Factors affecting quality of life of cervical cancer patients: A multivariate analysis

Objective: The aim of good management for cancer survivors should not be limited to only clinical care, but rather it should also include best quality of life (QOL). The objective of this study was to find out various factors affecting QOL in cervical cancer patients so that by modifying these factors, the best QOL can be provided to them. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Radiotherapy, King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow, from May 2015 to July 2016. The cases were selected from patients visiting the outpatient department or who were admitted to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Department of Radiotherapy, KGMU. The data information was collected in the form of face-to-face interview using European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer general cancer QOL Score 30 (EORTC QLQ C-30) and EORTC QOL questionnaire cervical cancer module (QLQ CX-24) questionnaire. Results: QOL was assessed in 85 patients. Health-related QOL was separately studied in terms of overall general QOL and cancer cervix-specific QOL, and various factors affecting QOL were studied by multivariate analysis. Conclusion: Education, tobacco use, degree of differentiation of tumor, and size of tumor were the independent factors found to have statistically significant effect on QOL of cervical cancer survivors

Correlation of Pap smear and colposcopic findings in relation to histopathological findings among women attending a tertiary care hospital: a two year study

Background: Cervical malignancy is ranked second among the malignancies in females with breast carcinoma the first. Screening for cervical cancer by conventional cytology and supported by colposcopy and histopathology can easily identify the premalignant lesions and also other non-invasive inflammatory lesions of the cervix. Objective of this study was to find the correlation of Pap smear, colposcopic findings and colposcopic guide biopsy in evaluation of cervical lesions in women and to analyze the various risk factorsMethods: A prospective study for two years was conducted by department of obstetrics among women aged from 20-60 years. Socio demographic data, clinical history and examination were done and findings noted. Pap smear, colposcopy and colposcopic guided biopsy was done and findings were noted and analyzed foe sensitivity, specificity and compared with Pap smear.Results: In present study sensitivity of Pap smear for detecting lesions above LSIL was 28%, specificity 99.32%, PPV was 93.47%, negative predictive value 76.21% and accuracy of Pap smear was 78%. The sensitivity of colposcopy in detection of low grade lesions and above came out to be 80.2%, specificity 82.14%, positive predictive value 66.78%, negative predictive value 86.78% and accuracy of colposcopy was 84.65%.The incidence of preinvasive lesions (LSIL and HSIL) was 33.6% with LSIL (19.2%) and HSIL (14.4%) and of invasive lesions was 9.6%.Conclusions: This study suggests that accuracy of detection of cervical abnormalities is higher when cytology, colposcopic biopsy and colposcopy are used complimentarily in diagnosis of cervical lesions. Colposcopy eliminates the need for repeated follow up as in Pap smear which has low sensitivity.

Clinical significance of atypical glandular cells on Pap smear / 부인종양

OBJECTIVE: We determine the rate of an atypical glandular cells (AGC) on cervical cytology and the incidence of clinical significant lesion on subsequent follow up biopsies. In this study, we attempted to assess the clinical significance of a cytologic diagnosis of atypical glandular cells (AGC). METHODS: A total of 60,174 Pap smears were obtained between January 1st 2000 and December 31th 2005 at Ewha Womans University Mokdong Hospital. Among these smears, 26 patients had a diagnosis of AGC. Follow up was available for 23 patients (88.5%) and these patients had histologic follow up including cervical biopsy, endocervical curettage (ECC), and/or endometrial biopsy (EMB). RESULTS: Among 23 patients with AGC, eight (34.8%) were found to have a clinically significant malignant lesions on subsequent histologic follow up, including 2 endometrial adenocarcinoma cases, 1 cervical adenosquamous cell carcinoma case, 1 endocervical adenocarcinoma case, 2 vault adenocarcinoma cases, 1 MMMT case and 1 squamous cell carcinoma case. We found the differences in incidence of malignant lesions between premenopausal (23.5%) and postmenopausal (66.8%) patients with marginal significance (p=0.057). CONCLUSION: The incidence of AGC in Pap smear was 0.04%. The patients with AGC had a substantial risk of having a significant number of squamous or glandular, premalignant or malignant lesions. This study strongly suggests the need for the close follow up of patients with a diagnosis of AGC, especially in postmenopausal women.

Detection of Human Papillomavirus Type 16 and 18 in Cervical Specimens by Nested Polymerase Chain Reaction / 대한임상병리학회지

BACKGROUND: Some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) play a major role in the pathogenesis of cervical cancer. Several dozens of studies on the association of HPV with cervical neoplasm have been done since the first detection of HPV 16 and 18 directly from cervical cancer patients in 1983. Approximately 90 types of HPV have been identified so far and the number of oncogenic HPV types is still growing. In this study, we examined the occurrence of oncogenic HPV infections in patients with cervical lesions. Method : Two hundred twenty cervical swab specimens were collected during a 3 year period (1996-1999). Processed specimens were tested for HPV type 16 and 18 by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: HPV type 16 was detected in the cervical swab specimens as follows: 19 (51.4%) of 37 cervical cancer patients, 19 (30.2%) of 63 high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, 5 (9.6%) of 52 low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion, none in 6 atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and 3 (4.8%) of 62 normal cervices. Conclusion : The positive rate for HPV type 16 increased according to the degree of cervical malignancy.

Cryosurgery as a form of treatment in chronic cervicitis (A preliminary study)

Chronic cervicitis is one of the many problems that beset a woman. Many forms of treatment are available but problems are encountered with their use. This preliminary study was done to document the authors experience regarding the use of cryosurgery as a form of treatment in chronic cervicitis There were 16 patients. All were multigravid with erosions extending both on the anterior and posterior lip of the cervix. Initial Paps smear and colposcopy (for those at risk for cervical malignancy) were done. Results were all negative. However 10 of the 16 patients showed moderate inflammation The patients underwent cryosurgery using a gun type of appliance. The procedure was done for about 2 to 2.5 minutes or until such time that the ice formed has covered the erosions Postcryosurgery follow-up ranged from 11 to 150 days. All showed smooth and healed cervix. Repeat Paps smear of those with moderate inflammation revealed no infection. (Author)