Dealing with premature menopause in women at high-risk for hereditary genital and breast cancer

Risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy is the mainstay of ovarian cancer prevention in BRCA mutation carriers. However, premature menopause exerts many short and long-term consequences on the individual health that are preventable with a tailored approach. Even though our level of knowledge on BRCA1 and -2 mutation carriers is still in its infancy, the basic principles governing the management of menopausal symptomatology and the prevention of diseases should be applied, including the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT), approximately until the age of 50. Indeed, short-term HRT significantly ameliorate quality of life and symptoms associated to vulvo-vaginal atrophy, without displaying an adverse effect on oncologic outcomes in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers without a personal history of breast cancer. Premature menopause affects significantly also bone health, cardiovascular parameters and cognition. A standard of care is required in order to identify those women at higher risk of developing chronic conditions at midlife and beyond. Appropriate counseling on both hormonal and non-hormonal treatments is an essential part of a shared decision on the most effective management of women at high-risk for hereditary genital and breast cancer

Single-site Versus Multiport Robotic Hysterectomy in Benign Gynecologic Diseases: A Retrospective Evaluation of Surgical Outcomes and Cost Analysis

Objective: To compare the surgical outcomes and costs of robotic-assisted hysterectomy with the single-site (RSSH) or multiport approach (RH). Design: A retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database (Canadian Task Force classification II1). Setting: A university hospital. Patients: Consecutive women who underwent robotic-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for the treatment of benign gynecologic diseases. Interventions: Data on surgical approach, surgical outcomes, and costs were collected in a prospective database and retrospectively analyzed. Measurements and Main Results: The total operative time, console time, docking time, estimated blood loss, conversion rate, and surgical complications rate were compared between the 2 study groups. Cost analysis was performed. One hundred four patients underwent total robotic-assisted hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (45 RSSH and 59 RH). There was no significant difference in the indications for surgery and in the characteristics of the patients between the 2 study groups. There was no significant difference between the single-site and multiport approach in console time, surgical complication rate, conversion rate, and postoperative pain. The docking time was lower in the RH group (p = .0001). The estimated blood loss and length of hospitalization were lower in the RSSH group (p = .0008 and p = .009, respectively). The cost analysis showed significant differences in favor of RSSH. Conclusion: RSSH should be preferred to RH when hysterectomy is performed for benign disease because it could be at least as equally effective and safe with a potential cost reduction. However, because of the high cost and absence of clear advantages, the robotic approach should be considered only for selected patients

Pathologic Findings at Risk Reducing Surgery in <i>BRCA</i> and Non-<i>BRCA</i> Mutation Carriers: A Single-Center Experience

Risk-reducing surgery (RRS) is recommended in BRCA-mutated carriers because of their increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, while its role is still discussed for women harboring mutations in non-BRCA homologous repair genes. The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the occurrence of pathological findings in a high-risk population undergoing RRS in San Matteo Hospital, Pavia between 2012 and 2022, and correlate their genetic and clinical outcomes, comparing them with a control group. The final cohort of 190 patients included 85 BRCA1, 63 BRCA2, 11 CHEK2, 7 PALB2, 4 ATM, 1 ERCC5, 1 RAD51C, 1 CDH1, 1 MEN1, 1 MLH1 gene mutation carriers and 15 patients with no known mutation but with strong familial risk. Occult invasive serous carcinoma (HGSC) and serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) were diagnosed in 12 (6.3%) women, all of them BRCA carriers. No neoplastic lesion was diagnosed in the non-BRCA group, in women with familial risk, or in the control group. Oral contraceptive use and age ≤45 at surgery were both found to be favorable factors. While p53 signature and serous tubal intraepithelial lesion (STIL) were also seen in the control group and in non-BRCA carriers, STIC and HGSC were only found in BRCA1/2 mutation carriers