Added value of intraoperative real-time imaging in searches for difficult-to-locate sentinel nodes.

Localization of sentinel lymph nodes can be challenging if they are in difficult anatomic locations or near high radiotracer activity The purpose of this study was to assess the value of intraoperative real-time imaging using a portable gamma-camera in conjunction with a conventional gamma-counting probe when it is difficult to localize the sentinel node

Comparison of HE4, CA125, ROMA and CPH-I for Preoperative Assessment of Adnexal Tumors

(1) OBJECTIVE: To assess the performance of CA125, HE4, ROMA index and CPH-I index to preoperatively identify epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) or metastatic cancer in the ovary (MCO). (2) METHODS: single center retrospective study, including women with a diagnosis of adnexal mass. We obtained the AUC, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were of HE4, CA125, ROMA and CPH-I for the diagnosis of EOC and MCO. Subgroup analysis for women harboring adnexal masses with inconclusive diagnosis of malignancy by ultrasound features and Stage I EOC was performed. (3) RESULTS: 1071 patients were included, 852 (79.6%) presented benign/borderline tumors and 219 (20.4%) presented EOC/MCO. AUC for HE4 was higher than for CA125 (0.91 vs. 0.87). No differences were seen between AUC of ROMA and CPH-I, but they were both higher than HE4 AUC. None of the tumor markers alone achieved a sensitivity of 90%; HE4 was highly specific (93.5%). ROMA showed a sensitivity and specificity of 91.1% and 84.6% respectively, while CPH-I showed a sensitivity of 91.1% with 79.2% specificity. For patients with inconclusive diagnosis of malignancy by ultrasound features and with Stage I EOC, ROMA showed the best diagnostic performance (4) CONCLUSIONS: ROMA and CPH-I perform better than tumor markers alone to identify patients harboring EOC or MCO. They can be helpful to assess the risk of malignancy of adnexal masses, especially in cases where ultrasonographic diagnosis is challenging (stage I EOC, inconclusive diagnosis of malignancy by ultrasound features)

Primary peritonitis due to Streptococcus pyogenes

Sr. Editor: la peritonitis de origen infeccioso habitualmente es secundaria a procesos patológicos del tracto gastrointestinal o genitourinario y suele ser polimicrobiana. Se denomina peritonitis primaria o espontánea aquélla en la que no se objetiva ninguna causa evidente. Generalmente es de etiología monomicrobiana y se observa en pacientes afectos de cirrosis hepática, síndrome nefrótico o inmunosupresión. Su hallazgo en personas sin ninguna comorbilidad es muy poco frecuente. Los microorganismos causales de peritonitis primaria en pacientes sanos son: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Neisseria meningitidis, Salmonella y Fusobacterium necrophorum. La peritontis primaria por S. pyogenes se observa especialmente en mujeres y puede evolucionar en pocas horas a un síndrome del shock tóxico estreptocócico (SSTE)con fallo multiorgánico secundario..

Added value of intraoperative real-time imaging in searches for difficult-to-locate sentinel nodes.

Localization of sentinel lymph nodes can be challenging if they are in difficult anatomic locations or near high radiotracer activity The purpose of this study was to assess the value of intraoperative real-time imaging using a portable gamma-camera in conjunction with a conventional gamma-counting probe when it is difficult to localize the sentinel node

Oncological Results of Laparoscopically Assisted Radical Vaginal Hysterectomy. Should we really abandon minimal invasive surgeryin early-stage cervical cancer?

Background: Recent evidence indicates that some minimally invasive surgery approaches, such as laparoscopic and robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy, offer lower survival rates to patients with early-stage cervical cancer than open radical hysterectomy. We evaluated the oncological results of a different minimally invasive surgery approach, that of laparoscopically assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy (LARVH) in this setting. Methods: From January 2001 to December 2018, patients with early-stage cervical cancer were treated by LARVH. Colpotomy and initial closure of the vagina were performed following the Schauta operation, avoiding manipulation of the tumor. Laparoscopic sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy was performed in all cases. Women treated between 2001 and 2011 also underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy. Results: There were 115 patients included. Intraoperative complications occurred in nine patients (7.8%). After a median follow-up of 87.8 months (range 1-216), seven women (6%) presented recurrence. Four women died (mortality rate 3.4%). The 3- and 4.5-year disease-free survival rates were 96.7% and 93.5%, respectively, and the overall survival was 97.8% and 94.8%, respectively. Conclusion: LARVH offers excellent disease-free and overall survival in women with early-stage cervical cancer and can be considered as an adequate minimally invasive surgery alternative to open radical hysterectomy