Development and validation of novel digitalized cervicography system

OBJECTIVE: Digital cervicography systems would be expected to reduce the costs of film cervicography, and provide the opportunity for "telemedicine-based" screening. We aimed to develop web-based digital cervicography system, and validate it compared with conventional film cervicography. METHODS: A hundred cases from five centers were prospectively included, and cervical images (analogue, digitalized by scanning analogue, and digital) were taken separately using both analogue (Cerviscope) and digital camera (Dr. Cervicam) in each patient. Nine specialists evaluated the three kinds of images of each case with time interval between evaluations of each image. To validate novel digitalized system, we analyzed intra-observer variance among evaluation results of three kinds of images. RESULTS: Sixty-three cases were finally analyzed after excluding technically defective cases that cannot be evaluable on analogue images. The generalized kappa for analogue versus digital image was 0.83, for analogue versus scanned image 0.72, and for digital versus scanned image was 0.71; all were in excellent consensus. CONCLUSION: Digitalized cervicography system can be substituted for the film cervicography very reliably, and can be used as a promising telemedicine tool for cervical cancer screening.

Erratum: Author Correction

The author list should be corrected.

Serous borderline tumor of the fallopian tube

Serous borderline tumors of the ovary are fairly common, making up between 4% and 14% of ovarian epithelial tumors. While to our knowledge serous borderline tumor of the fallopian tube occurs rarely with only ten previously reported cases in literature. We report the case of the serous borderline tumor of the fallopian tumor in a 25-year-old woman and review the literature.

Establishment of a Korea HPV cohort study / 부인종양

We have designed a five-year multicentre prospective cohort study in women who are both human papillomavirus (HPV)-positive with either atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) of cervix. This study aimed to analyze the risk of developing a high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) from either ASCUS or LSIL in HPV-positive women, so called 'progression' rate, to investigate differences in the progression rates according to HPV type-specific infection, and to evaluate the various factors associated with the persistence or clearance of HPV infection in the Korean population. At present, the study protocol composed of cervical cytology, HPV DNA testing, and questionnaire have been conducted actively since the first participant was enrolled in 2010. This study is the first nationwide Korea HPV cohort study. Our data will provide valuable information about not only the ambiguous cytology results of ASCUS and LSIL but also the effect of the specific HPV type and other various factors on the progression to HSIL. Finally, the results of our study will be helpful and applicable to determine the primary cervical cancer prevention strategies.

Clinical Usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the Detection of Early Recurrence in Treated Cervical Cancer Patients with Unexplained Elevation of Serum Tumor Markers / 전남의대학술지

We investigated the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for restaging of treated uterine cervix squamous cell cancer with tumor maker elevation that was not explained by other conventional evaluation. We enrolled 32 cases who underwent PET/CT for the restaging of treated cervical cancer with tumor marker elevation that was not explained by recent conventional evaluation. All enrolled cases had squamous cell carcinoma. Increased tumor markers included squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). PET/CT findings were determined by pathologic confirmation or clinical follow-up. We compared PET/CT accuracy and clinical parameters including normalization of tumor markers in both the SCC Ag elevation group and the CEA elevation group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PET/CT in detecting recurrence were 100%, 83.3%, 82.4%, and 100%, respectively. Accuracy was significantly different between the SCC Ag elevation group and the CEA elevation group (p=0.0169). PET/CT with SCC Ag elevation was more accurate (100%) than PET/CT with CEA elevation (66.7%). Normalization of tumor markers was observed more often in the SCC Ag elevation group than in the CEA elevation group (p=0.0429). PET/CT showed high negative predictive value and sensitivity in the restaging of cervical cancer with unexplained tumor marker elevation. PET/CT was more accurate in patients with SCC Ag elevation than in those with CEA elevation.

Clinical Usefulness of 18F-FDG PET/CT in the Detection of Early Recurrence in Treated Cervical Cancer Patients with Unexplained Elevation of Serum Tumor Markers / 전남의대학술지

