Despite recent advances in the early detection method and treatment modalities (surgery and/or radiation and/or chemotherapy), cervical cancer is still an important malignant disease in women. Almost half a million new cases occur every year in the world. The management of recurrent cervical cancers depends on primary treatment, the extent of disease, and performance status. Patients who received primary surgical treatment without radiotherapy (RT) may undergo curative RT. However, most recurrences occur in patients with advanced-stage disease already treated by primary RT. For patients who failed primary RT or surgery plus adjuvant RT and had central relapse without pelvic sidewall recurrence, pelvic exenteration may be necessary. For patients who had pelvic sidewall recurrences, pelvic exenteration is usually not an option with curative intent. In such situation, combined operative and radiotherapeutic treatment (CORT), and laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER), intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT) have been executed with some success. Simple or radical hysterectomy can be considered for patients who had small uterine and/or vaginal recurrences, but the high frequency of associated morbidities such as urinary and bowel tract injury or fistula is the problem. Patients with multiple or distant metastases are destined to receive cisplatin-based palliative chemotherapy. Recently there was a GOG 179 study that had firstly shown a statistically significant improvement on the overall response rate, median progression-free survival, and median survival. Until now, however, the role of chemotherapy has been very limited.
Diagnosis* ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Fistula ; Humans ; Hysterectomy ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvic Exenteration ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence and mortality of patients with invasive cervical carcinoma have decreased. However, therapeutic results in advanced cervical carcinoma with systemic metastasis was not satisfactory and the therapeutic modalities had lots of morbidities. To know exact extent of disease is important in order to decide pertinent therapeutic modality to each patient. OBJECTIVES: We intended to evaluate the risk factors, clinical characteristics, and survival of the cervical cancer patients with scalene lymph node metastasis and, to assess the need of the scalene lymph node biopsy in baseline study of advanced carcinoma of cervix or recurrent carcinoma of cervix. Materials and METHODS: We have reviewed clinical charts of total 3624 patients treated for carcinoma of cervix at the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yonsei University College of medicine, from Jan.1981 to Dec.1995. 25 patients (0.68%) were proven to have scalene lymph node metastasis by way of studies including radiologic imaging, physical examination, and lymph node biopsy. RESULTS: Patient' s age ranged from 22 to 80 years with a median of 50 years. The incidence of metastasis was related with the stage at initial diagnosis, pathological type of tumor, existence of para-arotic lymph node metastasis. The patients had other metastasis in 14 cases(66%) and 5 cases had multiple metastatic sites. In spite of aggressive systemic chemotherapy or radiotherapy, the survivial after diagnosis of metastasis was extremely poor, 2- year survival rate was only 9.52%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of scalene lymph node metastasis in patients with carcinoma of cervix was very rare in our series, we couldn' t recommend the scalene lymph node biopsy as a modality of baseline study. In patients with paraaortic lymph node metastasis or clinically palpable lymph node, the scalene lymph node biospy may help patients omit aggressive, unnecessary treatment. To prove the value of biopsy of scalene lymph node, well-designed large prospective study would be necessary.
Biopsy ; Cervix Uteri ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes* ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Obstetrics ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Radiotherapy ; Risk Factors ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical aspects, the problems in diagnstic process, proper complimentary treatment of invasive cervical cancer found after simple hysterectomy. METHODS: From February 1990 till December 2003, of the 2013 patients who underwent simple hysterectomy at Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, 4 cases who were able to be followed up with the pathological diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer, were picked. One patient transferred to KHMC of a recurrence at the vaginal stump after vaginal hysterectomy performed at a nearby clinic was chosen. The archives of the 5 patients were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 5 cases, 2 were treated with whole-pelvis external radiation for 6 weeks. The follow-up periods after radiotherapy were after 5 months and 48 months, and they are both disease-free and are in satisfactory health conditions. The patients who underwent simple hysterectomy and received re-operations, one case after one month, and the other after 2 months in case 2 and 3, showed negative results in the biopsy and the follow-up periods after the operation were 12 months and 42 months, maintaining healthy conditions. The patient in case 5 who received pelvic exenteration after additional staging operations and 7 cycles of chemotherapy done after whole-pelvis external radiation/intracavitary radiotherapy for 6 weeks after simple hysterectomy, showed negative biopsy results and is currently being followed up at the outpatient clinic. CONCLUSION: To prevent for invasive cervical cancer diagnosed pathologically after simple hysterectomy, a variety of complimentary tests should be performed and thorough step-by-step pre-operative exams should be emphasized as in the well-established diagnostic guidelines. Invasive lesions as more than post-operative stage Ia2 found after simple hysterectomy need much more aggressive supportive treatment. But between pelvic irradiation and secondary radical re-operation, which treatment is advisable is not yet concluded. Therefore, the treatment should be chosen case-by-case according to the patient's condition.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Hysterectomy, Vaginal ; Obstetrics ; Pelvic Exenteration ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate treatment results, toxicity and efficacy of hyperfractionated radiation therapy combined with paclitaxel for paraaortic node recurrence in cervix cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between September 1997 to March 1999, 12 patients with paraaortic node recurrence in cervix cancer who previously received radical or postoperative radiotherapy were treated with hyperfractionated radiation therapy combined with paclitaxel. Of these, 2 patients who irradiated less than 30 Gy were excluded, 10 patients were eligible for this study. Median age was 5 1 years. Initial FlGO stage was 1 stage IB1, 2 stage IIA, 7 stage IIB. For initial treatment, 7 patients received radical radiotherapy and 3 received postoperative radiotherapy. The paraaortic field encompassed the gross recur rent disease with superior margin at T 12, and inferior margin was between L5 and S 1 with gap for previously pelvic radiation field. The radiation field was initially anterior and posterior opposed field followed by both lateral field. The daily dose was 1.2 Gy, twice daily fractions, and total radiotherapy dose was between 50.4 and 60 Gy(median, 58.8 Gy). Concurrent chemotherapy was done with paclitaxel as a radiosensitizer. Dose range was from 20 mg/m to 30 mg/m (median, 25 mg/m'), and cycle of chemotherapy was from 3 to 6 (median, 4.5 cycle). Follow-up period ranged from 3 to 21 months. RESULTS: Interval between initial diagnosis and paraaortic node recurrence was range from 2 to 63 months (median, 8 months). The 1 year overall survival rate and median survival were 75% and 9.5 months, respectively. The 1 year disease free survival rate and median disease free survival were 30% and 3 7 months, respectively. At 1 month after treatment, 4 (40%) achieved a complete response and 6 (63%) experienced a partial response and all patients showed response above the partial response. There was distant metastasis in 6 patients and pelvic node recurrence in 2 patients after paraaortic node irradialion. There was 2 patients with grade 3 to 4 leukopenia and 8 patients with grade 1 to 2 nausea/ vom ting which was usually tolerable with antiemetic drug. There was no chronic complication in abdomen and pelvis during follow up period. CONCLUSION: Hyperfractionated radiation therapy combined with paclitaxel as a radiosensitizer showed high response rate and few complication rate in paraaortic node recurrence in cervix cancer. Therefore, present results suggest that hyperfractionated radiation therapy combined with paclitaxel chemotherapy can be used as optimal treatment modality in this patients.
Abdomen ; Cervix Uteri* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Leukopenia ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paclitaxel* ; Pelvis ; Radiotherapy ; Recurrence* ; Survival Rate ; Tolnaftate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

