Electrochemotherapy in vulvar cancer: a systematic review

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Diagnostic Challenge of Invasive Lobular Carcinoma of the Breast: What Is the News? Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Emerging Role of Contrast-Enhanced Spectral Mammography

Invasive lobular carcinoma is the second most common histologic form of breast cancer, representing 5% to 15% of all invasive breast cancers. Due to an insidious proliferative pattern, invasive lobular carcinoma remains clinically and radiologically elusive in many cases. Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MR) is considered the most accurate imaging modality in detecting and staging invasive lobular carcinoma and it is strongly recommended in pre-operative planning for all ILC. Contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is a new diagnostic method that enables the accurate detection of malignant breast lesions similar to that of breast MR. CESM is also a promising breast imaging method for planning surgeries. In this study, we compare the ability of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) with breast MR in the preoperative assessment of the extent of invasive lobular carcinoma. All patients with proven invasive lobular carcinoma treated in our breast cancer center underwent preoperative breast MRI and CESM. Images were reviewed by two dedicated breast radiologists and results were compared to the reference standard histopathology. CESM was similar and in some cases more accurate than breast MR in assessing the extent of disease in invasive lobular cancers. Further evaluation in larger prospective randomized trials is needed to validate our preliminary results

Human amniotic membrane for myocutaneous dehiscence after a radical surgical treatment of vulvar cancer: A case report

Background: The application of the amniotic membrane could have a favourable effect on tissue repair and regeneration. We report the first case of implant of an amniotic membrane in a patient affected by myo-cutaneous dehiscence, after a radical surgical treatment for vulvar cancer. Methods: We describe a case of a 74-years-old patient affected by vulvar cancer. After radiotherapy, the patient underwent to an anterior pelvic exenteration with uretero-ileo-cutaneostomy by Wallace, bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy, omental biopsies, omental flap, bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy, resection of ulcerated left inguinal lesion, reconstruction with left gracilis muscle flap and locoregional V-Y advancement flap. The patient developed a myo-cutaneous dehiscence. Two months after the surgery, following an accurate curettage of the wound and negative pressure therapy, a patch of human amniotic membrane was implanted. Results: The surgical procedure was easy, feasible and did not require long operating room times. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. The results obtained were encouraging with a marked improvement in the surgical wound. Conclusion: the use of amniotic membranes was safely and easily performed to promote the healing of complicated surgical wounds

Axillary nodal metastases from carcinoma of unknown primary (Cupax): Role of contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (cesm) in detecting occult breast cancer

Axillary lymph node metastases of occult breast cancer (CUPAx) is an unusual condition that represents both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. The first steps in the diagnostic work-up of patients with CUPAx are the histological analysis of the lymph node metastasis and the execution of basic breast diagnostic imaging (mammography and ultrasound). In the case of occult breast cancer, breast Magnetic Resonance (MR) must be performed. Breast MR identifies a suspicious lesion in many patients and second-look ultrasound detects a corresponding ultrasound alteration in about half of cases, allowing the performance of a US-guided biopsy. In the case of an MR-only lesion, MR-guided biopsy is mandatory. We present a case of CUPAx in which contrast-enhanced spectral mammography (CESM) is used to help the detection of occult breast cancer and to guide stereotactic vacuum breast biopsy (VABB). CESM is a new breast imaging technique that is proving to have good performance in breast cancer detection and that is showing potential in the identification of occult breast cancer in a CUPAx setting. The use of an innovative and personalized breast imaging approach in breast cancer patients improves diagnostic possibilities and promises to become the focus in decision strategies

Local control in metastatic neuroblastoma in children over 1 year of age

Background: Local control is always considered in metastatic neuroblastoma (NBL). The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact of radical surgery on survival in children over 1 year of age. Methods: Fifty-eight patients older than 1 year of age with metastatic NBL were treated with conventional plus high-dose chemotherapy with or without addition of local radiotherapy (RT, 21Gy). Surgery was classified as radical surgery (complete resection and gross total resection) or non-radical surgery. The Kaplan-Meier method and the Cox proportional hazard model were used to calculate the probability of progression free and overall survival (PFS and OS) and for multivariate analysis. Results: The 5-year PFS and OS for patients with radical surgery were 26% (95% CI 14-40%) and 38% (95% CI 23-53%) respectively, while the PFS and OS for patients without radical surgery were 33% (95% CI 10-59%) and 31% (95% CI 10-55%) (respectively, P 0.85 and P 0.42). The 5-year PFS and OS for patients who received RT were 36% (95% CI 19-53%) and 46% (95% CI 26-64%) respectively, while the 5-year PFS and OS for patients who did not receive RT were 22% (95% CI 9-38%) and 27% (95% CI 13-42%) respectively (P 0.02 for PFS). Multivariate analysis confirmed the role of well-known prognostic factors, such as the presence of MYCN amplification, age and response before high-dose chemotherapy. Conclusions: Our data suggest that the degree of resection does not influence survival in metastatic NBL patients treated with high-dose chemotherapy; local RT contributes to local disease control

