Clinicopathologic and protein markers distinguishing the “polymerase epsilon exonuclease” from the “copy number low” subtype of endometrial cancer / 부인종양

Objective@#The need to perform genetic sequencing to diagnose the polymerase epsilon exonuclease (POLE) subtype of endometrial cancer (EC) hinders the adoption of molecular classification. We investigated clinicopathologic and protein markers that distinguish the POLE from the copy number (CN)-low subtype in EC. @*Methods@#Ninety-one samples (15 POLE, 76 CN-low) were selected from The Cancer Genome Atlas EC dataset. Clinicopathologic and normalized reverse phase protein array expression data were analyzed for associations with the subtypes. A logistic model including selected markers was constructed by stepwise selection using area under the curve (AUC) from 5-fold cross-validation (CV). The selected markers were validated using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in a separate cohort. @*Results@#Body mass index (BMI) and tumor grade were significantly associated with the POLE subtype. With BMI and tumor grade as covariates, 5 proteins were associated with the EC subtypes. The stepwise selection method identified BMI, cyclin B1, caspase 8, and X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1) as markers distinguishing the POLE from the CN-low subtype. The mean of CV AUC, sensitivity, specificity, and balanced accuracy of the selected model were 0.97, 0.91, 0.87, and 0.89, respectively. IHC validation showed that cyclin B1 expression was significantly higher in the POLE than in the CN-low subtype and receiver operating characteristic curve of cyclin B1 expression in IHC revealed AUC of 0.683. @*Conclusion@#BMI and expression of cyclin B1, caspase 8, and XBP1 are candidate markers distinguishing the POLE from the CN-low subtype. Cyclin B1 IHC may replace POLE sequencing in molecular classification of EC.

Enhanced Efficacy of Combined Therapy with Checkpoint Kinase 1 Inhibitor and Rucaparib via Regulation of Rad51 Expression in BRCA Wild-Type Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to evaluate anticancer effects of combination treatment with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibitors in BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer. PARP inhibitors can function as DNA-damaging agents in BRCA wild-type cancer, even if clinical activity is limited. Most epithelial ovarian cancers are characterized by a TP53 mutation causing dysfunction at the G1/S checkpoint, which makes tumor cells highly dependent on Chk1-mediated G/M phase cell-cycle arrest for DNA repair. @*Materials and Methods@#We investigated the anticancer effects of combination treatment with prexasertib (LY2606368), a selective ATP competitive small molecule inhibitor of Chk1 and Chk2, and rucaparib, a PARP inhibitor, in BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR3 and SKOV3). @*Results@#We found that combined treatment significantly decreased cell viability in all cell lines and induced greater DNA damage and apoptosis than in the control and/or using monotherapies. Moreover, we found that prexasertib significantly inhibited homologous recombination–mediated DNA repair and thus showed a marked anticancer effect in combination treatment with rucaparib. The anticancer mechanism of prexasertib and rucaparib was considered to be caused by an impaired G2/M checkpoint due to prexasertib treatment, which forced mitotic catastrophe in the presence of rucaparib. @*Conclusion@#Our results suggest a novel effective therapeutic strategy for BRCA wild-type epithelial ovarian cancer using a combination of Chk1 and PARP inhibitors.

Enhanced Efficacy of Combined Therapy with Checkpoint Kinase 1 Inhibitor and Rucaparib via Regulation of Rad51 Expression in BRCA Wild-Type Epithelial Ovarian Cancer Cells / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

