Objective: Geriatric patients requiring gynecological surgery is increasing worldwide. However, older patients are at higher risk of postoperative morbidity and mortality, particularly cardiopulmonary complications. Laparoscopic surgery is widely used as a minimally invasive method for reducing postoperative morbidities. We compared the outcomes of open and laparoscopic gynecologic surgeries in patients older than 55 years. Methods: We included patients aged >55 years who underwent gynecological surgery at a single tertiary center between 2010 and 2020, excluding vaginal or ovarian cancer surgeries were excluded. Surgical outcomes were compared between the open surgery and laparoscopic groups, with age cutoff was set at 65 years for optimal discriminative power. We performed linear or logistic regression analyses to compare the surgical outcomes according to age and operation type. Results: Among 2,983 patients, 28.6% underwent open surgery and 71.4% underwent laparoscopic surgery. Perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic surgery were better than those of open surgery in all groups. In both the open and laparoscopic surgery groups, the older patients showed worse overall surgical outcomes. However, age-related differences in perioperative outcomes were less severe in the laparoscopic group. In the linear regression analysis, the differences in estimated blood loss, transfusion, and hospital stay between the age groups were smaller in the laparoscopy group. Similar results were observed in cancer-only and benign-only cohorts. Conclusion Although the surgical outcomes were worse in the older patients, the difference between age groups was smaller for laparoscopic surgery. Laparoscopic surgery offers more advantages and safety in patients aged >65 years.

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the effect of waiting time, from diagnosis to initiation of definitive concurrent chemoradiation (CCRT), on overall survival in cervical cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Patients with cervical cancer who were treated with definitive CCRT between 2000 and 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Time from initial pathological diagnosis to definitive CCRT was analyzed both as a continuous variable (per day) and as a categorical variable in two groups (group 1 ≤ median, group 2 > median). Patients with a waiting time of more than 60 days were excluded. Results: The median waiting time was 14 days (0-60). There were differences between group 1 and group 2 in age and chemotherapy regimens. However, no significant difference was found in the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, cell type, or the number of cycles of chemotherapy received during CCRT. A longer waiting time was associated with poorer overall survival on the Kaplan-Meier curve (group 1 vs. group 2, p=0.042). On multivariate analysis, intervals as either a continuous variable (hazard ratio [HR], 1.023; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.006 to 1.040; p=0.007) or a categorical variable (HR, 1.513; 95% CI, 1.073 to 2.134; p=0.018), FIGO stage, cell type, and the number of cycles of chemotherapy received during CCRT were significant independent prognostic factors for overall survival. Conclusion A shorter waiting time from pathological diagnosis to definitive CCRT showed benefit on overall survival. Our findings suggest that an effort to minimize waiting times should be recommended in cervical cancer patients who are candidates for CCRT.

Objective: The recently updated World Health Organization classification divides endocervical adenocarcinomas (ADCs) into human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated (HPVA) and HPV-independent (HPVI) ADCs. This study aimed to investigate the differences in the clinical features and treatment outcomes between patients with HPVA and HPVI. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records and pathology slides of 123 patients with endocervical ADC who underwent radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiation therapy. Tumor characteristics, patterns of failure, and survival outcomes were compared between HPVA and HPVI ADCs. Results: Eighty-one (65.9%) and 42 (34.1%) patients were diagnosed with HPVA and HPVI ADCs, respectively. HPVI ADC showed more frequent positive vaginal resection margin (VRM) and peritoneal seeding than HPVA ADC. After a median follow-up of 58.1 months, local recurrence and distant metastasis were more frequently observed in HPVI ADC than in HPVA ADC. Both local recurrence-free survival (77.3% vs. 91.8%) and distant metastasis-free survival (50.1% vs. 73.7%) rates of HPVI ADC were lower than those of HPVA ADC. Disease-free survival was not significantly different between HPVI and HPVA ADCs. Conclusion We demonstrated that HPVI ADC exhibited higher rates of VRM involvement and peritoneal seeding than those of HPVA ADC, resulting in higher rates of local recurrence and distant metastasis. Further studies with larger populations are warranted to explore optimal treatment strategies based on the histological subtypes of endocervical ADC.

