ABSTRACT
Background@#Treatments for cancer have negative impact on fertility. Presently, there are technologies available to preserve the fertility of cancer patients even before gonadotoxic treatment is given. Several clinical practice guidelines on fertility preservation interventions for cancer patients have already been released. Among developed countries, Oncofertility is already an established field of clinical practice.@*Objectives@#This study aims to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of Filipino clinical practitioners on fertility preservation in cancer patients.@*Methodology@#This was a cross-sectional study carried out between June and September 2019 using a self- administered questionnaire. The questionnaires were sent to clinicians (medical oncologists, hematologists, surgical oncologists, and radiation oncologists) who were directly involved in the treatment patients with cancer.@*Results@#There were 213 respondents composed of 91 surgical oncologists (varied subspecialties), 81 medical oncologists, and 41 radiation oncologists. Most of the clinical practitioners, 58-85%, have not encountered patients who have availed of any fertility preservation method. In terms of knowledge, 53-73% of respondents were aware about some fertility preservation options, but had minimal knowledge. Ninety five percent of study participants acknowledged the need for more information on fertility preservation. Majority of clinicians (57%) have never referred to a fertility specialist; and only 38% have referred a patient for fertility preservation. The following factors were cited as barriers to discussion of fertility preservation: lack of knowledge of clinicians, poor success rates of fertility preservation, poor prognosis of patients, and prohibitive costs of treatment.@*Conclusion@#There is an acute need to increase knowledge and awareness about fertility preservation methods and international fertility preservation guidelines among Filipino health practitioners treating cancer patients.
Subject(s)
Fertility Preservation , Comprehensive Health Care , NeoplasmsABSTRACT
@#<p>Background: The recurrence of endometriosis after fertility sparing surgery poses a challenge to clinicians. Presently, no treatment option is curative and available medication only changes the hormonal milieu to suppress or delay disease recurrence.<br />Objective: The aim of this review was to present current literature on recurrent endometriosis including dilemmas in definition, risk factors for recurrence and medical options for the prevention of recurrent endometriosis after surgery.<br />Methods: A review of literature was done using PubMed, EMBASE and HERDIN, with the following keywords: endometriosis, endometrioma, endometriosis-associated pelvic pain, recurrence of endometriosis. The authors identified reviews, trials and guidelines. The population was limited to reproductive-aged women suspected of having endometriosis.<br />Results and Discussion: The recurrence rate of endometriosis after conservative surgery ranges from 7.1-56%. The incidence varies according to the criteria used to define recurrence: relapse of pain, physical examination findings, presence of endometrioma on imaging studies, increase in serum CA-125, and intraoperative findings during repeat surgery. The risk factors for disease recurrence include: young age, high body mass index, large endometriomas at diagnosis, severe pre-operative pain, intraoperative findings of extensive adhesions, and positive surgical margins. The identification of patients at high risk for recurrence will enable clinicians to give appropriate post-surgical therapy to prevent recurrence. The choice of pharmacologic agent after conservative surgery includes: combined hormonal contraceptive pills, progestogens, and GnRH agonist. Although no major difference was seen in the effect of available drugs used to relieve endometriosis- associated pain and prevent disease recurrence, differences exist in safety, tolerability and costs.<br />Conclusion: There is an urgent need to standardize the definition of recurrent endometriosis. Patients should be counselled on the need for long term medical management to delay disease recurrence. A step-wise approach and algorithm in the medical management for the prevention of endometriosis recurrence are proposed.</p>
Subject(s)
Humans , FemaleABSTRACT
Background@#Pelvic ultrasonography is currently not recommended as a screening tool for endometrial cancer, particularly in asymptomatic women; however, its use for other indications such as pelvic masses has led to incidental findings of thickened endometrium in post menopausal women. @*Objectives@#The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical utility of endometrial ultrasound in asymptomatic Filipino postmenopausal women and to provide a threshold for invasive endometrial sampling.@*Methodology@#A cohort of postmenopausal women (aged ?50 years) who underwent pelvic ultrasonography at a tertiary hospital for indications other than vaginal bleeding was retrospectively evaluated. Women were included if they had an endometrial lining of at least 5 mm and had an endometrial biopsy. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to determine the endometrial thickness threshold for which endometrial thickness is able to correctly differentiate benign endometrial pathology from endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma.@*Results@#Out of 90 women included in the study, carcinoma was identified in 3 (3.33%) and hyperplasia was noted in 4 (4.44%). The most common histopathology noted was: endometrial polyp (35.56%), atrophic endometrium (30%) and benign endometrial tissues (18.98%). The calculated area under ROC curve was 54.39% (95% CI 34.38-79.41%), which indicates the inability of endometrial thickness to differentiate benign endometrium from endometrial carcinoma or hyperplasia in asymptomatic women with an incidentally found thickened endometrium. @*Conclusion@#Based on the results of the study, endometrial thickness alone cannot be used as basis for deciding whether to perform endometrial sampling, there is no endometrial thickness threshold for which the endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma can be correctly identified. The decision to perform an endometrial biopsy should be done on a case to case basis. In the absence of a high index of suspicion for endometrial hyperplasia and carcinoma even in the presence of thickened endometrium, endometrial sampling is unnecessary.