Purpose@#This study aimed to evaluate anticancer effects of combination treatment with poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) inhibitors in BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer. PARP inhibitors can function as DNA-damaging agents in BRCA wild-type cancer, even if clinical activity is limited. Most epithelial ovarian cancers are characterized by a TP53 mutation causing dysfunction at the G1/S checkpoint, which makes tumor cells highly dependent on Chk1-mediated G/M phase cell-cycle arrest for DNA repair. @*Materials and Methods@#We investigated the anticancer effects of combination treatment with prexasertib (LY2606368), a selective ATP competitive small molecule inhibitor of Chk1 and Chk2, and rucaparib, a PARP inhibitor, in BRCA wild-type ovarian cancer cell lines (OVCAR3 and SKOV3). @*Results@#We found that combined treatment significantly decreased cell viability in all cell lines and induced greater DNA damage and apoptosis than in the control and/or using monotherapies. Moreover, we found that prexasertib significantly inhibited homologous recombination–mediated DNA repair and thus showed a marked anticancer effect in combination treatment with rucaparib. The anticancer mechanism of prexasertib and rucaparib was considered to be caused by an impaired G2/M checkpoint due to prexasertib treatment, which forced mitotic catastrophe in the presence of rucaparib. @*Conclusion@#Our results suggest a novel effective therapeutic strategy for BRCA wild-type epithelial ovarian cancer using a combination of Chk1 and PARP inhibitors.

Clinical features that affect the number of pelvic lymph nodes harvested in patients with cervical cancer stage IB1 to IIA2

Objective@#To investigate clinical features that affect the number of pelvic lymph nodes (PLNs) harvested and prognostic significance of the number of PLNs removed in patients with stage IB1 to IIA2 cervical cancer. @*Methods@#Data from patients with cervical cancer whom underwent hysterectomy with PLN dissection between June 2004 and July 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Data on clinicopathologic factors including age, height, and weight were collected. Data on the presence of PLN metastasis on imaging studies prior to surgery, number of PLNs harvested, and presence of metastasis in the harvested PLNs were retrieved from medical records. Clinical features associated with the number of PLNs harvested were analyzed. Disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) according to the number of PLNs harvested were analyzed. @*Results@#During the study period, 210 patients were included. The height and weight of patients and preoperative positive positron emission tomography findings were significantly associated with a higher number of PLNs harvested. As a pathologic factor, larger tumor size was associated with a higher number of PLNs harvested. Furthermore, a higher number of PLNs harvested was associated with a higher number of metastatic PLNs and patients undergoing postoperative concurrent chemoradiation therapy. Patient height and tumor size were independent factors affecting the number of PLNs harvested in multivariate analysis. However, the number of PLNs harvested was not associated with DFS or OS. @*Conclusion@#The number of PLNs harvested during surgery was associated with patient height; however, this was not related to the prognosis of the disease.

Pathologic discrepancies between colposcopy-directed biopsy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure of the uterine cervix in women with cytologic high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate pathologic discrepancies between colposcopy-directed biopsy (CDB) of the cervix and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) in women with cytologic high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs).@*METHODS@#We retrospectively identified 297 patients who underwent both CDB and LEEP for HSILs in cervical cytology between 2015 and 2018, and compared their pathologic results. Considering the LEEP to be the gold standard, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of CDB for identifying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 2 and 3, adenocarcinoma in situ, and cancer (HSIL+). We also performed age subgroup analyses.@*RESULTS@#Among the study population, 90.9% (270/297) had pathologic HSIL+ using the LEEP. The diagnostic performance of CDB for identifying HSIL+ was as follows: sensitivity, 87.8%; specificity, 59.3%; balanced accuracy, 73.6%; positive predictive value, 95.6%; and negative predictive value, 32.7%. Thirty-three false negative cases of CDB included CIN2,3 (n=29) and cervical cancer (n=4). The pathologic HSIL+ rate in patients with HSIL− by CDB was 67.3% (33/49). CDB exhibited a significant difference in the diagnosis of HSIL+ compared to LEEP in all patients (p<0.001). In age subgroup analyses, age groups <35 years and 35–50 years showed good agreement with the entire data set (p=0.496 and p=0.406, respectively), while age group ≥50 years did not (p=0.036).@*CONCLUSION@#A significant pathologic discrepancy was observed between CDB and LEEP results in women with cytologic HSILs. The diagnostic inaccuracy of CDB increased in those ≥50 years of age.