Objective: Unlike cervical squamous cell carcinoma, there are no consensus criteria for serum tumor markers in cervical adenocarcinoma. This study aimed to identify the prognostic value of preoperative carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) levels in cervical adenocarcinoma patients with adverse pathologic features. Methods: A total of 105 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy followed by adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiation therapy were included. Locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using the Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: Using a cutoff value of 50 U/mL, 83 and 22 patients had low- and high-CA125, respectively. Patients with high-CA125 had a larger tumor size, more frequent parametrial extension, and more frequent lymph node metastasis than those with low-CA125. During a median follow-up of 59.3 (interquartile range, 32.7–97.8) months, patients with high-CA125 showed inferior 5-year LRFS, DMFS, and OS rates compared to those with low-CA125 (38.5% vs. 70.0%; 37.0% vs. 69.4%; 43.6% vs. 78.1%, respectively, all p<0.05). In multivariable analysis, the high-CA125 remained significant prognostic factor for LRFS, DMFS, and OS (all p<0.05). Furthermore, 12 patients with high-CA125 at recurrence exhibited lower 5-year OS rates than 21 patients with low-CA125 at recurrence (0.0% vs. 51.3%, p=0.003). Conclusion In this retrospective analysis, the serum CA125 level at diagnosis and recurrence was related to the extent of disease and prognosis of cervical adenocarcinoma with adverse pathologic features. A CA125 level of ≥50 U/mL may be a prognostic surrogate marker for cervical adenocarcinoma in patients with the presence of adverse factors.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the prognostic value of early metabolic response assessed using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) during radiation therapy (RT) for cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: We identified 116 patients treated with definitive RT, including FDG-PET/CT–guided intracavitary brachytherapy, between 2009 and 2018. We calculated parameters including maximum (SUVmax) and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) for baseline FDG-PET/CT (PETbase) and image-guided brachytherapy planning FDG-PET/CT (PETIGBT). Multivariable analyses of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were performed. Results: We observed a time-dependent decrease in PET parameters between PETbase and PETIGBT; ΔSUVmax, ΔSUVmean, ΔMTV, and ΔTLG were 65%, 61%, 78%, and 93%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 59.5 months, the 5-year DFS and OS rates were 66% and 79%, respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that ΔSUVmax ≥ 50% was associated with favorable DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14 to 5.77) and OS (HR, 5.14; 95% CI, 1.55 to 17.01). Patients with ΔSUVmax ≥ 50% (n=87) showed better DFS and OS than those with ΔSUVmax < 50% (n=29) (DFS, 76% vs. 35%, p < 0.001; OS, 90% vs. 41%, p < 0.001, respectively). Adenocarcinoma was frequently observed in ΔSUVmax < 50% compared to ΔSUVmax ≥ 50% (27.6% vs. 10.3%, p=0.003). In addition, models incorporating metabolic parameters showed improved accuracy for predicting DFS (p=0.012) and OS (p=0.004) than models with clinicopathologic factors. Conclusion Changes in metabolic parameters, especially those in SUVmax by > 50%, can help improve survival outcome predictions for patients with cervical cancer treated with definitive RT.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the prognostic value of early metabolic response assessed using 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) during radiation therapy (RT) for cervical cancer. Materials and Methods: We identified 116 patients treated with definitive RT, including FDG-PET/CT–guided intracavitary brachytherapy, between 2009 and 2018. We calculated parameters including maximum (SUVmax) and mean standardized uptake values (SUVmean), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) for baseline FDG-PET/CT (PETbase) and image-guided brachytherapy planning FDG-PET/CT (PETIGBT). Multivariable analyses of disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were performed. Results: We observed a time-dependent decrease in PET parameters between PETbase and PETIGBT; ΔSUVmax, ΔSUVmean, ΔMTV, and ΔTLG were 65%, 61%, 78%, and 93%, respectively. With a median follow-up of 59.5 months, the 5-year DFS and OS rates were 66% and 79%, respectively. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that ΔSUVmax ≥ 50% was associated with favorable DFS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.56; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14 to 5.77) and OS (HR, 5.14; 95% CI, 1.55 to 17.01). Patients with ΔSUVmax ≥ 50% (n=87) showed better DFS and OS than those with ΔSUVmax < 50% (n=29) (DFS, 76% vs. 35%, p < 0.001; OS, 90% vs. 41%, p < 0.001, respectively). Adenocarcinoma was frequently observed in ΔSUVmax < 50% compared to ΔSUVmax ≥ 50% (27.6% vs. 10.3%, p=0.003). In addition, models incorporating metabolic parameters showed improved accuracy for predicting DFS (p=0.012) and OS (p=0.004) than models with clinicopathologic factors. Conclusion Changes in metabolic parameters, especially those in SUVmax by > 50%, can help improve survival outcome predictions for patients with cervical cancer treated with definitive RT.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy of a pulmonary recruitment maneuver using lower airway pressure (30 cm H2O) and intraperitoneal bupivacaine, alone or in combination, for reducing shoulder pain after gynecologic laparoscopy.METHODS: A prospective controlled study was performed in a teaching hospital with patients who underwent elective gynecologic laparoscopic surgery. Two hundred eighty-seven patients were randomized into 1 of 4 groups: group A, placebo; group B, intraperitoneal instillation of bupivacaine; group C, CO2 removal by a pulmonary recruitment maneuver; group D, combination of intraperitoneal bupivacaine and pulmonary recruitment maneuver. The interventions were performed at the end of surgery. Shoulder pain was recorded on a visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hours postoperatively.RESULTS: The overall incidence of shoulder pain was 49.8% and the incidence tended to gradually decrease from group A to group D (59.0% in group A, 54.8% in group B, 44.4% in group C, and 41.5% in group D; P=0.026). In addition, the VAS scores gradually decreased from group A to D, although a statistically significant difference was only found at 6 hours postoperatively (P=0.03). There were no complications related to the interventions.CONCLUSION: The combination of a pulmonary recruitment maneuver with intraperitoneal bupivacaine significantly reduced shoulder pain after gynecologic laparoscopy.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01039441