We investigated the diagnostic value of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) for restaging of treated uterine cervix squamous cell cancer with tumor maker elevation that was not explained by other conventional evaluation. We enrolled 32 cases who underwent PET/CT for the restaging of treated cervical cancer with tumor marker elevation that was not explained by recent conventional evaluation. All enrolled cases had squamous cell carcinoma. Increased tumor markers included squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC Ag) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA). PET/CT findings were determined by pathologic confirmation or clinical follow-up. We compared PET/CT accuracy and clinical parameters including normalization of tumor markers in both the SCC Ag elevation group and the CEA elevation group. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of PET/CT in detecting recurrence were 100%, 83.3%, 82.4%, and 100%, respectively. Accuracy was significantly different between the SCC Ag elevation group and the CEA elevation group (p=0.0169). PET/CT with SCC Ag elevation was more accurate (100%) than PET/CT with CEA elevation (66.7%). Normalization of tumor markers was observed more often in the SCC Ag elevation group than in the CEA elevation group (p=0.0429). PET/CT showed high negative predictive value and sensitivity in the restaging of cervical cancer with unexplained tumor marker elevation. PET/CT was more accurate in patients with SCC Ag elevation than in those with CEA elevation.

Prognostic value of serum CA-125 in patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer followed by complete remission after adjuvant chemotherapy

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of serum CA-125 in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with complete remission after primary adjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: We reviewed the records of 120 patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent primary surgery followed by adjuvant therapy at our institution between January 1998 and December 2005. RESULTS: The median progression free survival was 21.6 months and 12.5 months in patients with nadir CA-125 levels 35 U/mL, respectively, after first cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy. CONCLUSION: Serum CA-125 level after the first cycle of adjuvant chemotherapy is a strong independent prognostic factor for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer with complete response.

A sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary with masculinization in a premenarchal girl / 소아과

A sclerosing stromal tumor of the ovary is an extremely rare benign tumor; it usually is found during the second and third decades of life. Patients present with pelvic pain or a palpable abdominal mass. Hormonal effects such as masculinization are uncommon. Here, an 11-year old premenarchal girl presented with deepening of the voice. In addition, clitoromegaly and hirsutism with a male suprapubic hair pattern were observed. The laboratory findings showed that the testosterone level was elevated to 3.67 ng/mL, andostenedione to above 10 ng/mL, dehydroepiandrosterone-sulfate to 346 microg/dL and 17-hydroxy progesterone (17-OHP) to 11.28 ng/mL. The chromosome evaluation revealed a 46,XX female karyotype. An adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test was performed. The 17-OHP to cortisol ratio in 30 minutes was 0.045, which suggested a heterozygote for the 21-hydroxylase deficiency. However, the CYP21A2 gene encoding steroid 21-hydroxylase showed normal. The pelvic ultrasound showed a heterogeneous mass consisting of predominantly solid tissue in the pelvic cavity. The pelvic magnetic resonance imaging revealed an 8.9x6.2x6.6 cm mass of the left ovary. A left oophrectomy was performed and microscopic examination confirmed a sclerosing stromal tumor. Immunohistochemical studies showed that the tumor was positive for smooth muscle actin and vimentin, but negative for S-100 protein and cytokeratin. Following surgery, the hormone levels returned to the normal range and the hirsutism resolved.

Vaccination with a Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-Adjuvanted Cervical Cancer Vaccine in Korean Girls Aged 10-14 Years

The human papillomavirus (HPV)-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted cervical cancer vaccine has been demonstrated to be highly efficacious and immunogenic with a favorable safety profile. This study assessed the immunogenicity and safety of the HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine in healthy Korean girls aged 10-14 yr. This multi-center, observer-blind trial randomly assigned 321 healthy girls to receive three doses (0, 1, 6-month schedule) of HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine or hepatitis A vaccine. Immunogenicity against vaccine antigens was assessed one month post-Dose 3. Solicited and unsolicited adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs (SAEs) were recorded. In the according-to-protocol analysis, all initially seronegative subjects vaccinated with the HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine had seroconverted at Month 7, with a peak geometric mean titer (GMT) that was 600-fold higher than the natural infection titer of 29.8 EU/mL for HPV-16 and a peak GMT that was 400-fold higher than the natural infection titer of 22.6 EU/mL for HPV-18. The vaccine was well tolerated with no increase in reactogenicity with subsequent doses and no reports of vaccine-related SAEs. In conclusion, the HPV-16/18 AS04-adjuvanted vaccine is shown to be highly immunogenic and generally well-tolerated in Korean girls aged 10-14 yr.

A case of giant fibroepithelial polyp of the vulva / 대한산부인과학회지

Fibroepithelial polyps are benign soft tissue tumors that occur in a wide variety of sites, including the lower female genital tract. They exhibit a wide range of morphologic appearances and can be misinterpreted as malignant. A 16-year-old woman presented with a 28x27 cm polypoid lesion localized on the right labium. The labial lesion was resected and recurred 6 years following the initial treatment. The histologic findings of the initial and recurrent lesions were consistent with fibroepithelial polyps. We present a case of a fibroepithelial polyp that is larger than any previously described lesion and recurred lesion with a brief review of the literature.

