Fertility-sparing surgery in uterine leiomyosarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Leiomyosarcoma of the uterus is a rare malignancy with a poor prognosis. Total abdominal hysterectomy is considered the treatment of choice. Occasionally, the diagnosis is made on myomectomy specimen, and in young patients the role of conservative management is not well defined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1982 and 1996, eight patients with a diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma following myomectomy were conservatively managed at our institution. Median age of the patients was 29 years (range 19-32 years), and all were nulliparous. The tumor was confined to a myoma in all patients. Patients were adequately informed about the risk and were submitted to strict follow-up including pelvic examination, hysteroscopy, ultrasonography, chest X-ray, and abdominopelvic MRI or CT scan. RESULTS: Mean mitotic count of leiomyosarcomas was 6 per 10 HPF, ranging between 5 to 33. At a median follow-up of 42 months three pregnancies were recorded. Two patients had a spontaneous delivery at term. The third patient had diagnosis of recurrent disease at the time of cesarian section. Despite further surgery and chemotherapy, she died of disseminated disease 26 months after diagnosis. The remaining seven patients are alive and well. Two patients received a second surgical procedure after diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma, 24 and 16 months after primary operation. Both were found to have leiomyomas. CONCLUSIONS: Selected cases of uterine leiomyosarcoma might be managed conservatively in young nulliparous women desiring pregnancy. A strict follow-up is mandatory, and at the completion of the reproductive life, a demolitive procedure could be considered.

Laser conization assisted by crypt visualization for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

OBJECTIVE: To describe intraoperative visualization of crypts and its effects on specimen clearance, safety, and clinical results of excisional treatment of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). METHODS: We treated 147 patients with high-grade CIN (II-III) and colposcopically-assessed endocervical extension, using a CO2 laser instrument in a day-hospital setting. Endocervical walls were stained preoperatively with a 2% methylene blue aqueous solution. Cervical conization was done by laser under colposcopic vision. Stromal incision and cone shape were directed laterally to the endocervical crypts by intraoperative visualization in transparency of the stain. RESULTS: We were able to make stromal incisions at minimal and uniform radial distances from the cervical canal, thus allowing individualized cone shape and optimal bleeding control. Median (range) base diameter and height of specimens were 18 (13-24) and 20 (15-26) mm, respectively. The final histologic diagnosis was CIN II in 35 patients, CIN III in 111, and microinvasive carcinoma in one. Endocervical disease extension was confirmed in 103 patients (70%); the median (range) length of CIN in the 99 evaluable cases was 15.6 (0.5-25.7) mm, and crypt involvement was found in 39 (26.5%). All lateral margins were free of dysplasia. Four specimens (2.7%) had positive apical margins. No significant complications occurred, and fertility did not seem to be impaired. With a median (range) follow-up period of 68 (60-92) months, only 1.4% of patients experienced recurrence; two patients, both with involved crypts, had recurrent dysplasia at 23 and 45 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Laser microsurgical conization assisted by crypt visualization facilitates safe and complete removal of CIN extending into the endocervix.

Interferon-beta can induce progesterone receptors in human endometrial adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND: The induction of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PGR) has been reported in breast and endometrial cancer cells exposed to human fibroblast interferon-beta (hIFN-beta). Clinical verification of this finding might provide the rationale for new therapeutic approaches. This study was designed to evaluate whether clinical treatment with high doses of hIFN-beta induced ER and PGR in patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma. METHODS: Two biopsies were obtained, 1 before and 1 after hIFN-beta treatment (3 x 10(6) i.m. every other day for 3 weeks) from 36 patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma. ER and PGR were determined with standard procedures using radiolabeled ligands. RESULTS: hIFN-beta treatment did not affect the proportion of ER-positive (i.e., >15 fmol/mg protein) or PGR-positive (i.e., >20 fmol/mg protein) cases. However, in patients with detectable ER and PGR at baseline, hIFN-beta raised the levels. Using a 35% difference before and after therapy as a cut-off, 72 and 79% of cases had increases in ER and PGR, respectively. The difference was highly significant for PGR. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with endometrial adenocarcinoma with undetectable ER or PGR, hIFN-beta did not induce the expression of these receptors. When the receptors were present they were upregulated by hIFN-beta. Whether this increase in receptor levels, particularly PGR, has therapeutic applications remains to be established.