OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the actual circumstances of post-operative anemia and associating factors, during the laparoscopic myomectomy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 172 patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy from 2008 to 2009 was performed. Characteristics of patients (age, parity, body mass index, and preoperative gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists injection) and fibroids (the largest diameter, number, width, type and location), and surgical outcomes (operating time, pre- and post-operative hemoglobin level, blood loss, hospital stay, and complications, including transfusion) were retrieved. RESULTS: One patient (0.6 %) required transfusion and significant hemoglobin change (> or =2.0 g/dL) occurred in 45 patients, after laparoscopic myomectomy. The largest diameter, width, type, and location of fibroids, and pre-operative gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist injection were not associated with the hemoglobin change (p=0.193, 0.172, 0.764, 0.741, and 0.954 respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that nulliparity (p=0.195, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.286-1.291) was not a risk factor, but long operating time (> or =90 min; p=0.048, 95% CI: 1.008-5.054) and multiple myoma (> or =3 in number; p=0.009, 95% CI: 1.320-6.717) were independent risk factors for significant hemoglobin change. CONCLUSION: In our data, symptomatic anemia after laparoscopic myomectomy was uncommon. In addition, the only useful predictive factor for hemoglobin change during the laparoscopic myomectomy was a multiplicity of myoma.
Anemia ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Hemoglobins ; Humans ; Leiomyoma ; Length of Stay ; Multivariate Analysis ; Myoma ; Parity ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors

The annual review of 2011 comprised 11 themes of major research achievements in gynecologic oncology including breast cancer. A potential paradigm shift in the management of ovarian cancer was reviewed through comprehensive genomic analyses and a tumor-specific new intraoperative fluorescence imaging technique using folate receptor-alpha targeted agent, which is expected to improve intraoperative staging and more radical cytoreduction. In addition, updates of bevacizumab and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors, risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy, and risk evaluation of pelvic mass were discussed. Regarding cervical cancer, this review covered new findings on human papillomavirus vaccines and human papillomavirus tests as well as the current status of clinical trials on locally advanced cervical cancer. The promising role of sentinel lymph node biopsy in the management of early stage endometrial cancer was followed by two notable clinical researches on: exemestane, an aromatase inhibitor, for the prevention of breast cancer and eribulin, a non-taxane microtubule dynamics inhibitor for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Lastly, in premenopausal women with breast cancer, the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue on the occurrence of chemotherapy-induced early menopause was discussed.
Achievement ; Androstadienes ; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized ; Aromatase ; Bevacizumab ; Breast Neoplasms ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Furans ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Ketones ; Menopause ; Microtubules ; Nitriles ; Optical Imaging ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Papillomavirus Vaccines ; Pyrethrins ; Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Background: Intradural-intramedullary intervertebral disc extrusion (IIVDE) is a rare condition of intervertebral disc disease. However, the diagnosis of IIVDE is challenging because the prognosis and imaging characteristics are poorly characterized. Objectives: We aimed to describe the clinical and imaging characteristics of tentatively diagnosed IIVDE in dogs to assess the prognostic utility of neurological grade and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Methods: Twenty dogs were included in this retrospective cohort study. Results: Nonchondrodystrophic breeds (n = 16) were more predisposed than chondrodystrophic breeds. Most dogs showed acute onset of clinical signs. Neurological examination at admission showed predominant non-ambulatory paraparesis (n = 9); paresis (n = 16) was confirmed more frequently than paralysis (n = 4). Follow-up neurological examination results were only available for 11 dogs, ten of whom showed neurological improvement and 8 showed successful outcomes at 1 month. The characteristic MRI findings include thoracic vertebra (T)2 hyperintense, T1 hypointense, intramedullary linear tracts with reduced disc volume, and cleft of the annulus fibrosus. None of the MRI measurements were significantly correlated with neurological grade at admission. Neurological grade did not differ according to the presence of parenchymal hemorrhage, parenchymal contrast enhancement, and meningeal contrast enhancement. Neurological grades at admission showed a statistical correlation with those observed at the 1-month follow-up (r = 0.814, p = 0.02). Conclusions IIVDE is a rare form of disc extrusion commonly experienced after physical activity or trauma and most frequently affects the cranial-cervical and thoracolumbar regions of nonchondrodystrophic dog breeds. Neurological score at admission emerged as a more useful prognostic indicator than MRI findings in dogs with suspected IIVDE.

