolled 1,221 consecutive clinical stage I–III endometrial cancer patients undergone minimally invasive surgical staging. We compared patients treated by LPS and by RS, on the basis of perioperative and oncological outcomes (disease-free survival [DFS] and overall survival [OS]). A sub-analysis of the highrisk endometrial cancer population was performed in the 2 cohorts. Results: The 2 cohorts (766 treated by LPS and 455 by RS) were homogeneous in terms of perioperative and pathological data. We recorded differences in number of relapse/ progression (11.7% in LPS vs. 7% in RS, p=0.008) and in number of deaths (9.8% in LPS vs. 4.8% in RS, p=0.002). Whereas, univariate and multivariate analyses according to DFS and OS confirmed that the surgical approach did not influence the DFS or the OS. In the multivariable analysis the association of the age and grading was significant for DFS and OS. In the sub-analysis of the 426 high risk EC patients (280 in LPS and 146 in RS) the univariate and the multivariate confirmed the influence of the age in DFS and OS, independently of the minimally invasive approach. Conclusions In our large retrospective analysis, we confirmed that the RS and LPS have similar efficacy and safety for endometrial cancer staging also for the high-risk endometrial cancer patients.

Objective: Bevacizumab maintenance following platinum-based chemotherapy is an effective treatment for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), both in primary and recurrent disease. Our aim was to identify criteria to select elderly patients who can safely benefit from bevacizumab addition. Methods: This is a case-control study on patients with primary or recurrent EOC who received platinum-based chemotherapy plus bevacizumab, between January 2015 and December 2016. Patient characteristics, treatment details and adverse events were reviewed and analyzed in 2 settings: younger (<65 years, group 1) and elderly (≥65 years, group 2). A binary logistic model was applied to correlate clinical variables and severe (grade ≥3) toxicity risk. Results: Overall, 283 patients with EOC were included, with 72 (25.4%) older patients compared with 211 (74.6%) younger women. Bevacizumab had been administered to 234 patients (82.7%) as first-line treatment and in 49 (17.3%) with recurrent disease. At diagnosis, elderly patients presented with at least one comorbidity and were taking at least 1 medication in 84.7% and 80.6% of the cases respectively, compared with correspondingly 47.4% and 37.4% in group 1 (p<0.001). Nonetheless, the occurrence of serious (grade ≥3) adverse events did not increase among the older group. Creatinine serum levels >1.1 g/dL, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤60 mL/min, ≥3 comorbidities were independently associated with a higher severe toxicity. Conclusions Elderly patients with EOC can safely be treated with bevacizumab; factors other than age, as higher creatinine serum levels, eGFR and number of comorbidities should be considered to better estimate bevacizumab-related toxicity risk.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate survival outcomes in endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) patients with single vs. multiple positive pelvic lymph nodes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective evaluation of all consecutive patients with histologically proven International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIC1 EEC who underwent primary surgical treatment between 2004 and 2014 at seven Italian gynecologic oncology referral centers. Patients with pre- or intra-operative evidence of extra-uterine disease (including the presence of bulky nodes) and patients with stage IIIC2 disease were excluded, in order to obtain a homogeneous population. RESULTS: Overall 140 patients met the inclusion criteria. The presence of >1 metastatic pelvic node was significantly associated with an increased risk of recurrence and mortality, compared to only 1 metastatic node, at both univariate (recurrence: hazard ratio [HR]=2.19; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.2–3.99; p=0.01; mortality: HR=2.8; 95% CI=1.24–6.29; p=0.01) and multivariable analysis (recurrence: HR=1.91; 95% CI=1.02–3.56; p=0.04; mortality: HR=2.62; 95% CI=1.13–6.05; p=0.02) and it was the only independent predictor of prognosis in this subset of patients. Disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were significantly longer in patients with only 1 metastatic node compared to those with more than 1 metastatic node (p=0.008 and 0.009, respectively). CONCLUSION: The presence of multiple metastatic nodes in stage IIIC1 EEC represents an independent predictor of worse survival, compared to only one positive node. Our data suggest that EEC patients may be categorized according to the number of positive nodes.
Disease-Free Survival ; Endometrial Neoplasms* ; European Union ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Mortality ; Obstetrics ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Referral and Consultation ; Retrospective Studies

Immunotherapy is an effective treatment option for gynecological malignancies. Radiologists dealing with gynecological patients undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors should be aware of unconventional immune-related imaging features for the evaluation of tumor response and immune-related adverse events. In this paper, immune checkpoint inhibitors used for gynecological malignancies and their mechanisms of action are briefly presented. In the second part, patterns of pseudoprogression are illustrated, and different forms of immune-related adverse events are discussed.

Immunotherapy is an effective treatment option for gynecological malignancies. Radiologists dealing with gynecological patients undergoing treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors should be aware of unconventional immune-related imaging features for the evaluation of tumor response and immune-related adverse events. In this paper, immune checkpoint inhibitors used for gynecological malignancies and their mechanisms of action are briefly presented. In the second part, patterns of pseudoprogression are illustrated, and different forms of immune-related adverse events are discussed.