Use of a ring retractor to facilitate specimen removal in laparoscopic surgery

Objective@#To introduce a new surgical technique for specimen removal during laparoscopic surgery. @*Methods@#The surgical technique was described, pictured, and recorded. The surgery was performed in a tertiary hospital. @*Results@#During laparoscopic surgery, the specimen is resected from the surrounding tissues and contained in a specimen bag to prevent spillage. The edges of the bag are then pulled through the trocar site, and the specimen—protected by the bag—is removed. To facilitate the removal process and to prevent spillage, assistants will normally hold the edges of the bag during the process. To mitigate the need for assistants to hold the edges of the bag, we wrapped the pulled edges of the bag around a ring retractor, which is a plastic ring, to straighten the bag. This technique enabled the operator to remove the specimen without needing an assistant. @*Conclusion@#The technique we describe here, using a ring retractor for specimen removal, is useful when assistants are unavailable to help during laparoscopic surgery.

Pathologic discrepancies between colposcopy-directed biopsy and loop electrosurgical excision procedure of the uterine cervix in women with cytologic high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: To investigate pathologic discrepancies between colposcopy-directed biopsy (CDB) of the cervix and loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) in women with cytologic high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSILs).METHODS: We retrospectively identified 297 patients who underwent both CDB and LEEP for HSILs in cervical cytology between 2015 and 2018, and compared their pathologic results. Considering the LEEP to be the gold standard, we evaluated the diagnostic performance of CDB for identifying cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grades 2 and 3, adenocarcinoma in situ, and cancer (HSIL+). We also performed age subgroup analyses.RESULTS: Among the study population, 90.9% (270/297) had pathologic HSIL+ using the LEEP. The diagnostic performance of CDB for identifying HSIL+ was as follows: sensitivity, 87.8%; specificity, 59.3%; balanced accuracy, 73.6%; positive predictive value, 95.6%; and negative predictive value, 32.7%. Thirty-three false negative cases of CDB included CIN2,3 (n=29) and cervical cancer (n=4). The pathologic HSIL+ rate in patients with HSIL− by CDB was 67.3% (33/49). CDB exhibited a significant difference in the diagnosis of HSIL+ compared to LEEP in all patients (p<0.001). In age subgroup analyses, age groups <35 years and 35–50 years showed good agreement with the entire data set (p=0.496 and p=0.406, respectively), while age group ≥50 years did not (p=0.036).CONCLUSION: A significant pathologic discrepancy was observed between CDB and LEEP results in women with cytologic HSILs. The diagnostic inaccuracy of CDB increased in those ≥50 years of age.

Use of a ring retractor to facilitate specimen removal in laparoscopic surgery

Objective@#To introduce a new surgical technique for specimen removal during laparoscopic surgery. @*Methods@#The surgical technique was described, pictured, and recorded. The surgery was performed in a tertiary hospital. @*Results@#During laparoscopic surgery, the specimen is resected from the surrounding tissues and contained in a specimen bag to prevent spillage. The edges of the bag are then pulled through the trocar site, and the specimen—protected by the bag—is removed. To facilitate the removal process and to prevent spillage, assistants will normally hold the edges of the bag during the process. To mitigate the need for assistants to hold the edges of the bag, we wrapped the pulled edges of the bag around a ring retractor, which is a plastic ring, to straighten the bag. This technique enabled the operator to remove the specimen without needing an assistant. @*Conclusion@#The technique we describe here, using a ring retractor for specimen removal, is useful when assistants are unavailable to help during laparoscopic surgery.

