„Niche” a divertuculum of the myometrial cesarean section scar – etiology, diagnostics and symptoms

„Niche”, nowoopisywane w polskiej literaturze powikłanie po cięciu cesarskim, definiowane jest jako trójkątny bezechowy ubytek mięśniówki macicy w miejscu jej blizny po przebytym cięciu cesarskim wykonanym typowo w dolnym odcinku. Celem pracy jest zebranie danych literaturowych na temat rozpoznawania i objawów ubytku w bliźnie macicy po cięciu cesarskim. Diagnostyka tego zjawiska obejmuje badania obrazowe: ultrasonografię dopochwową umożliwiającą lokalizację blizny, oraz ultrasonografię z użyciem środka kontrastowego (sonohisterografię), stanowiącą metodę z wyboru do oceny głębokości lub wielkości ubytku, grubości mięśniówki nad nim oraz całkowitej grubości mięśniówki. Nie do końca jasne są przyczyny powstawania ubytku w bliźnie macicy, chociaż sugeruje się oddziaływanie wielu czynników, takich jak te związane z techniką zamykania warstwowego rany trzonu macicy, z wykształcaniem się dolnego odcinka trzonu macicy lub związane z procesem gojenia ran. Ubytek w bliźnie może stanowić problem kliniczny, objawiający się nieprawidłowymi krwawieniami macicznymi, bólami podbrzusza, niepłodnością, zaburzeniami mikcji oraz powikłaniami położniczymi stanowiącymi problem mogący zagrażać życiu i zdrowiu zarówno ciężarnej, jak i płodu. Wciąż niewyjaśniona jest sugerowana zależność między obecnością ubytku a powstawaniem powikłań w następnych ciążach jak rozejście blizny macicy w okresie okołoporodowym i umiejscowienie elementów jaja płodowego w okolicy ubytku.Niche, a newly described in the polish literature cesarean section complication, is defined as a triangular anechoic deficient of the uterine myometrium localized in the site of the scar after the incision of a typically performed low-transverse cesarean delivery. The aim of the paper is to provide an overview of the available literature on the diagnosis and symptoms of niche. Diagnostic evaluation of the niche comprises of visual diagnostic methods: transvaginal ultrasonography to localize the cesarean scar and contrast-enhanced sonography as the method of choice for measuring the depth of the niche, the residual myometrium thickness and the total myometrial thickness. The mechanisms of niche development have not yet been revealed, although, as suggested, it may be a coincidence of many factors as: closure technique, development of the lower uterine segment or location of the incision and wound healing. The symptoms related to the presence of a niche are: abnormal uterine bleeding, lower abdominal pain, infertility, urination problems and obstetrical complications which may be life-threatening for both the women and the fetus. The suggested relation between the niche and the occurrence of complications in future pregnancies, as uterine rupture and implantation of the gestational sack in the site of the diverticulum, are still unexplained

The influence of depth of marker administration on sentinel node detection in cervical cancer

BACKGROUND: Regional lymph node surgical management is an integral part of cervical cancer therapy. In gynaecological oncology, recent studies have confirmed the utility of the sentinel node concept in vulvar and cervical cancer. The method of the marker’s administration is considered to play an important role in sentinel node detection. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 60 patients with cervical cancer (stage IB–IIA) underwent SLN detection during radical abdominal hysterectomy. The patients were randomly divided into two groups: the first group of 30 patients with 0.5–1cm deep marker injection, the second with sub-epithelial marker injection. Gamma-camera scanning, as well as hand-held probe detection was applied. RESULTS: All hot nodes visualised on lymphoscintigraphy were “hot” when using the hand-held gamma probe. Deep marker injection revealed a sentinel node in 27 patients (90%) on both sides, in 3 patients (10%) only on one side. Only 40 (67%) sentinel nodes were blue-stained. Sub-epithelial marker administration revealed a sentinel node on both sides in all 30 patients (100%). In 28 patients (93.3%) the sentinel nodes were radioactive and blue-stained, in one case not-blue stained on either side, in one case blue stained only on one side. CONCLUSIONS: The sentinel node detection rate in cervical cancer is relatively high and depends on the applied technique. The superficial administration of radiocolloid and the blue dye into the cervix provides a higher sentinel node detection rate than deep administration in cervical cancer patients

The role of sentinel node detection techniques in vulvar and cervical cancer

The sentinel node is the first lymph node that receives the lymph drainage from the primary tumour. The pathological status of the sentinel node should reflect the histopathology of the entire regional lymph drainage area — both vulvar and cervical cancer spread through the lymphatic system. In gynaecological oncology recent studies have confirmed the utility of the sentinel node concept in vulvar and cervical cancer. Three techniques for sentinel node localisation are available. The preoperative lymphoscintigraphy and intraoperative handheld gamma probe detection require the administration of the technetium-99m-labelled colloid around the tumour. The other method is based on the injection of the patent blue dye — during the surgery of the sentinel node because of the dye uptake becomes visible. Following detection, the sentinel lymph node can be removed separately and assessed with ultrastaging and immunohistochemical staining. In the early stages of vulvar and cervical cancer the lymph nodes metastases rate is relatively low — in most cases lymphadenectomy is not necessary. The determination of the regional lymph nodes’ pathological status may limit the extent of the surgical treatment. The sentinel node detection rate is relatively high and depends on the applied technique. This technique may play an important role in the treatment of vulvar and cervical cancer. This paper describes the details of sentinel node identification and reviews the literature