The phenomenon of multiple primary malignant tumors in one patient synchronously or metachronously is no more curiosity. So, careful follow up study and early diagnosis of those lesions, based on an awareness of the possibility of the second cancer, will substantially increase the survival of these patients. We collected nine cases of multiple primary cancers according to Moertel's classification histologically proved and treated from 1985 to l992 at Kosin Medical Center. The results were as follows; 1. The average age of the patients was 60.9 years with dominance in seventh decade 2. The male to female ratio was 7: 2 with significant dominance in male. 3. The synchronous to metachronous ratio was 6: 3, in metachronous cases the average time interval between 1st and 2nd cancers was 122 months. 4. In 6 cases of synchronous cancers, there were penile cancer and hepatoma, renal cell carcinoma and bladder cancer, prostatic cancer and bladder cancer, bladder cancer and colon cancer, and prostatic cancer and lung cancer. In 3 cases of metachronous cancers, there were bladder cancer and uterine cervical cancer, bladder cancer and stomach cancer, and renal cell carcinoma and synovial sarcoma. 5. In 3 cases of metachronous cancers, adjuvant therapy was performed in 2 cases after operation including one case of chemotherapy and another case of radiotherapy.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Classification ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Drug Therapy ; Early Diagnosis ; Exploratory Behavior ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; Male ; Neoplasms, Second Primary ; Penile Neoplasms ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Sarcoma, Synovial ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVETo investigate the clinical application of diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) in uterine cervical cancer and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value in diagnosis and predicting treatment response.

METHODSTwenty-eight patients with advanced primary cervical cancer confirmed by pathology and 10 cases of normal uterine cervix as control were recruited in this prospective clinical trial. To analyze the correlation between tumor volume measured in DWI and tumor maximum diameter measured according to the RECIST criteria. To compare the ADC value differences among the uterine cervical cancer, uterine myometrium, and normal uterine cervix. To compare the ADC values in 17 cancer patients before and after treatment.