Long-term survival after intraperitoneal chemotherapy with paclitaxel-cisplatin for recurrent primary peritoneal cancer resistant to multiple lines of intravenous chemotherapy

The long-term survival of heavily pretreated patients with primary peritoneal cancer (PPC) is uncommon. Here, we report on a patient with PPC refractory to multiple lines of intravenous chemotherapy, namely, a combined regimen of paclitaxel and carboplatin, and single regimens of topotecan, docetaxel, cisplatin, and gemcitabine. However, after intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy with paclitaxel-cisplatin, the patient's condition improved, and she has been progression-free for more than 4 years. Interestingly, before the IP chemotherapy, the recurrences were limited to the peritoneal cavity. These results suggest that IP recurrence might be a predictor of a good response to IP chemotherapy.

Nomogram predicting risk of lymphocele in gynecologic cancer patients undergoing pelvic lymph node dissection

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to estimate the risk of postoperative lymphocele development after lymphadenectomy in gynecologic cancer patients through establishing a nomogram. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 371 consecutive gynecologic cancer patients undergoing lymphadenectomy between 2009 and 2014. Association of the development of postoperative lymphocele with clinical characteristics was evaluated in univariate and multivariate regression analyses. Nomograms were built based on the data of multivariate analysis using R-software. RESULTS: Mean age at the operation was 50.8±11.1 years. Postoperative lymphocele was found in 70 (18.9%) patients. Of them, 22 (31.4%) had complicated one. Multivariate analysis revealed that hypertension (hazard ratio [HR], 3.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.5 to 6.0; P=0.003), open surgery (HR, 3.2; 95% CI, 1.4 to 7.1; P=0.004), retrieved lymph nodes (LNs) >21 (HR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.3; P=0.042), and no use of intermittent pneumatic compression (HR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.0 to 7.2; P=0.047) were independent risk factors for the development of postoperative lymphocele. The nomogram appeared to be accurate and predicted the lymphocele development better than chance (concordance index, 0.754). For complicated lymphoceles, most variables which have shown significant association with general lymphocele lost the statistical significance, except hypertension (P=0.011) and mean number of retrieved LNs (29.5 vs. 21.1; P=0.001). A nomogram for complicated lymphocele showed similar predictive accuracy (concordance index, 0.727). CONCLUSION: We developed a nomogram to predict the risk of lymphocele in gynecologic cancer patients on the basis of readily obtained clinical variables. External validation of this nomogram in different group of patients is needed.

Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy Compared to Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone Agonists in Premenopausal Hormone Receptor?Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer Patients Treated with Aromatase Inhibitors / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: Although combining aromatase inhibitors (AI) with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) is becoming more common, it is still not clear if GnRHa is as effective as bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data of 66 premenopausal patients with hormone receptor– positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative recurrent and metastatic breast cancer who had been treated with AIs in combination with GnRHa or BSO between 2002 and 2015. RESULTS: The median patient age was 44 years. Overall, 24 (36%) received BSO and 42 (64%) received GnRHa. The clinical benefit rate was higher in the BSO group than in the GnRHa group (88% vs. 69%, p=0.092). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was longer in the BSO group, although statistical significance was not reached (17.2 months vs. 13.3 months, p=0.245). When propensity score matching was performed, the median PFS was 17.2 months for the BSO group and 8.2 months for the GnRHa group (p=0.137). Multivariate analyses revealed that the luminal B subtype (hazard ratio, 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08 to 2.60; p=0.022) and later-line treatment (≥ third line vs. first line; hazard ratio, 3.24; 95% CI, 1.59 to 6.59; p=0.001) were independent predictive factors for a shorter PFS. Incomplete ovarian suppression was observed in a subset of GnRHa-treated patients whose disease showed progression, with E2 levels higher than 21 pg/mL. CONCLUSION: Both BSO and GnRHa were found to be effective in our AI-treated premenopausal metastatic breast cancer patient cohort. However, further studies in larger populations are needed to determine if BSO is superior to GnRHa.

