Cloacogenic Adenocarcinoma of the Vulva: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Primary adenocarcinoma of the vulva, unrelated to the native glands of perineum is an extremely rare neoplasm. Despite awareness of this lesion for over 40 years, the origin is not beyond speculation. The most reasonable hypothesis is based on the remnants of cloacal differentiation during early days of life. Here we report the case of a 60-year-old patient with a vulvar mass, who underwent partial vulvectomy and bilateral regional lymph node dissection. The tumor was composed of papillary and complex glandular structures and exhibited diffuse positivity for cytokeratin 20 and polyclonal CEA, CDX2, and focal positivity with cytokeratin 7. Unlike the indolent behavior of this malignant neoplasm according to the literature, we found two metastatic inguinal lymph nodes. She did not receive adjuvant therapy and is still alive, free of disease 38 months after surgery. We present different aspects of vulvar adenocarcinomas with a case report

Alternative tumor markers in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the usefulness of various tumor markers (CA125, HE4, bcl2) measured in serum, urine and saliva in the differential diagnosis of adnexal masses. Material and methods: Our study was conducted at the Baskent University Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey, between November 2010 and March 2011. Fifty patients with a suspicion of malignant adnexal mass and 30 controls were included in the study. Serum and urine CA-125, HE4, and bcl2 levels were evaluated for their role in the diagnosis of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). Results: Serum CA-125 and HE4 levels, and urine HE4 levels were significantly higher in malignant cases as compared to controls (p 0.05). Conclusions: We demonstrated that serum CA125, serum HE4 and urine HE4 levels were elevated in patients with ovarian cancer. These findings should be assessed in future studies with larger sample sizes in order to reach more definite conclusions

Survival in recurrent ovarian cancer patients before and after the bevacizumab era: an observational single-centre study

A retrospective observational study was carried out in Baskent University School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. Recurrent ovarian cancer patients treated between 2007 and 2017 were divided into two groups according to their bevacizumab status. The primary endpoints were overall survival (OS) and safety. Three hundred and ninety-six patients enrolled in this study, 200 (50.5%) received bevacizumab while 196 (49.5%) patients never received bevacizumab. The median follow-up time was 48.2 and 47.6 months, respectively. The 5-year OS was 61% and 46%, respectively (p=.007). In multivariate analysis, only platinum-sensitivity (HR: 3.75, 95% CI: 3.0–5.32; p<.001) was identified as independent prognostic factors. In subgroup analyses according to platinum status, bevacizumab did not affect the 5 year OS in platinum sensitive patients (64% versus 68% p=.28) but increased survival in platinum resistant patients (36% versus 44%, p=.00). The rate of grade III–IV haematologic toxicities was 13.7% in the bevacizumab group and 11% in the other group (p=.6).Impact Statement What is already known on this subject? Bevacizumab increases the progression-free survival in platinum-sensitive and resistant recurrent ovarian cancer patients without changing overall survival. What do the results of this study add? Bevacizumab did not affect OS in platinum sensitive recurrent ovarian cancer patients however improved OS in platinum resistant patients with mild toxicity. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? This study emphasised the crucial role of bevacizumab in the treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer patients

The effect of raloxifene on left ventricular hypertrophy in postmenopausal women: A prospective, randomized, and controlled study

Objective: In healthy women, there is a progressive age-related increase in myocardial mass that is not seen in their male counterparts and occurs primarily in postmenopausal women. Raloxifene is a selective estrogen receptor modulator that has estrogenic actions on bone and the cardiovascular system. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of raloxifene on myocardial hypertrophy in postmenopausal patients. Methods: A total of 22 postmenopausal osteoporotic women were included in this open-label, randomized, prospective, controlled study. Patients were randomized into two groups: 11 of the patients (group 1) were treated with raloxifene 60 mg/day, and the other 11 patients (group 2) were defined as the control group. Quantitative 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiographic examination was performed in all patients at the beginning and repeated at the end of the 6-month follow-up period. Left ventricle mass (LVM) and left ventricle mass index (LVMI) were calculated for all patients. Results: The mean age of the patients was 57.2 +/- 3.9 years, and baseline clinical characteristics and echocardiographic parameters were similar between the two groups. After 6 months of raloxifene treatment, there was no difference in echocardiographic parameters of LVM and LVMI compared with the control group (201.2 +/- 25.9 gr vs. 169.7 +/- 46.2 gr, p=0.14 and 120.4 +/- 25.9 gr/m(2) vs. 105.5 +/- 26.3 gr/m(2), p=0.195, respectively). There was also no significant difference in LVM and LVMI in the within-group analysis of both groups. Conclusion: Raloxifene therapy does not affect myocardial hypertrophy in postmenopausal women after 6 months of treatment

Evaluation of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Patients with Strain Echocardiography

Objectives: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by several metabolic abnormalities that may lead to insulin resistance, diabetes, and atherosclerosis which are associated with chronic inflammatory processes and oxidative stress. Due to this fact PCOS patients are at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. We used echocardiographic quantification tools to detect subclinical changes in myocardial functions. Materials and Methods: Echocardiographic, hormonal and metabolic measurements were performed in twenty-six women with PCOS and twenty-three healthy volunteers. The age of the attendants ranged between 20 and 31 years. PCOS was diagnosed by using the Rotterdam criteria. We compared the myocardial functions of PCOS patients without any cardiovascular symptoms with healthy volunteers by using strain echocardiography. Results: No differences were found between the two groups' strain, strain rate and myocardial velocity measurements. Conclusion: According to our study PCOS patients without any clinical cardiovascular symptoms have no impairment in myocardial functions. These results should be further confirmed in larger controlled studies