Short topotecan-based induction regimen in newly diagnosed high-risk neuroblastoma

Purpose: Topotecan is an active drug in relapsed neuroblastoma. We investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a topotecan-based induction regimen in newly diagnosed neuroblastoma. Methods: Patients older than 1 year with either metastatic or localised stage 2-3 MYCN-amplified neuroblastoma received 2 courses of high-dose topotecan (HD-TPT) 6 mg/m2 and high-dose cyclophosphamide (HD-CPM) 140 mg/kg, followed by 2 courses of ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide (ICE) every 28 days. After surgery on primary tumour, a fifth course with vincristine, doxorubicin and CPM was given, followed by high-dose chemotherapy with stem cell support. Response was assessed in accordance with the International Neuroblastoma Response Criteria. Results: Of 35 consecutive patients, 33 had metastatic disease. The median length of induction phase was 133 days (range 91-207) and time to high-dose chemotherapy was 208 days (range 156-285). The median tumour volume reduction was 55% after two HD-TPT/HD-CPM courses and 80% after four courses. Radical surgery was performed in 16/27 patients after chemotherapy. After the fifth course, 29/34 patients (85%) had achieved a partial remission (12) or a CR/very good partial remission (17). CR of metastases was achieved in 13/32 (41%) and bone marrow was in complete remission in 16/24 patients (67%). Grade 4 neutropenia and/or thrombocytopenia occurred in 100% of HD-TPT/HD-CPM and in 95% of ICE courses, while non-haematological toxicities were manageable. Conclusions: These data indicate that our induction regimen is feasible and well tolerated. A major response rate of 85% with 41% complete metastatic response confirms this regimen as effective induction in high-risk neuroblastoma. © 2011 Published by Elsevier Ltd

Prospective validation of a laparoscopic predictive model for optimal cytoreduction in advanced ovarian carcinoma

Objective: The purpose of this study was to validate the performance of a laparoscopy-based model to predict optimal cytoreduction in advanced ovarian cancer patients. Study Design: In a consecutive prospective series of 113 advanced ovarian cancer patients, the presence of omental cake, peritoneal and diaphragmatic extensive carcinosis, mesenteric retraction, bowel and stomach infiltration, spleen and/or liver superficial metastasis were investigated by laparoscopy. By summing the scores relative to all parameters, a laparoscopic assessment for each patient (total predictive index value = PIV) has been calculated. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and accuracy have been calculated for each PIV. Results: The overall accuracy rate of the laparoscopic procedure ranged between 77.3 and 100%. At a PIV ≥ 8 the probability of optimally resecting the disease at laparotomy is equal to 0, and the rate of unnecessary exploratory laparotomy is 40.5%. Conclusion: The proposed laparoscopic model appears a reliable and flexible tool to predict optimal cytoreduction in advanced ovarian cancer. © 2008 Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved

Role of CT scan-based and clinical evaluation in the preoperative prediction of optimal cytoreduction in advanced ovarian cancer: A prospective trial

Background: In advanced ovarian cancer, maximal efforts have to be attemptedto achieve optimal cytoreduction, as this represents the keystone in the therapeutic management. This large, prospective study aims at investigating the role of computed tomography (CT) scan in predicting the feasibility of optimal cytoreduction in ovarian cancer. Methods: A total of 195 consecutive patients with clinical/radiographic suspicion of advanced ovarian/peritoneal cancer were enrolled at the Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Catholic University of Rome and Campobasso, Italy. Preoperative CT scans were performed with a high-speed scanner (CT Hi Speed Nx/i Pro; 2-slice; GE Medical System). All patients underwent standard laparotomy, and maximal surgical effort was attempted. The following CT parameters were used: peritoneal thickening, peritoneal implants >2 cm, bowel mesentery involvement, omental cake, pelvic sidewall involvement and/or hydroureter, suprarenal aortic lymph nodes >1 cm, infrarenal aortic lymph nodes >2 cm, superficial liver metastases >2 cm and/or intraparenchimal liver metastases any size, large volume ascites (>500 ml). Clinical data included were age, Ca125 serum levels, and ECOG-PS. Radiographic and clinical features exhibiting a specificity >75%, a positive and negative predictive value >50%, an accuracy >60% in predicting surgical outcome were assigned a point value of 2. With this scoring system, a predictive index (PI) was calculated for each patient. Results: The PI scores ranged from 0 to 6, and from 0 to 8, in Model 1 (including only radiographic parameters) and in Model 2 (including radiographic and clinical data). The AUC was 0.78+0.035 in Model 1, and 0.81+0.031 in Model 2. Therefore, the addition of ECOG-PS data led to the improvement of the diagnostic performances (z=2.41, P-value <0.05). Conclusions: Computed scan still represents a valid tool to predict ovarian cancer optimal cytoreduction; the predictive ability of a CT scan-based model is improved by integrating ECOG-PS data. © 2009 Cancer Research UK