Practice guidelines for management of uterine corpus cancer in Korea: a Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology Consensus Statement / 부인종양

Clinical practice guidelines for gynecologic cancers have been developed by many organizations. Although these guidelines have much in common in terms of the practice of standard of care for uterine corpus cancer, practice guidelines that reflect the characteristics of patients and healthcare and insurance systems are needed for each country. The Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology (KSGO) published the first edition of practice guidelines for gynecologic cancer treatment in late 2006; the second edition was released in July 2010 as an evidence-based recommendation. The Guidelines Revision Committee was established in 2015 and decided to produce the third edition of the guidelines as an advanced form based on evidence-based medicine, considering up-to-date clinical trials and abundant qualified Korean data. These guidelines cover screening, surgery, adjuvant treatment, and advanced and recurrent disease with respect to endometrial carcinoma and uterine sarcoma. The committee members and many gynecologic oncologists derived key questions from the discussion, and a number of relevant scientific literatures were reviewed in advance. Recommendations for each specific question were developed by the consensus conference, and they are summarized here, together with other details. The objective of these practice guidelines is to establish standard policies on issues in clinical areas related to the management of uterine corpus cancer based on the findings in published papers to date and the consensus of experts as a KSGO Consensus Statement.

Simple mathematical formulae for estimation of median values of fetal biometry at each gestational age

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to propose simple mathematical formulae to estimate median values of fetal biometry including biparietal diameter (BPD), abdominal circumference (AC) and femur length (FL) at each gestational age (GA) easily without looking up the previously established reference values. METHODS: Simple mathematical formulae to estimate median values of fetal biometric values at each gestational week were inferred. To validate these formulae, three different linear equations were derived from previously reported reference values of median BPD, AC and FL using regression analysis at each gestational week. Finally, calculated data through the inferred formula were compared to retrospectively collected data (observed data). RESULTS: The equation revealing the relationship between BPD and GA was: median BPD (cm)=GA (wk)/4. Using this simple mathematical formula, the absolute percentage error between observed data and calculated data ranged from 0.12% to 7.50%. The equation between AC and GA was: median AC (cm)=GA (wk)-5. Through this formula, the absolute percentage error was analyzed same as above and it ranged from 0.30% to 4.76%. Lastly the derived formula between FL and GA was: median FL (cm)=GA (wk)/5 and the absolute percentage error ranged from 4.52% to 16.75%. CONCLUSION: The three simple formulae suggested in our study showed a significantly easy way to estimate the median values of fetal biometry at each gestational week with good reliability.

Prognostic Value of Log Odds of Positive Lymph Nodes after Radical Surgery Followed by Adjuvant Treatment in High-Risk Cervical Cancer / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to compare the prognostic efficacy of the number and location of positive lymph nodes (LN), LN ratio (LNR), and log odds of positive LNs (LODDs) in high-risk cervical cancer treated with radical surgery and adjuvant treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty high-risk patients who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic node dissection followed by adjuvant treatment were analyzed retrospectively. The patients had International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IA2-IIB. Upper LN is defined as common iliac or higher LN, and LNR is the ratio of positive LNs to harvested LNs. LODDs is log odds between positive LNs and negative LNs. Radiotherapy was delivered to the whole pelvis with median 50.4 Gy/28 Fx± to the para-aortic regions. Platinum-based chemotherapy was used in most patients (93%). The median follow-up duration was 80 months. RESULTS: The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rate was 76.1%, and the overall survival (OS) rate was 86.4%. Treatment failure occurred in 11 patients, and distant failure (DF) was the dominant pattern (90.9%). In univariate analysis, significantly lower DFSwas observed in patients with perineural invasion, ≥ 2 LN metastases, LNR ≥ 10%, upper LN metastasis, and ≥ -1.05 LODDs. In multivariate analysis, ≥ -1.05 LODDs was the only significant factor for DFS (p=0.011). Of patients with LODDs ≥ -1.05, 40.9% experienced DF. LODDs was the only significant prognostic factor for OS as well (p=0.006). CONCLUSION: LODDs ≥ -1.05 was the only significant prognostic factor for both DFS and OS. In patients with LODDs ≥ -1.05, intensified chemotherapy might be required, considering the high rate of DF.

