Minimally invasive surgery versus laparotomy in women with high risk endometrial cancer: A multi-center study performed in Argentina.

Objective: Compare the perioperative outcomes and disease-free survival between minimally invasive and open surgery in women with stage I-II high-risk endometrial cancer. Methods: A retrospective, cohort study was performed involving twenty-four centers from Argentina. Patients with grade 3 endometrioid, serous, clear cell, undifferentiated carcinoma or carcinosarcoma who underwent hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and staging between January 2010-2018 were included. Cox hazard regression analysis and Kaplan-Meier curves evaluated the association of surgical technique with survival. Results: Of 343 eligible patients, 214 (62 %) underwent open surgery and 129 (38 %) underwent laparoscopic surgery. No significant differences were seen between the two groups with respect to greater or equal grade III Clavien-Dindo postoperative complications (11 % in the open surgery group vs 9 % minimally invasive surgery group; P = 0.34) Minimally invasive surgery was not associated with worse disease-free survival at four years (79.14 % [95 % CI 69.42- 86.08] vs 78.80 % [95 % CI 70.61-84.96]), (p = 0.25), even after creating a Cox proportional model (hazard ratio [HR] 1.08 95 % CI 0.63-1.84); (p = 0.76). Conclusion: There was no difference between postoperative complications nor oncologic outcomes comparing minimally invasive and open surgery among patients with high-risk endometrial cancer.

Conization and lymph node evaluation in low-risk cervical cancer. Is it time to avoid radical surgery? Retrospective series and literature review.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the oncologic and obstetric outcomes of patients with low-risk cervical cancer who underwent conization and lymphatic evaluation to preserve fertility. METHODS: Data were collected retrospectively from September 2013 to February 2021. Eligibility criteria included Women with cervical cancer (aged <45 years) who underwent fertility preservation treatment, [stage IA1 with positive lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), stage IA2, or stage IB1 (≤2 cm) with less <10 mm cervical stromal invasion, according to the International Federaltion of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2018 staging system] aged ≤45 years who wished to preserve their fertility were included in this study. All patients were treated with cervical conization(s) and laparoscopic lymph node evaluation [pelvic lymphadenectomy and/or sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping]. Oncologic and obstetric outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Overall, 31 patients met the inclusion criteria; 15 (48.3%) women were nulliparous. There were 8 IA1LVSI+ (25.8%), 11 IA2 (35.4%) and 12 IB1 (31.7%) tumours, according to 2018 FIGO stage classification. Most patients had squamous cell carcinoma (77.4%). Lymphovascular space involvement was found in thirteen patients (41.9%). Reconization was performed in 17 (54.8%) patients, of which 6(35.2%) were done due to compromised margins, 4(23.5%) for margins under than 3 mm, 3(17.6%) for unreported or coagulated margins and 4(23.5%) because previous conization was done in another institution and we could not obtain the paraffin blocks for pathology review. Twenty patients had MRI and eleven CT scan. Nine (30%) patients had a complete bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection, 9 (26.6%) had SLN mapping with pelvic lymphadenectomy, and 13 (43.3%) had SLN mapping alone after bilateral SLN identification at surgery. After a median follow-up of 41.4 months (range 2-90 months), no recurrences have been detected. In terms of obstetrial outcome, 11 patients attempted pregnancy and 9 became pregnant. First-trimester miscarriage occurred in one patient. Five patients delivered at term by caesarean section, one of them requiring hysterectomy at the time of delivery. Pathology did not show residual disease. Two patients had a vaginal delivery at 38 weeks. One pregnancy is still ongoing. CONCLUSION: Cervical conization with lymph node assessment by SLN mapping/lymphadenectomy is an oncologic safe procedure in patients with low-risk cervical cancer.

Updates on conservative management of endometrial cancer in patients younger than 45 years.

Endometrial cancer is the most common gynecologic malignancy in developed country. Women under the age of 40 represent 5% of all endometrial cancer and the majority are nulliparous at the time of diagnosis. The aim of this review was to compare oncologic and fertility outcomes among different fertility-preserving therapies in patients under 45 years of age with grade 1 or 2 endometrial cancer. A systematic review was conducted, the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CINAHL databases were searched for articles published during the period from January 2010 through January 2020 in accordance with PRISMA guidelines, using the terms endometrial cancer, fertility sparing treatment and conservative treatment. A total of 661 patients in 38 studies were included. The median age was 32.3 years (range 13--43). Regardless of the primary treatment, it is always accompanied by systemic or local hormonal treatment. The median follow-up time was 47.92 months (range 1-412), 54.9 months (range 3.4-412) for the progesterone group, 38.97 months (range 3-172) for the hysteroscopic resection group and 23.11 months (range 1-115.5) for the Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device group. The overall complete response rate was 79.4%, [Hysteroscopic Resection: 90%, hormonal treatment: 77.7%, and Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device: 71.3%] The p = 0.02 when the primary treatment is Hysteroscopic resection, always followed by hormonal therapy either oral progesterone or Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device. Patients who had tumor resection had lower progression than those who received hormonal treatment or Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device 3.5% vs. 12.1% vs. 19.5% respectively (p = 0.03). The complete response time was higher in the Hysteroscopic Resection group (p = 0.04) with fewer patients undergoing hysterectomy (p = 0.0001). Patients who underwent Hysteroscopic Resection had higher pregnancy rates compared to medical treatment or Levonorgestrel Intrauterine Device, 34.5%, 27.6% and 18.4%, respectively (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent Hysteroscopic Resection followed progestogens agent was associated to a better complete response, high pregnancy rates and minor numbers of hysterectomies.

Acupuntura y terapia neural para el tratamiento de la Parálisis de Bell / Acupuncture and Neural Therapy for Treating Bell's Palsy

Introducción: La efectividad de las terapias alternativas para el tratamiento de la parálisis de Bell es aún controvertida. Objetivo: Reportar la experiencia en el tratamiento de la PB mediante la administración conjunta de acupuntura y terapia neural. Métodos: Se recopiló información de 30 pacientes con parálisis de Bell, quienes recibieron una sesión semanal de acupuntura y terapia neural de manera conjunta y fueron evaluados mediante la escala House-Brackmann durante 12 semanas. Resultados: El 80 por ciento (24) de los pacientes continuaron el tratamiento hasta la semana 12 y al término de la misma ninguno alcanzó función motora normal. Apenas 6 (25 por ciento) pacientes mostraron signos de recuperación entre las semanas 6 y 12. Así, el porcentaje de pacientes con grado IV se redujo de 6 (20 por ciento) durante la evaluación inicial a 3 (12 por ciento) durante la semana 9 (p = 0,001) y el de pacientes con grado III de 12 (50 por ciento) durante la semana 9 a 9 (38 por ciento) durante la semana 12 (p = 0,663). Se evidenciaron efectos adversos en 9 (32 por ciento) pacientes, lo que incluyó hematoma en el sito de puntura y síncope, que se resolvieron sin complicaciones. Conclusiones: La administración conjunta de acupuntura y terapia neural durante al menos 6 semanas tuvo efectos modestos sobre la recuperación de pacientes con parálisis de Bell sin producir efectos adversos mayores(AU)

Introduction: The effectiveness of alternative therapies for treating Bell's palsy is still controversial. Objective: To report the experience in the treatment of Bell's palsy through joint administration of acupuncture and neural therapy. Methods: Information was collected from 30 patients with Bell's palsy, who received a weekly session of acupuncture and neural therapy jointly and were assessed using the House-Brackmann scale for 12 weeks. Results: 80 percent (24) of the patients continued treatment until week 12 and, at the end of the week, none reached normal motor function. Only 6 patients (25 percent) showed signs of recovery between weeks 6 and 12. Thus, the percentage of patients with grade IV decreased from 6 (20 percent), during the initial evaluation, to 3 (12 percent), during week 9 (p<0.001); while the percentage of patients with grade III decreased from 12 (50 percent), during week 9, to 9 (38 percent), during week 12 (p=0.663). Adverse effects were evidenced in 9 (32 percent) patients, including hematoma at the puncture site and syncope, which was solved without complications. Conclusions: Joint administration of acupuncture and neural therapy for at least six weeks had modest effects on the recovery of patients with Bell's palsy, without producing major adverse effects(AU)

Evolución de los sarcomas primarios de la mama: nuestra experiencia / Evolution of primary sarcomas of the breast: our experience

Resumen: Los sarcomas primarios de la mama son una rara entidad, representan menos del 1% de los tumores malignos de la mama. La bibliografía reporta pequeñas series, lo cual no proporciona la suficiente información para entender la evolución natural de estos tumores, sin existir consenso definitivo acerca del tratamiento adecuado. Se estudiaron retrospectivamente 13 sarcomas puros de la mama en el Servicio de Ginecología del Hospital Nacional de Clínicas de Córdoba entre marzo 1989 y agosto del 2012. A 12 pacientes se les realizó tratamiento quirúrgico primario y a 1 caso quimioterapia primaria neoadyuvante (en otra institución). Se analizaron edad de los pacientes, diagnóstico preoperatorio, cirugía realizada, diagnóstico definitivo mediante técnicas de inmunohistoquímica (IHQ), tamaño tumoral, características histológicas y terapias adyuvantes realizadas. Nueve de nuestros pacientes recibieron terapia radiante adyuvante y un caso quimioterapia adyuvante específica para tejidos blandos, debido al mal pronóstico tumoral. A la fecha se encuentran 6 pacientes vivos en seguimiento oncológico. Se concluye que los principales inconvenientes serían: Para el diagnóstico correcto definitivo se necesita de la IHQ en casos con problemas. El manejo quirúrgico con márgenes amplios y la utilización de terapias adyuvantes en casos de mal pronóstico son la base del tratamiento. Necesidad de estudios prospectivos multicéntricos para consenso en la toma de conductas terapéuticas definidas.

Valor del procedimiento cobinado en la correcta identificación del ganglio centinela / Combined Technique Value in the sentinel node identification

La investigación del ganglio centinela es un test diagnótico que podría, en algunos casos evitar la disección axilar y sus complicaciones en estadios iniciales de cancer de mama.En 111 casos obtuvimos 182 ganglios centinelas con un promedio de 1,65 ganglio por paciente.De los 182 ganglios, 97,4 % se localizaban en axila, 2,1 % en mamaria interna y 0,5 % interpectoral (Rotter)

Valor del procedimiento cobinado en la correcta identificación del ganglio centinela / Combined Technique Value in the sentinel node identification

La investigación del ganglio centinela es un test diagnótico que podría, en algunos casos evitar la disección axilar y sus complicaciones en estadios iniciales de cancer de mama.En 111 casos obtuvimos 182 ganglios centinelas con un promedio de 1,65 ganglio por paciente.De los 182 ganglios, 97,4 % se localizaban en axila, 2,1 % en mamaria interna y 0,5 % interpectoral (Rotter)