RESULTSThe illustration of tumor boundary in DWI was superior to conventional T2WI and post-enhancement T1WI. The DWI with higher b value (2000 s/mm(2)) had a better signal-to-noise ratio. The tumor volume measured in DWI has good correlation with tumor maximum diameter according to RECIST criteria (r = 0.759, P < 0.01). When b = 800 s/mm(2), the ADC values of the uterine cervical cancer, uterine myometrium, and normal uterine cervix were (9.85 ± 1.55)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, (14.20 ± 2.80)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, and (14.14 ± 0.45) ×10(-3) mm(2)/s. When b = 2000 s/mm(2), the ADC values of the uterine cervical cancer, uterine myometrium and normal uterine cervix were (7.38 ± 0.98)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, (8.52 ± 2.38)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, and (8.60 ± 0.63)×10(-3) mm(2)/s, respectively. There were significant differences between the cervical cancer and normal cervix or uterine myometrium (P < 0.001 for both). When b = 800 s/mm(2), the ADC value was (9.85 ± 1.55)×110(-3) mm(2)/s before and (13.41 ± 2.93)×10(-3) mm(2)/s after treatment (P < 0.001). When b = 2000 s/mm(2), the ADC value was (7.38 ± 0.98)×10(-3) mm(2)/s before and (8.93 ± 1.92)×10(-3) mm(2)/s after treatment (P = 0.008). Univariate logistic regression analysis showed that 25% ADC, 50%ADC, and 75%ADC in the tumor ADC value histogram before treatment were significantly correlated to the treatment outcome of cervical cancer (P < 0.05 for all). Multivariate regression analysis showed that 25%ADC, 50%ADC, and 75%ADC in the tumor ADC value histogram before treatment were not significantly correlated to the treatment outcome of cervical cancer (P > 0.05 for all). The values of ROC curves were 25%ADC = 0.818, 50%ADC = 0.775, and 75%ADC = 0.716 (P > 0.05), however, the 25% ADC showed a relatively stronger statistical power.

CONCLUSIONSDWI helps to confirm the morphology and exact target zone of the tumor for radiotherapy. DWI volume measurement is well correlated with RECIST criteria, particularly in volume measurement of irregular tumors. ADC value has a potential in quantitatively monitoring treatment response and predicting outcome of cervical cancers.

Adenocarcinoma ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Antineoplastic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy ; Case-Control Studies ; Cervix Uteri ; pathology ; Cisplatin ; therapeutic use ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Myometrium ; pathology ; Prospective Studies ; ROC Curve ; Radiotherapy, Conformal ; Treatment Outcome ; Tumor Burden ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; drug therapy ; pathology ; radiotherapy

OBJECTIVE: This is a retrospective study aimed at clarifying the details of recurrence patterns and sites in patients with cervical cancer treated with definitive radiation therapy (RT). METHODS: Data were analyzed from consecutive patients, admitted to the University of Tokyo Hospital (Tokyo, Japan) between 2001 and 2013, who had received definitive RT, with or without chemotherapy, for International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages IB-IVA cervical cancer. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-seven patients formed the patient cohort. The median follow-up period for surviving patients was 57.0 months. A complete response was achieved in 121 patients (88%). Of these, 36 (30%) developed a cancer recurrence during follow-up. The first sites of recurrence were located in intra-RT fields in nine, outside RT fields in 20, and both in seven patients. In the intra-RT field group, all patients showed a local recurrence, while no one experienced an isolated pelvic lymph node (PLN) recurrence. In the outside RT field group, the most frequent site of recurrence was lung (60%), and three-quarters of patients were free from intra-RT field recurrence until the last follow-up. Of the entire cohort, including 48 PLN-positive patients, only seven patients (5.1%) developed PLN persistence or recurrence, all in the common iliac, internal iliac, and/or obturator nodes, and all with another synchronous relapse. CONCLUSION: Local disease was a major type of intra-RT field recurrence, while PLN control was favorable even in initially PLN-positive patients. The predominance of outside RT field recurrence alone highlights issues concerning distant control, including the intensity enhancement of systematic therapy.
Adenocarcinoma/drug therapy/*radiotherapy/secondary ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use ; Brachytherapy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/drug therapy/*radiotherapy/secondary ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Disease-Free Survival ; Dose Fractionation ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms/*secondary ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*diagnosis ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/drug therapy/pathology/*radiotherapy