Systemic Inflammatory Response Markers and CA-125 Levels in Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma: A Two Center Cohort Study / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: We compared the predictive and prognostic values of leukocyte differential counts, systemic inflammatory (SIR) markers and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) levels, and identified the most useful marker in patients with ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 109 patients with OCCC who did not have any inflammatory conditions except endometriosis, and underwent primary debulking surgery between 1997 and 2012. Leukocyte differential counts (neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, eosinophil, basophil, and platelet), SIR markers including neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte to lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR), and CA-125 levels were estimated to select potential markers for clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Among potential markers (neutrophil, monocyte, platelet, NLR, MLR, PLR, and CA-125 levels) selected by stepwise comparison, CA-125 levels were best at predicting advanced stage disease, suboptimal debulking and platinum-resistance (cut-off values, > or = 46.5, > or = 11.45, and > or = 66.4 U/mL; accuracies, 69.4%, 78.7%, and 68.5%) while PLR > or = 205.4 predicted non-complete response (CR; accuracy, 71.6%) most accurately. Moreover, PLR < 205.4 was an independent factor for the reduced risk of non-CR (adjusted odds ratio, 0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.04 to 0.69), and NLR < 2.8 was a favorable factor for improved progression-free survival (PFS; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.99) despite lack of a marker for overall survival among the potential markers. CONCLUSION: CA-125 levels may be the most useful marker for predicting advanced-stage disease. Suboptimal debulking and platinum-resistance, and PLR and NLR may be most effective to predict non-CR and PFS in patients with OCCC.

Impact of age on the false negative rate of human papillomavirus DNA test in patients with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance

OBJECTIVE: Human papillomavirus (HPV) test was incorporated into the triage of lesser abnormal cervical cytologies: atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS) or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL). This study aimed to evaluate the impact of age on the efficacy of HPV testing in patients with lesser abnormal cervical cytologies. METHODS: A total of 439 patients with ASCUS or LSIL were included. The association between age groups and the diagnostic performances of HPV test for high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2+) was evaluated. RESULTS: Median age was 44 years (range, 17 to 75 years). ASCUS was more frequently observed in older patients while LSIL was more common in younger patients (P=0.002). CIN2+ was found in 11.3% (32/284) of the ASCUS patients and 12.9% (20/155) of patients with LSIL. Older patients with ASCUS showed lower HPV infection rates (P=0.025), but not LSIL (P=0.114). However, the prevalence of CIN2+ was similar between the age groups with ASCUS or LSIL. In patients with ASCUS, the false negative rate of HPV test for CIN2+ was 6.2%. The false negative rate of the HPV test became higher with increasing of the age after the age of 50 (P=0.034). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that false negative rate of the HPV test for CIN2+ in ASCUS patients older than 50 years might become higher with increasing of the age. Negative HPV results in patients of the age >50 years with ASCUS should be carefully interpreted.

Efficacy of methotrexate therapy in patients with tubal pregnancy and a serum human chorionic gonadotropin level above 10,000 IU/L / 대한생식의학회지

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the failure rate of medical treatment and to identify variables associated with treatment failure in patients with tubal pregnancy and an initial serum level of human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) over 10,000 IU/L. METHODS: The inclusion criteria were tubal pregnancy diagnosed using ultrasonography, primary treatment of intramuscular methotrexate injection at one of the four institutions between January 2003 and December 2011, a serum HCG level within two days before treatment>10,000 IU/L, and follow-up data to determine treatment success or failure. Exclusion criteria were other primary treatments besides intramuscular methotrexate injection. The clinicopathologic data of 36 patients were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: Medical treatment failed and surgery was performed in 19 (53%) patients. In univariable analysis, age, parity, and size of the gestational sac were associated with treatment failure, but none of the variables were associated with treatment failure in multivariable analysis. The failure rate in the subgroup with age or =1.1 cm was significantly higher than those of the other subgroups (82% vs. 41% [mean of the other subgroups], respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients with a serum HCG level>10,000 IU/L who received medical treatment had a high failure rate. Among them, patients aged or =1.1 cm had an extremely high failure rate.

