Current medical treatment of uterine fibroids

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas or myomas), benign monoclonal tumors, are the most common benign tumors in women. Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, abnormal uterine bleeding, resultant anemia, pelvic pain, infertility, and/or recurrent pregnancy loss are generally associated with uterine fibroids. Although curative treatment of this tumor relies on surgical therapies, medical treatments are considered the first-line treatment to preserve fertility and avoid or delay surgery. The aim of this review is to provide available and emerging medical treatment options for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Literature review and consensus of expert opinion. Many uterine fibroids are asymptomatic and require no intervention, although it is advisable to follow-up patients to document stability in size and growth. Fibroid-associated symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding and pain or pelvic discomfort. The association between infertility and fibroids increases with age. Treatment options for symptomatic uterine fibroids — include medical, surgical, and radiologically guided interventions. Various medical therapies are now available for women with uterine fibroids, although each therapy has its own advantages and disadvantages. Currently, gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists and selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) are the most effective medical therapies, with the most evidence to support their reduction of fibroid volume and symptomatic improvement in menstrual bleeding. The choice of treatment depends on the patient's personal treatment goals, as well as efficacy and need for repeated interventions.

Preoperative serum levels of cancer antigen 125 and carcinoembryonic antigen ratio can improve differentiation between mucinous ovarian carcinoma and other epithelial ovarian carcinomas

OBJECTIVE: The main aim of this study was to evaluate cancer antigen 125 (CA125)/carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) ratio (CCR), as a reliable marker to differentiate ovarian mucinous carcinoma from other epithelial ovarian carcinomas (EOCs), namely serous, clear cell, and endometrioid carcinomas. METHODS: Female patients suffering from different kinds of EOCs whom were subjected to elective surgery at the Gangnam Severance Hospital between January 2008 and December 2016, were included in this study. The serum levels of CA125 and CEA were assayed using commercially available kits per the manufacturer's instructions. RESULTS: The CCR in mucinous carcinoma (mean 32.1) was significantly lower than that of clear cell (mean 235.0) and endometrioid carcinoma (mean 427.0) in stage I (all P < 0.05). In stage II–IV, CCR in mucinous carcinoma (mean 37.6) was significantly lower than that of serous carcinoma (mean 148.0) (P < 0.01). The sensitivity and specificity of CCR in detecting mucinous carcinoma from other types of EOC was 75.0% and 77.5%, respectively in stage I and 100.0% and 84.4%, respectively in stage II–IV (both cut-off value < 90.7). CONCLUSION: The present results suggest that pretreatment CCR might provide higher specificity and clinically relevant information as a criterion for the differentiation between ovarian mucinous carcinoma and other types of EOC.