A recent theory supports that high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer derives from the fimbrial end of the fallopian tube and during the last decade, a few studies have examined the fallopian ...tube cytology. Our study aims to determine the cytomorphological characteristics of both benign and non-benign salpingeal samples, in order to establish fallopian cytology as a valuable diagnostic test for women with high risk for development of ovarian/fallopian/peritoneal cancer.
Our study included patients undergoing salpingoophorectomy or total hysterectomy and salpingoophorectomy for any gynecological pathology. Using a soft brush, fallopian tube smears from the fimbrial end were collected ex vivo. The Cytologists of our Institution described the morphological characteristics of the fallopian cells by adopting a proposed Table, which had a calibration system ranging from 3 to 29. This Table is referred to as the CytoSaLPs Score. Our study compared the two diagnostic cytological methods, the one of the conventional cytology and the other using the CytoSaLPs Score, having as gold standard the tubal's pathological findings.
A total of 230 tubal specimens from 144 patients were included in this study. The Score's mean for the benign and non-benign arm was 12.8 and 18.7 respectively. The cut-off point for both arms was 16.5. The CytoSaLPs Score tool showed significantly higher specificity (87.50% vs. 75.96, p-value < 0.001) and positive predictive value PPV (40.91% vs. 26.47%, p-value < 0.001) compared to conventional cytology. Regarding the accuracy, the Score's superiority is highlighted (86.96% vs. 76.52%, p-value < 0.001).
The evaluation of tubal cytology using the CytoSaLPs Score could be used as a reliable diagnostic method. Further evaluation with larger studies is warranted.
The development of leiomyomas on the grounds of an aplastic/hypoplastic uterus in patients with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome (MRKHS) has been rarely described. We report the first case of ...development of multiple leiomyomas in a patient with MRKHS complicated with pulmonary valve stenosis, and we present a narrative review of the existing literature. A 44-year-old patient with MRKHS attended our clinic because of pelvic pain, which was attributed to a pelvic mass found on ultrasound. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a multinodular mass, indicating either ovarian pathology or the presence of leiomyomas. Exploratory laparotomy was performed, and multiple solid masses on the grounds of two rudimentary uterine buds were observed. Histological analysis revealed multiple leiomyomas arising from parametrial or paratubal tissue. We searched medical databases for articles relevant to leiomyomas and MRKHS. We present a review of the current literature and summarize the clinical manifestation, diagnosis, management, and histopathological findings of all the cases described. We underline that it is important for gynecologists to be aware of this rare clinical entity, and symptomatic leiomyomas cannot be excluded in patients with MRKHS.
Uterine angiolipoleiomyomas are rare, benign mixed mesenchymal lesions. A manifestation in the gynecological region is quite uncommon, with few cases described in the literature so far. We present an ...interesting case of a 59-year-old woman diagnosed with uterine angiolipoleiomyoma, and the results of the conducted systematic review of the literature. The patient presented with a pelvic mass masquerading as a leiomyoma on the ultrasound and postmenopausal vaginal bleeding. At laparotomy, a large uterus was noticed and the histopathology set the diagnosis of angiolipoleiomyoma. Immunohistochemistry revealed negativity for Melan-A and HMB-45 melanoma-specific antibodies and positivity for Van Gieson and orcein histochemical stains.
We systematically reviewed the literature. The eligible articles were those written in English, excluding animal studies and studies reporting angiolipoleiomyomas in other regions beside the uterus. The present case is one of the 10 cases of uterine angiolipoleiomyoma reported in the literature. In 8 out of 11 (72.7%) cases, uterine angiolipoleiomyomas arose from the corpus of the uterus, while in 2 (18.1%) cases they were located at the cervix, and in one case (9%) angiolipoleiomyoma was located in the broad ligament. Concerning symptoms, four of the patients (36.4%) presented with abdominal and pelvic pain, two (18.1%) with postmenopausal vaginal bleeding, one with menometrorrhagia (9%), and one with uterine prolapse and cystocele (9%). Immunohistochemical staining of uterine angiolipoleiomyomas was positive for SMA in 4 patients (36.4%), positive for desmin in 3 cases (27.3%), positive for anti-S-100 protein antibody in 2 patients (18.1%), while in one case (9%) immunopositivity was observed for CD31. Only our case (9%) was also tested for CD34, Van Gieson and orcein, the first of these being negative and the other two positive (at the blood vessels in a specialized pattern). Three of the patients (27.3%) were also tested for HMB-45 and all three were immunonegative.
In order to establish the diagnosis of uterine angiolipoleiomyomas, ultrasonography and additional MRI may help the preoperative prediction of a benign mass. Immunohistochemistry will show strong positivity of alpha-smooth muscle actin and desmin. Complete abdominal hysterectomy is the preferable treatment.