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the long-term outcomes, including the pregnancy outcome and recurrence rate after single-port laparoscopic myomectomy (LM) using a modified suture technique with a Hem-o-lok clip (Choi's LM) and conventional 4-port LM.METHODS: A retrospective study of patients who underwent Choi's LM (n=55) and 4-port LM (n=102) in a single institutional hospital was conducted. Patients with <3 symptomatic myomas sized <10 cm each and operated on by a single surgeon were included. Recurrence was confirmed when a myoma measuring ≥3 cm was detected.RESULTS: The patients in both groups had similar demographic characteristics. Single (76.4% vs. 62.7%) and intramural (52.7% vs. 56.9%) tumors were commonly detected in both groups in the mean diameter (6.8±1.5 cm vs. 7.0±1.6 cm; P=0.40). In Choi's LM, 16 patients (29.1%) needed an additional port; those who were nulliparous and/or had a large leiomyoma more frequently required an additional port (P=0.023 and 0.04, respectively). During a median follow-up period of 69 months, 17 patients (7.1% vs. 14.6%) had recurrence. The size of dominant myomas at recurrence was significantly smaller in patients who underwent Choi's LM (3.4±0.7 cm vs. 5.7±2.4 cm; P=0.004). All 13 patients in both groups who successfully conceived had a full-term delivery. No major complications occurred during pregnancy.CONCLUSION: Although an additional port was frequently used, the long-term outcomes of patients who experienced recurrence and pregnancy after Choi's LM were acceptable. Considering its usability, Choi's LM is feasible for the treatment of uterine leiomyoma.

Purpose: Lymph node metastasis (LNM) is the most significant prognostic factor in cervical cancerthat was recently incorporated into the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics(FIGO) staging system. This study was performed to evaluate whether the prognosticsignificance of LNM differs according to disease status. Materials and Methods: Patients with FIGO stage IB or higher cervical cancer who had pretreatment computedtomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging studies as well as long-term follow-upwere enrolled in this retrospective study. The hazard ratio (HR) of Cox regression was usedto determine the prognostic significance of LNM. The HRs were compared between the differenttumor groups (based on stage, histology, tumor size, primary treatment, age, parametriuminvolvement, and lymphovascular space invasion). Results: A total of 970 patients treated between January 1999 and December 2007 were included.The pretreatment LNM had prognostic significance in patients with stage IB1/IIA (HR forprogression-free survival 2.10, p=0.001; HR for overall survival 1.99, p=0.005). However,the significance gradually decreased or disappeared with advancing stages. Similarly, theprognostic significance of the pretreatment LNM decreased with advancing disease status,including old age, parametrial involvement or lymphovascular space involvement. In contrast,the tumor size was associated with the prognostic significance of LNM with advancingstatus. The significance of the clinical LNM did not reflect the significance of the clinicalstage. In contrast, the tumor size, parametrial involvement, and significance of the pathologicLNM reflected the clinical stage. Conclusion In patients with cervical cancer, pretreatment LNM on imaging has different clinical significancedepending on the tumor status.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to develop a new prognostic classification for epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients using gradient boosting (GB) and to compare the accuracy of the prognostic model with the conventional statistical method. METHODS: Information of EOC patients from Samsung Medical Center (training cohort, n=1,128) was analyzed to optimize the prognostic model using GB. The performance of the final model was externally validated with patient information from Asan Medical Center (validation cohort, n=229). The area under the curve (AUC) by the GB model was compared to that of the conventional Cox proportional hazard regression analysis (CoxPHR) model. RESULTS: In the training cohort, the AUC of the GB model for predicting second year overall survival (OS), with the highest target value, was 0.830 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.802–0.853). In the validation cohort, the GB model also showed high AUC of 0.843 (95% CI=0.833–0.853). In comparison, the conventional CoxPHR method showed lower AUC (0.668 (95% CI=0.617–0.719) for the training cohort and 0.597 (95% CI=0.474–0.719) for the validation cohort) compared to GB. New classification according to survival probability scores of the GB model identified four distinct prognostic subgroups that showed more discriminately classified prediction than the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging system. CONCLUSION: Our novel GB-guided classification accurately identified the prognostic subgroups of patients with EOC and showed higher accuracy than the conventional method. This approach would be useful for accurate estimation of individual outcomes of EOC patients.
Area Under Curve ; CA-125 Antigen ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Classification ; Cohort Studies ; Gynecology ; Humans ; Machine Learning ; Methods ; Obstetrics ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Prognosis