Residual tumor and primary debulking surgery vs interval debulking surgery in stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer

INTRODUCTION: It is debated whether women with FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) Stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer should be offered primary debulking surgery (PDS) or interval debulking surgery (IDS). Furthermore, the impact of complete resection of intra‐abdominal disease (R0) despite their extra‐abdominal metastases is questioned. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of intra‐abdominal residual tumor, Stage IVA vs IVB, the localization and number of metastases defining Stage IV disease on overall survival (OS) comparing PDS and IDS in FIGO Stage IV epithelial ovarian cancer. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included 2091 women registered with Stage IIIC–IV ovarian cancer in the Danish Gynecological Cancer Database during 2009–2016. The impact of residual tumor was evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: In total, 681 patients had stage IV disease, of whom 26% underwent PDS, 38% IDS, and 36% chemotherapy only. Overall survival for PDS and IDS were similar. Patients achieving R0 at PDS showed a tendency towards a higher OS than patients achieving R0 at IDS, though the difference was non‐significant. In women with Stage IVA and IVB disease there was a survival benefit in achieving R0 both when treated with PDS and IDS. Women with Stage IVB disease treated with chemotherapy only had a significantly lower OS than patients achieving R0 at both PDS and IDS. Malignant pleural effusion and having five metastatic sites compared with having one was associated with a poorer OS. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows similar OS in patients with Stage IV disease treated with IDS compared with PDS. Complete intra‐abdominal tumor resection improves the prognosis in both PDS and IDS in Stage IV ovarian cancer. Malignant pleural effusion seems to be a negative prognostic factor and should have more focus in future studies

SENTIREC - The sentinel node mapping in women with cervical cancer study:Patient-reported early lymphedema and its impact on quality of life

Objective:  To evaluate patient-reported incidence and severity of early lymphedema and its impact on quality of life (QoL) after sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping only and after SLN and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PL) in women undergoing surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. Methods:  In a national prospective multicenter study, we included women with early-stage cervical cancer from March 2017-January 2021 to undergo radical surgery including SLN mapping. Women with tumors >20 mm underwent completion PL. The incidence and severity of early lymphedema and its influence on QoL were evaluated using validated patient-reported outcome measures before surgery and three months postoperative. We investigated changes over time using linear regression. Results:  Two hundred of 245 (81.6%) included women completed questionnaires at baseline and three months postoperatively. The incidence of early lymphedema was 5.6% (95% CI 2.1-11.8%) and 32.3% (95% CI 22.9-42.7%) in women who underwent SLN mapping only and SLN + PL, respectively. Lymphedema symptoms in the legs, genitals, and groins increased in both groups postoperatively but three times more in women who underwent PL. Lymphedema symptoms after SLN + PL significantly impaired physical performance (p = 0.001) and appearance (p = 0.007). Reporting lymphedema was significantly associated with impaired body image, physical-, role-, and social functioning, and a high level of fatigue. Conclusions:  SLN mapping alone carries a low risk of lymphedema in women undergoing surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. In contrast, completion PL is associated with a high incidence of early lymphedema. Reporting lymphedema is associated with significant impairment of several physical, psychological, and social aspects of QoL

Uterine Healing after Therapeutic Intrauterine Administration of TachoSil (Hemostatic Fleece) in Cesarean Section with Postpartum Hemorrhage Caused by Placenta Previa

Background. Application of hemostatic fleece (TachoSil) directly onto the bleeding surfaces of the lower uterine segment has been used to obtain hemostasis during cesarean section caused by placenta previa. Methods. Eleven of 15 patients treated with TachoSil for excessive postpartum haemorrhage due to placenta previa were enrolled. An evaluation of the cesarean section scar by transvaginal ultrasound, the uterine cavity and endometrium by hysteroscopy, and the endometrium by biopsy were made. The main outcome measures were intrauterine adhesions, recovery of endometrium at the site of TachoSil application, visible remnants of TachoSil, and scar healing. Results. Eight patients had small remnants of TachoSil in the uterine cavity together with signs of resorption. All had a normal endometrial mucosa, and none had adhesions in the uterine cavity. All cesarean section scars were healed without defects. Conclusion. TachoSil did not seem to impair healing of the endometrium or scar formation in the uterus after intrauterine application. Resorption of TachoSil seems to progress individually. Intrauterine treatment with TachoSil is a valuable supplement to the traditional treatment of post partum haemorrhage and may help retain reproductive capability. This is a small study, and it will require more studies to confirm the reproducibility