Discrepancy between clinicoradiological and surgicopathological staging in stage 1 carcinoma endometrium: Identification of risk factors.

INTRODUCTION: Carcinoma endometrium carries an excellent prognosis when diagnosed early. But controversies exist in the management of Ca endometrium confined to the uterus as to whether a complete surgical staging including lymph node dissection is needed always. This may increase unnecessary surgical morbidity for some. On the other hand, if not done it fails to recognize a subset of patients who require adjuvant treatment, thus affecting the outcome. Hence it is very important to categorize the patients to assess the need of complete surgical staging. AIM: The aim of the following study is to identify the risk factors influencing the upstaging of disease in clinicoradiologically stage 1 carcinoma endometrium. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective database evaluation of all cases of clinicoradiologically stage 1 carcinoma endometrium from January 2009 to September 2012. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS: Done using the statistical software SPSS − version 16 for windows (SPSS Inc. 233 South Wacker Drive, 11th Floor Chicago, IL 60606‑6412) Independent samples test (t‑test for equality of means) were done and (two‑tailed) P < 0.05 − were significant. RESULTS: Carcinoma endometrium patients with grade 1, no or < 50% myometrial involvement, <2 cm size and no isthmus involvement had low risk of upstaging. CONCLUSION: Significant upstaging is seen in the present study with per‑operative staging procedures. Until the standardization of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques and reporting, or until a more sensitive non‑invasive technique is devised, staging lymphadenectomy appears to be invaluable in risk assessment and prognosis.

Is hysterectomy needed in ovarian cancer.

Context: Hysterectomy is an integral part of ovarian cancer surgery. The authors have evaluated the uterine involvement in ovarian cancer in this study. Aims : Conventionally, removal of the uterus is considered an essential part of ovarian cancer surgery, but rationale for same in absence of its gross involvement is questionable. Aim of this study was to evaluate the microscopic involvement of uterus in ovarian cancer and whether there are any predictors of uterine involvement. Settings and Design: Retrospective study. Materials and Methods: The authors analyzed 128 patients of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) operated from 2004 January to 2008 June, who had not undergone hysterectomy previously. Data regarding their demographic, clinical, and pathological findings was collected and analyzed. Statistical analysis used: Chi-square test. Results: Most of our patients (n=111) presented with stage III or above. Serous carcinoma was the most common histology encountered (86.7%). Uterus was grossly involved in only 19 patients and microscopic involvement was noted in 20 patients. Only one patient with absence of gross involvement had microscopic disease in the uterus. Involvement of the uterus was found to be independent of stage, type of tumor, laterality, and preoperative chemotherapy. The grade of tumor and gross uterine involvement were only factors that showed statistically significant correlation with microscopic uterine involvement. Only one patient had synchronous endometrial cancer. Conclusions: Uterine involvement in EOC is not common. Absence of gross uterine involvement reliably predicts absence of microscopic disease.

Primary choriocarcinoma of the ovary. Report of two cases.

Primary choriocarcinoma of the ovary (PCO) is rare. This can be gestational (GCO) or nongestational (NGCO) in origin. It is difficult to differentiate between CGO and NGCO. NGCO carries a worse prognosis than GCO. We present two cases of metastatic GCO who were treated successfully with combination chemotherapy and are alive and disease free at the time of reporting.