Association of nursing-documented ambulation with length of stay following total laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease

OBJECTIVE: The objective was to examine the association of postoperative physical activity with length of stay in patients who received total laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign gynecologic disease. METHODS: The case group was composed of 70 patients who entered a critical pathway for elective total laparoscopic hysterectomy from 2009 to 2012 and were discharged behind schedule. The control group was selected from patients who were discharged on schedule, and matched to cases using 1:3 ratio propensity score matching. We compared the number of nursing-documented ambulation of the case group with that of control group. RESULTS: Year of surgery, age, body mass index, endometriosis, systemic disease, previous abdominal surgery and current medication were well balanced between case and control groups. The number of patients with nursing-documented ambulation in case group (19%) was not different from that in control group (11%). CONCLUSION: Postoperative physical activity measured by nursing-documented ambulation was not associated with length of stay in patients who underwent an elective total laparoscopic hysterectomy for benign gynecologic diseases.

Effect of myoma size on failure of thermal balloon ablation or levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system treatment in women with menorrhagia

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to identify variables associated with treatment failure in women with menorrhagia who were treated with thermal balloon ablation (TBA) or levonorgestrel releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS), and to determine if there are subgroups where one treatment type is more effective than the other. METHODS: The study included 106 women with menorrhagia who were treated with TBA or LNG-IUS at the study institute between January 2003 and December 2007, with a follow-up period greater than 12 months. Data were collected by retrospective review of medical records. Treatment failure was defined as persistent or recurrent menorrhagia within one year after treatment or hysterectomy at any time during follow-up. The relationships between variables and treatment outcome were analyzed using the chi-square or Fisher's exact test. The treatment outcome of TBA was compared with LNG-IUS. RESULTS: Sixty-seven women were treated with TBA and 39 women were managed with LNG-IUS. Fifty-two women had a myoma > or =2.5 cm. Treatment failure was observed in 24 women (2 recurrent or persistent menorrhagia and 22 hysterectomies) and myoma size (> or =2.5 cm vs. <2.5 cm) was associated with treatment outcome. TBA and LNG-IUS showed similar treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION: A large myoma is a risk factor for treatment failure in women with menorrhagia treated with TBA or LNG-IUS.

The actual circumstances of blood loss in the laparoscopic myomectomy: Anemia after laparoscopic myomectomy / 대한산부인과내시경학회지

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to assess the actual circumstances of post-operative anemia and associating factors, during the laparoscopic myomectomy. METHODS: A retrospective chart review of 172 patients who underwent laparoscopic myomectomy from 2008 to 2009 was performed. Characteristics of patients (age, parity, body mass index, and preoperative gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists injection) and fibroids (the largest diameter, number, width, type and location), and surgical outcomes (operating time, pre- and post-operative hemoglobin level, blood loss, hospital stay, and complications, including transfusion) were retrieved. RESULTS: One patient (0.6 %) required transfusion and significant hemoglobin change (> or =2.0 g/dL) occurred in 45 patients, after laparoscopic myomectomy. The largest diameter, width, type, and location of fibroids, and pre-operative gonadotropin releasing hormone agonist injection were not associated with the hemoglobin change (p=0.193, 0.172, 0.764, 0.741, and 0.954 respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that nulliparity (p=0.195, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.286-1.291) was not a risk factor, but long operating time (> or =90 min; p=0.048, 95% CI: 1.008-5.054) and multiple myoma (> or =3 in number; p=0.009, 95% CI: 1.320-6.717) were independent risk factors for significant hemoglobin change. CONCLUSION: In our data, symptomatic anemia after laparoscopic myomectomy was uncommon. In addition, the only useful predictive factor for hemoglobin change during the laparoscopic myomectomy was a multiplicity of myoma.