Evaluation of sentinel node detection in vulvar cancer

BACKGROUND: In vulvar cancer, in a large portion of patients with early stages of the disease, the inguinal lymphadenectomy not only does not influence the overall survival and recurrence rate but may increase the incidence of complications. Sentinel lymph node (SN) detection is a promising technique for detecting groin lymph nodes, which may in future lead to less extensive use of surgical treatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility of the sentinel node detection technique in patients with vulvar cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between the years 2003 and 2005, we performed intraoperative lymphatic mapping on 10 patients with planoepithelial vulvar cancer. In eight cases, vulvar lesion was localized centrally, around the clitoris. The extent of the surgery included radical vulvectomy with bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy in nine cases and unilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy in one case. For the lymphatic mapping, we employed two detection methods: 99mTc-labelled radiocolloid (activity 35-70 MBq) and blue dye (3-5 ml). Both techniques were used in six cases (60%), blue dye only in three cases and radiocolloid only in one case. RESULTS: In each patient, we detected at least one sentinel lymph node. Sentinel nodes were localized in 14 of 19 operated groins (73.7%); a total of 25 SNs in all. The mean number of SNs for one groin was 1.78. Nodal metastases were found in four cases. In three cases, metastases were detected only in the SN. In one patient, two SNs with metastases were found in one groin and in the contralateral groin (without any SN) there was one unchanged node, which transpired to be metastatic. This can be explained by a complete overgrowth of neoplasm in the lymph node resulting in lymph flow stasis and disabling tracer uptake. In five cases, an SN was found only in one groin ó the first case is described above, in the second case the vulvar tumor was localized laterally, opposite to the groin without any SN. In the remaining three cases, we have used only one method of SN detection. CONCLUSIONS: Lymphatic mapping in vulvar cancer based on the combined detection technique is a highly accurate method after adequate training of the surgeons

Sentinel lymph node detection with the use of SPECT-CT in endometrial cancer – analysis of two cases

On the basis of two cases we discuss the important issues regarding the sentinel lymph node detection biopsy (SLNB) in endometrial cancer with combined cervical administration of the radiocolloid and the subserosal blue dye injection. The first patient (endometrioid adenocarcinoma G2, invasion >50% myometrium) had 4 SLNs detected. Three were both hot and blue (detected on SPECT-CT). The fourth, paraaortic SLN was blue only. None of the lymph nodes contained metatstases. The second patient (endometrioid adenocarcinoma G1, invasion >50% myometrium) had 4 SLNs detected. Three were blue (but two of them had also very low radioactivity). The fourth SLN was hot only. Blue only node contained macrometastasis. In the past patients underwent cervical amputation. Diverse distribution of each tracer confirms the advantages of the combined tracers administration in SLNB. The radiotracer is the crucial component - uptake was present in 6 of 8 SLNs. Although the blue dye is more a complimentary method, its suberosal injection significantly increases the safety of the SLNB procedure. In the first case we have detected blue only SLN in paraaortic region which otherwise would be missed using the cervical approach only. More importantly, in the second case the tracer uptake was very limited due to the previous surgery and the blue dye administration allowed correct SLNs detection (including the metastatic node). Presented clinical cases confirms that the combined cervical and subserosal tracers administration together with preoperative SPECT-CT constitute an optimal SLN detection method and correctly provides information about the regional lymph node status

Metody określające chemiowrażliwość komórek raka jajnika in vitro – perspektywy na przyszłość

Individualization of treatment on the basis of in vitro chemosensitivity testing constitutes one of the aims of contemporary oncology. Although previous studies report advantages resulting from chemosensitivity laboratory tests, the issue remains an area of interest. The aim of this study was to discuss chemosensitivity assay methods of ovarian cancer cells. ATP-TCA (ATP-based tumor chemosensitivity assay) is the most investigated chemosensitivity test in ovarian cancer, with well-documented efficacy. Potentially, it is possible to use the xCELLigence system to evaluate chemosensitivity of ovarian cancer cells by measuring their colony volume but application of this method remains in the experimental phase. Optimization of ovarian cancer treatment would improve chemotherapy results, thus increasing the overall survival, improving the quality of patient life, decreasing chemotherapy-related toxicity and resulting in economic benefits owing to better drug use.Indywidualizacja leczenia chorych poprzez ocenę chemiowrażliwości komórek nowotworowych in vitro to jeden z głównych celów współczesnej onkologii. Dotychczasowe dane donoszą o korzyściach płynących ze stosowania testów laboratoryjnych określających chemiowrażliwość nowotworów złośliwych, niemniej jednak pozostaje to nadal kwestią otwartą. Niniejsze opracowanie ma na celu przedstawienie metod oceny wrażliwości komórek raka jajnika na stosowane obecnie cytostatyki. Metodą dotychczas najlepiej poznaną, o udokumentowanej skuteczności jest technika ATP-TCA (ang. ATP-based tumour chemosensitivity assay). Potencjalną możliwość badania wrażliwości komórek nowotworowych na chemioterapię stwarza ocena wielkości kolonii komórek raka jajnika na analizatorze xCELLigence. Zastosowanie tej metody w ocenie chemiowrażliwości pozostaje jednak w fazie badań. Optymalizacja leczenia chorych z rakiem jajnika za pomocą testów in vitro mogłaby w przyszłości poprawić wyniki leczenia, a więc i wydłużyć czas przeżycia oraz poprawić jakość życia chorych, zmniejszyć narażenie na przedłużoną, często uporczywą chemioterapię, a także pozwoliłaby na lepsze wykorzystanie cytostatyków pod względem ekonomicznym