Primary peritoneal serous carcinoma (PPSC) is a rare malignancy, the clinical characteristics of which resemble ovarian serous carcinoma. We present a rare case of PPSC detected by an abnormal ...cervical smear, the first one with an absence of ovarian tissue at the time of the initial diagnosis.
A 59-year-old asymptomatic woman presented with glandular atypia on routine Papanicolaou smear. Endocervical and endometrial curettage showed an adenocarcinoma with focal squamous differentiation and uncertain further classification. The patient had a past surgical history of bilateral salpingoophorectomy due to endometriosis. Abdominal MRI depicted omental multinodularity, great amount of ascites and possible endometrial tumor. The patient underwent total hysterectomy, omentectomy and biopsies of implants on Douglass pouch. Surgical and histological findings were consistent with primary peritoneal serous carcinoma.
Abnormal pap smear could rarely be suggestive of extrauterine malignancies, such as peritoneal cancer.
Panniculectomy combined with gynaecological surgery constitutes an alternative approach for endometrial cancer (EC) in obese patients. The present study aimed to assess the current knowledge ...concerning the safety and efficacy of combining panniculectomy in surgical management of EC. Four electronic databases were systematically searched for articles published up to May 2019. A total of five studies, of which two were non-comparative and three comparative, were included. Meta-analysis of complications among panniculectomy and conventional laparotomy group revealed no difference in either intra- or post-operative complication rates. Moreover, no difference was reported in surgical site complications (p=0.59), while wound breakdown rates were significantly elevated in the laparotomy group (p=0.02). Panniculectomy combined surgery for the management of EC appears to be a safe procedure and results in comparable outcomes compared with conventional laparotomy with regard to complications and improved wound breakdown rates.
Extramedullary relapse of leukemia is encountered more often than in the past. The reason is that leukemia survival rates increase with improved treatment schemes. We present a rare case of ...involvement of the cervix of the uterus in an adult B Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (B-ALL) survivor. Relapses affect various organs but rarely the female genital tract. Nevertheless, in this case, a woman with a history of induced amenorrhea due to treatment for leukemia presented to the gynecologist because of vaginal spotting. Colposcopy evaluation of the vagina/cervix, sonography and cytological and histological sampling established the diagnosis of leukemia relapse in the cervix of the uterus. Under these circumstances, our study highlights the rare extramedullary presentation of leukemia in the cervix of the uterus of a young lady considered to be disease-free and listed for bone marrow transplantation. In this rare case of relapse in the cervix of the uterus, Pap smears alarmed physicians, and radiology examinations assisted the diagnostic workup. Still, only biopsy, microscopic evaluation, and immunohistochemistry studies established the exact diagnosis. Prognosis in the situation of extramedullary disease relapse in the female genital tract was poor, but gynecologists’ high suspicion led to a prompt diagnosis. Survival is in general limited, but together with high suspicion, multidisciplinary team involvement is imperative to improve the reduced chances of survival.
Our aim was to analyse the feasibility of white blood cell and platelet counts along with their ratios as a prognostic factor in patients who underwent surgery for ovarian mass.
We retrospectively ...studied the patients admitted in the Department of Gynaecology due to adnexal mass. The potential association of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte-ratio (NLR), neutrophil-to-monocyte (NMR), platelet-to-lymphocyte (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte (LMR), monocyte-to-platelet, and malignancy was evaluated.
Patients with malignant tumours were found with significantly higher ratios of NLR (
< 0.001) and PLR (
< 0.001) and lower LMR ratio (
< 0.001) compared to those with benign tumours. Furthermore, higher lymphocyte count (
= 0.04) and platelet count (
= 0.004) were found in cancer patients when compared with borderline tumours. No significant variations were detected regarding white blood cell count (
= 0.238), NMR ratio (
= 0.28), platelet-to-neutrophil ratio (
= 0.12), and platelet-to-monocyte ratio (
= 0.34).
Inflammation biomarker ratios can easily and inexpensive assist in distinguishing malignant ovarian tumours from benign ones.
Cancer of the cervix is the fourth most common malignancy among women in the world and the sixth most common among women in Europe. Almost half of patients with an early-stage invasive cervical ...carcinoma are under 40 years of age, while the average age at first pregnancy in European countries is over 28 years. Therefore many women with cervical cancer have not started or completed their family at the time of diagnosis and ask for fertility-sparing surgery. Radical trachelectomy is a safe alternative to standard care (radical hysterectomy) for patients diagnosed with early-stage cervical cancer and is a reasonable choice in well selected cases. We present the case of a 23-year-old patient diagnosed with a cervical adenocarcinoma and treated with abdominal trachelectomy.
•Cervical cancer is currently the fourth most common female malignancy in the world•Almost half of the patients with an early stage disease are under 40 years old.•The average age of first pregnancy in European countries is above 28 years old.•Radical trachelectomy (RT) is a safe and appropriate fertility sparing procedure.•We report a case of a young patient managed with radical abdominal trachelectomy.