Erratum

No abstract available.

Vaginal evisceration after radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiation / 부인종양

Vaginal evisceration is a rare complication after a hysterectomy, especially a radical hysterectomy. Up to now, there have only been three cases of transvaginal evisceration after radical hysterectomy reported in the English literature. We report one case of transvaginal evisceration occurring after radical hysterectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy for stage IIA cervical cancer, with a brief review of the literature.

Successful full-term delivery after abdominal radical trachelectomy and concurrent cervicoisthmic cerclage for early stage cervical cancer: Two cases / 대한산부인과학회지

Since the screening tool was introduced, the incidence and mortality of cervical carcinoma has decreased. However, the incidence of early stage cervical cancer is increasing in young women who want to preserve their fertility. The risk of preterm delivery after trachelectomy is high and remains problematic. Herein we report two patients who had successful full-term delivery after abdominal radical trachelectomy and concurrent cervicoisthmic cerclage for early stage cervical cancer.

Diagnostic role of HPV DNA chip test in patient with atypical glandular cell cytology / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to identify the diagnostic role of HPV DNA chip test that may predict high grade lesions in gladular cell abnormalities on cervical cytology. METHODS: This study was performed in 88 patients, who were reported for atypical glandular cells on liquid-based cytologic test and was done subsequent cervical biopsies in Chonnam National University Hospital, between January 2003 and June 2007. HPV DNA chip test was performed on residual material of previous liquid-based cytologic test. And it was compared with pathologic results. RESULTS: Of the 88 patients with atypical glandular cells, the distribution was as follows: 60 patients were reported as atypical glandular cells, not otherwise specified (AGC, NOS), 28 patients were reported as atypical glandular cells, favor neoplastics (AGC, favor neoplastics). Of the 88 patients with an AGC result, pathologic results were as follows: 47 patients (53.4%) had a clinically significant high grade lesions. Of this high grade lesions, 5 cases of high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, CIN 2 & CIN 3 (83.4%, 5/6), 2 cases of SCC (66.7%, 2/3), 4 cases of AIS (80.0%, 4/5), and 11 cases of endocervical adenocarcinoma (69%, 11/16) were positive on HPV DNA chip test. The sensitivity of human papilloma virus positivity to predict the presence of high grade lesion in cervix was 73.3%, specificity 85.3%, positive predictive value 78.5%, and negative predictive value 81.3%. There were 16 patients with endometrial cancer. Only 3 patients were HPV DNA chip positive. CONCLUSION: HPV DNA detection was strongly associated with high grade lesions in women with atypical glandular cells on cervical pap smear. These results suggest that although there is no high grade lesion in patients with HPV positive AGC-NOS at initial work-up, meticulous search like cone biopsy should be done to find high grade lesion. If the women with a diagnosis of AGC on pap smear are over 35 years of age and has abnormal utero-vaginal bleeding, this patients needed to be evaluated with endometrial biopsy.

Analysis of HPV-other Samples by Performing HPV DNA Sequencing

BACKGROUND: HPV-other samples are designated as being positive on HPV-PCR, but negative when using specific HPV hybridization probes. We wanted to determine the types on the HPV-other samples by performing sequencing, and to know the pathologic status of the uterine cervix according to the HPV type detected on sequencing. METHODS: For HPV genotying, we used the commercially available HPV DNA Chip test, which contains 15 types of high-risk HPV and 9 types of low-risk HPV. The HPV DNA sequencing was performed for the HPV-other samples of 209 patients who subsequently underwent cervical biopsy. RESULTS: For 204 of the 209 samples, the HPV types detected by sequencing were absent types at used HPV DNA chip. For the remaining 5 samples, sequencing was impossible due to mixed peaks. HPV-81 (19.6%), HPV-61 (18.6%), HPV-62 (16.7%) and HPV-84 (13.9%) were frequently detected. For the HPV-81, -62, -71, and -72 samples, most of the samples displayed normal or LSIL. However, HPV-84 and -61 were more associated with HSIL or worse, as compared to the other types. Conclusion: HPV-81, -61, -62 and -84 were frequently found on sequencing analysis of the HPV-other samples. The pathologic status was diverse, according to the HPV type detected on sequencing.