PURPOSE: This study aimed to assess the effects of body mass index (BMI) on survival in cervical cancer patients who had undergone surgery and radiotherapy (RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 70 cervical cancer patients who underwent surgery and RT from 2007 to 2012. Among them, 40 patients (57.1%) had pelvic lymph node metastases at the time of diagnosis. Sixty-seven patients (95.7%) had received chemotherapy. All patients had undergone surgery and postoperative RT. Median BMI of patients was 22.8 kg/m² (range, 17.7 to 35.9 kg/m²). RESULTS: The median duration of follow-up was 52.3 months (range, 16 to 107 months). Twenty-four patients (34.3%) showed recurrence. Local failure, regional lymph nodal failure, and distant failure occurred in 4 (5.7%), 6 (8.6%), and 17 (24.3%) patients, respectively. The 5-year actuarial pelvic control rate was 83.4%. The 5-year cancer-specific survival (CSS) and disease-free survival (DFS) rates were 85.1% and 65.0%, respectively. The presence of pelvic lymph node metastases (n = 30) and being overweight or obese (n = 34, BMI ≥ 23 kg/m²) were poor prognostic factors for CSS (p = 0.003 and p = 0.045, respectively). Of these, pelvic lymph node metastasis was an independent prognostic factor (p = 0.030) for CSS. CONCLUSION: Overweight or obese cervical cancer patients showed poorer survival outcomes than normal weight or underweight patients. Weight control seems to be important in cervical cancer patients to improve clinical outcomes.
Body Mass Index ; Body Weight* ; Diagnosis ; Disease-Free Survival ; Drug Therapy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Obesity ; Overweight ; Radiotherapy* ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Thinness ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) histogram analysis for predicting tumor recurrence in patients with uterine cervical cancer treated with chemoradiation therapy (CRT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Our institutional review board approved this retrospective study and waived informed consent from each patient. Forty-two patients (mean age, 56 +/- 14 years) with biopsy-proven uterine cervical squamous cell carcinoma who underwent both pre-treatment pelvic magnetic resonance imaging with a 3.0 T magnetic resonance scanner and concurrent CRT were included. All patients were followed-up for more than 6 months (mean, 36.4 +/- 11.9 months; range 9.0-52.8 months) after completion of CRT. Baseline ADC parameters (mean ADC, 25th percentile, 50th percentile, and 75th percentile ADC values) of tumors were calculated and compared between the recurrence and no recurrence groups. RESULTS: In the recurrence group, the mean ADC and 75th percentile ADC values of tumors were significantly higher than those of the no recurrence group (p = 0.043 and p = 0.008, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the 75th percentile ADC value of tumors was a significant predictor for tumor recurrence (p = 0.009; hazard ratio, 1.319). When the cut-off value of the 75th percentile ADC (0.936 x 10-3 mm2/sec) was used, the overall recurrence free survival rate above the cut-off value was significantly lower than that below the cut-off value (51.9% vs. 91.7%, p = 0.003, log-rank test). CONCLUSION: Pre-CRT ADC histogram analysis may serve as a biomarker for predicting tumor recurrence in patients with uterine cervical cancer treated with CRT.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Antineoplastic Agents/*therapeutic use ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell/*diagnosis/drug therapy/radiotherapy ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local/*diagnosis ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms/*diagnosis/drug therapy/radiotherapy

Stewart-Treves syndrome (STS) is a rare cutaneous angiosarcoma that develops in chronic lymphedema. The majority of STS is described in the upper extremity after aggressive locoregional therapy for breast cancer and is rarely reported in lower extremities. A 68-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of multiple purpuric tumorous plaques and nodules on the right posterior thigh. She had a history of radical hysterectomy with lymph node dissection and postoperative radiotherapy due to uterine cervical cancer 16 years ago. She received right total hip replacement surgery due to hip joint avascular necrosis 14 years ago. She had suffered from chronic leg edema, especially on the right side. Skin biopsy on the right posterior thigh showed irregular vascular channels lined by atypical endothelial cells. Special stains showed positivity for CD31, CD34, factor VIII, and D2~40, which are pan-vascular or lymphatic markers. She showed a pelvic mass and pelvic bone metastasis on radiologic staging work-up. She refused all treatment, including surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, except for pain control. She died 2 months after diagnosis of this highly malignant tumor. The lymphedema on both lower extremities after uterine cervical cancer treatment was aggravated especially on the right lower extremity after right total hip replacement surgery. Increased weight of the right lower extremity resulted in 4 episodes of recurrent hip dislocation. We contend that these multiple factors (uterine cervical cancer treatment, total hip replacement surgery on the right side, and recurrent hip dislocations) attributed to development of Stewart-Treves syndrome. We herein report a case of Stewart-Treves syndrome of the lower extremity following chronic leg lymphedema after uterine cervical cancer treatment and hip surgery.
Aged ; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip* ; Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Coloring Agents ; Diagnosis ; Drug Therapy ; Edema ; Endothelial Cells ; Factor VIII ; Female ; Hemangiosarcoma ; Hip ; Hip Dislocation ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Hysterectomy* ; Leg ; Lower Extremity* ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymphedema ; Necrosis ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvic Bones ; Radiotherapy ; Skin ; Thigh ; Upper Extremity ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms