[Second-line chemotherapy and new drugs for ovarian carcinoma]. / Chemioterapia di seconda linea e nuovi farmaci nel carcinoma ovarico.

Epithelial ovarian carcinoma represents a prototypic example of neoplastic disease sharing at the same time good chemosensitivity as well as marked propensity to relapse. If in one hand the definition of almost clear-cut guidelines has been reached in the setting of first-line therapy (i.e., cytoreductive surgery followed by first-line chemotherapy), more difficult to discern for the oncologist remains the choice of treatment in the occasion(s) of relapse(s). This article focuses on this particular setting of disease, analyzing the specific criteria of choice of drug or their combinations; the definite criteria followed for the use of platinum compounds in the second line of treatment, even if already utilized in the front line therapy, are also analyzed. Specific attention has also been paid in the definition of the role of single parameter as a "prognosticator" and/or as "predictor" of response. The Authors emphasize how clinical definitions remain the more reliable, simple, reproducible tools in therapeutical decision making.

Laparoscopic diagnosis of tubaric pregnancy in evolution and reconstructive surgical treatment.

The authors report the results obtained on 22 selected cases of tubaric pregnancy in evolution and treated by reconstructive plastic surgery. They point out the necessity of a very precocious laparoscopic diagnosis in order to obtain a better functional recovery of the fallopian tube. On the basis of the results, the authors suggest a more frequent reconstructive treatment of the tubaric pregnancy.