Hepatocellular Carcinoma Presenting as Uterine Metastasis / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Metastatic extragenital cancer that spreads to the uterus is rare. When it occurs, the extragenital primary disease is often in the breast or gastrointestinal tract. We report here on a case of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) that metastasis to the uterus. The patient was admitted for evaluation of a pelvic mass. The serum alpha-fetoprotein level was highly elevated. Magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen and pelvis showed hepatic and uterine masses. The patient underwent surgical treatment. The histopathologic findings and immunohistochemical staining results of the uterine mass were characteristics of metastatic HCC. The endometrium and both ovaries were free of tumor. Up to now, there have been only two cases of uterine metastasis from HCC reported in the English literature. This case is the first documented instance of a metastatic uterine tumor from HCC that spared both ovaries.

A case of generalized peritonitis secondary to a perforated pyometra in a patient with cervical cancer / 대한산부인과학회지

Spontaneous perforation of the uterus and subsequent generalized peritonitis is an extremely rare complication of pyometra. Although generalized peritonitis secondary to perforated pyometra is rare in patients with an acute abdomen, this condition should be considered in the differential diagnosis. We report a case of a spontaneous uterine perforation of a pyometra in a patient with cervical cancer with brief review of the literature.

Primary Epithelial Ovarian Carcinoma with Gastric Metastasis Mimic Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma rarely metastasizes to the parenchyma of the stomach. A 55-years-old woman presented with epigastric pain and a feeling of fullness for one month. A subsequent contrast-enhanced CT scan demonstrated a 4.5 x 4 cm submucosal mass with focal ulceration in the gastric antrum, and this finding was suggestive of GIST. After gastric antrectomy, the final pathology showed metastatic gastric tumor from a primary ovarian serous carcinoma. Because epithelial ovarian carcinoma is usually spread along the peritoneal surface, stomach involvement is rare. Furthermore, transmural gastric metastasis is very rare in a patient with primary ovarian carcinoma. Until now, there has been no reported case of stomach involvement at presentation in a patient with primary ovarian carcinoma. We present here a case of ovarian carcinoma with gastric metastasis that mimicked GIST.

A clinical study of vaginal myomectomy / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical effectiveness and safety of vaginal myomectomy via colpotomy with analyzing clinical course and postoperative complication. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 59 patients, who underwent vaginal myomectomy between November 1997 and July 2006 in department of gynecology, Chonnam National University Hospital. Operating time, hemoglobin change, postoperative pain, perioperative complication, and days of hospital stay were recorded. RESULTS: Fifty-nine patients were evaluated, mean age of patients was 41.54+/-5.8 years. Mean diameter of the uterine myoma was 6.79+/-1.75 cm. Mean operating time was 66.69+/-34.49 minute. Mean hemoglobin loss was 2.67+/-1.26 g/dL, and mean days of hospital stay was 4.91+/-1.25 days. One patient had febrile morbidity. Only one patient had suffered from retroperitoneal bleeding enough to get on operation. CONCLUSION: Vaginal myomectomy seems to be a feasible and safe surgical procedure. Further randomised studies are needed to compare this procedure with laparotomy and laparoscopy, and vaginal myomectomy is expected to be more effective and generalized surgical procedure.

Clinical study of complications in the surgical management of stress urinary incontinence using Transobturator tape (TOT) / 대한산부인과학회지

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complications of Transobturator tape (TOT) in the surgical treatment for stress urinary incontinence and their management. METHODS: From March 2005 to October 2007, 206 patients diagnosed with stress urinary incontinence were operated using TOT at Chonnam National University Hospital. We reviewed medical records and analyzed the data according to age, parity, menopausal state, concomitant operations and complications. RESULTS: Mean age of the patients was 52.6+/-10.5 years and mean parity was 2.9+/-1.4. 91 patients (44.2%) were in postmenopausal state and 201 patients (97.6%) had other concomitant gynecologic operations. There were no intraoperative complications such as vaginal injury or bladder perforation. Postoperatively, there were 2 cases (1.0%) of vulva hematoma, 6 cases (2.9%) of urinary retention, 4 cases (1.9%) of de novo urgency and 4 cases (1.9%) of vaginal erosion. CONCLUSION: The surgical treatment using TOT is thought to be safe and effective means for the management of stress urinary incontinence. Although rare, complications may occur, therefore surgeons must be aware of the management of each complications.