Unenhanced echocardiography (UE), commonly used in veterinary practice, is limited by left ventricular (LV) foreshortening and observer dependency. Contrast echocardiography (CE) was used to compare two-dimensional (2D) LV measurements made using UE and 256-row multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) as a reference standard. Seven healthy beagle dogs were evaluated in this study. Measurements obtained using CE, including LV wall thickness, internal diameter, and longitudinal and transverse length, were significantly greater than those obtained using UE. Measurements of LV internal dimension in diastole (LVIDd) and systole (LVIDs) were significantly larger with CE compared UE. Regardless of the cardiac cycle, LV longitudinal (LVLd and LVLs) and transverse diameter (LVTDd and LVTDs) measurements were significantly different with CE and approximated values from MDCT. Among automatically calculated parameters, LV end-systolic volume and the relative wall thickness were significantly different between UE and CE. In CE, the correlation coefficients of 4 major parameters (r = 0.87 in LVIDd; 0.91 in LVIDs; 0.87 in LVLd; and 0.81 in LVLs) showed higher values compared to the UE (r = 0.68 in LVIDd, 0.71 in LVIDs, 0.69 in LVLd, and 0.35 in LVLs). Inter-observer agreement was highest for MDCT and higher for CE than UE. In conclusion, CE is more accurate and reproducible than UE in assessing 2D LV measurements and can overcome the limitations of UE including LV foreshortening and high observer dependency.
Animals ; Diastole ; Dogs ; Echocardiography ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Systole

A 6-year-old Dachshund was presented with acute, non-localized pain without neurological dysfunction. Radiography revealed multiple calcifications of intervertebral discs and narrowing of disc space in the thoracolumbar region. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed calcified disc-like material entrapped in the left extraforaminal area and showed a displaced nerve root. Fenestration and removal of the extruded disc material were performed in a routine manner. Histopathological examination showed degenerative disc materials with severe calcification both in the nucleus pulposus and around the annulus fibrosis. Based on imaging, surgical, and histopathologic results, the dog was diagnosed with far lateral lumbar disc extrusion.
Animals ; Child ; Dogs ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Radiography

In 2016, 13 topics were selected as major research advances in gynecologic oncology. For ovarian cancer, study results supporting previous ones regarding surgical preventive strategies were reported. There were several targeted agents that showed comparable responses in phase III trials, including niraparib, cediranib, and nintedanib. On the contrary to our expectations, dose-dense weekly chemotherapy regimen failed to prove superior survival outcomes compared with conventional triweekly regimen. Single-agent non-platinum treatment to prolong platinum-free-interval in patients with recurrent, partially platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer did not improve and even worsened overall survival (OS). For cervical cancer, we reviewed robust evidences of larger-scaled population-based study and cost-effectiveness of nonavalent vaccine for expanding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine coverage. Standard of care treatment of locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) was briefly reviewed. For uterine corpus cancer, new findings about appropriate surgical wait time from diagnosis to surgery were reported. Advantages of minimally invasive surgery over conventional laparotomy were reconfirmed. There were 5 new gene regions that increase the risk of developing endometrial cancer. Regarding radiation therapy, Post-Operative Radiation Therapy in Endometrial Cancer (PORTEC)-3 quality of life (QOL) data were released and higher local control rate of image-guided adaptive brachytherapy was reported in LACC. In addition, 4 general oncology topics followed: chemotherapy at the end-of-life, immunotherapy with reengineering T-cells, actualization of precision medicine, and artificial intelligence (AI) to make personalized cancer therapy real. For breast cancer, adaptively randomized trials, extending aromatase inhibitor therapy, and ribociclib and palbociclib were introduced.
Aromatase ; Artificial Intelligence ; Brachytherapy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Female ; Genital Neoplasms, Female ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Laparotomy ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Precision Medicine ; Quality of Life ; Standard of Care ; T-Lymphocytes ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the prognostic efficacy of the number and location of positive lymph nodes (LN), LN ratio (LNR), and log odds of positive LNs (LODDs) in high-risk cervical cancer treated with radical surgery and adjuvant treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty high-risk patients who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic node dissection followed by adjuvant treatment were analyzed retrospectively. The patients had International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA2-IIB. Upper LN is defined as common iliac or higher LN, and LNR is the ratio of positive LNs to harvested LNs. LODDs is log odds between positive LNs and negative LNs. Radiotherapy was delivered to the whole pelvis with median 50.4 Gy/28 Fx± to the para-aortic regions. Platinum-based chemotherapy was used in most patients (93%). The median follow-up duration was 80 months. RESULTS: The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 76.1%, and the overall survival (OS) rate was 86.4%. Treatment failure occurred in 11 patients, and distant failure (DF) was the dominant pattern (90.9%). In univariate analysis, significantly lower DFSwas observed in patients with perineural invasion, ≥ 2 LN metastases, LNR ≥ 10%, upper LN metastasis, and ≥ -1.05 LODDs. In multivariate analysis, ≥ -1.05 LODDs was the only significant factor for DFS (p=0.011). Of patients with LODDs ≥ -1.05, 40.9% experienced DF. LODDs was the only significant prognostic factor for OS as well (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: LODDs ≥ -1.05 was the only significant prognostic factor for both DFS and OS. In patients with LODDs ≥ -1.05, intensified chemotherapy might be required, considering the high rate of DF.
Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Lymph Nodes* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Obstetrics ; Pelvis ; Prognosis ; Radiotherapy ; Retrospective Studies ; Treatment Failure ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: Despite the benefits of minimally invasive surgery for cervical cancer, there are a lack of randomized trials comparing laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and abdominal radical hysterectomy. We compared morbidity, cost of care, and survival between abdominal radical hysterectomy and laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the Korean nationwide database to identify women with cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2014. Patients who underwent abdominal radical hysterectomy were compared to those who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. Perioperative morbidity, the use of adjuvant therapy, and survival were evaluated after propensity score balancing. RESULTS: We identified 6,335 patients, including 3,235 who underwent abdominal radical hysterectomy and 3,100 who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. The use of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy increased from 46.1% in 2011 to 51.8% in 2014. Patients who were younger, had a more recent year of diagnosis, and were treated in the metropolitan area were more likely to undergo a laparoscopic procedure (p < 0.001). Compared to abdominal radical hysterectomy, laparoscopic radical hysterectomy was associated with lower rates of complication, fewertransfusions, a shorter hospital stay, less adjuvant therapy, and reduced total medical costs (p < 0.001). Laparoscopic surgery was associated with a better overall survival than abdominal operation (hazard ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.64 to 0.85). CONCLUSION: In the postdissemination era, laparoscopic radical hysterectomy was associated with more favorable morbidity profiles, a lower cost of care, and comparable survival than abdominal radical hysterectomy.
Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Laparoscopy ; Length of Stay ; Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures ; Propensity Score ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pathologic discrepancies between colposcopy-directed biopsy (CDB) of the cervix and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) in women with cytologic high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs).METHODS: We retrospectively identified 297 patients who underwent both CDB and LEEP for HSILs in cervical cytology between 2015 and 2018, and compared their pathologic results. Considering the LEEP to be the gold standard, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of CDB for identifying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 2 and 3, adenocarcinoma in situ, and cancer (HSIL+). We also performed age subgroup analyses.RESULTS: Among the study population, 90.9% (270/297) had pathologic HSIL+ using the LEEP. The diagnostic performance of CDB for identifying HSIL+ was as follows: sensitivity, 87.8%; specificity, 59.3%; balanced accuracy, 73.6%; positive predictive value, 95.6%; and negative predictive value, 32.7%. Thirty-three false negative cases of CDB included CIN2,3 (n=29) and cervical cancer (n=4). The pathologic HSIL+ rate in patients with HSIL− by CDB was 67.3% (33/49). CDB exhibited a significant difference in the diagnosis of HSIL+ compared to LEEP in all patients (p<0.001). In age subgroup analyses, age groups <35 years and 35–50 years showed good agreement with the entire data set (p=0.496 and p=0.406, respectively), while age group ≥50 years did not (p=0.036).CONCLUSION: A significant pathologic discrepancy was observed between CDB and LEEP results in women with cytologic HSILs. The diagnostic inaccuracy of CDB increased in those ≥50 years of age.
Adenocarcinoma in Situ ; Biopsy ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri ; Colposcopy ; Conization ; Dataset ; Diagnosis ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Papanicolaou Test ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions of the Cervix ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Objective: We evaluated droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) method for detecting POLE mutations in endometrial cancer (EC) and guiding its molecular classification. Methods: We reviewed 240 EC specimens from our hospital database. A ddPCR assay was used to identify POLE mutations at 5 known hotspots (P286R, S297F, V411L, A456P, and S459F). Expressions of p53 and mismatch repair proteins were identified using immunohistochemistry. Results: The ddPCR assay identified POLEmutations in 10.8% of patients. The most common mutation was V411L (61.54%), followed by P286R (23.07%), S459F (7.69%), S297F (3.85%), and A456P (3.85%). Eight/one cases had positive ddPCR but negative Sanger sequencingext-generation sequencing, respectively. Molecular classification revealed p53-mutated subtype as significantly more common for tumors with a high International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) grade, deep myometrial invasion, lymphovascular space invasion, advanced stage, and high/advanced risk groups; the POLE mutated group was more frequent in the low stage and low/intermediate risk group. Survival analyses revealed the poorest outcomes for p53-mutated EC, while mismatch repair-deficient and no specific molecular profile ECs had similar progression-free survival (PFS) outcomes, and POLE -mutated ECs had the best PFS outcome (p<0.001). When only intermediate, high-intermediate, and high-risk groups were analyzed for subgroups, molecular classification still showed differences both in PFS (p=0.003) and overall survival (p=0.017). Conclusion Hotspot POLE mutations can be detected using the ddPCR assay. We suggest simultaneously evaluating POLE mutation status using ddPCR and p53/mismatch repair protein expressions using immunohistochemistry, which can rapidly and accurately determine the molecular subtype of EC.