Intra-racial disaggregation reveals associations between nativity and overall survival in women with endometrial cancer.

OBJECTIVE: Prior studies have demonstrated survival differences between Black women with endometrial cancer (EC) born in the US and Caribbean. Our objective was to determine if country of birth influences EC overall survival (OS) in disaggregated subpopulations of Black women. METHODS: Using the Florida Cancer Data System, women with EC diagnosed from 1981 to 2017 were identified. Demographic and clinical information were abstracted. Women who self-identified as Black and born in the US (USB), Jamaica (JBB), or Haiti (HBB) were included. Statistical analyses were performed using chi-square, Cox proportional hazards models, and Kaplan-Meier methods with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: 3817 women met the inclusion criteria. Compared to USB, JBB and HBB had more high-grade histologies, more advanced stage disease, had a greater proportion of uninsured or Medicaid insured, and had a higher proportion of women who received chemotherapy (all p < 0.05). In multivariate analyses, age (HR 1.03 [1.02-1.05]), regional stage (HR 1.52 [1.22-1.89]), distant stage (HR 3.73 [2.84-4.89]), lymphovascular space invasion (HR 1.96 [1.61-2.39]), receipt of surgery (HR 0.47 [0.29-0.75]), and receipt of chemotherapy (HR 0.77 [0.62-0.95]) were independently associated with OS. Compared to USB, Haitian nativity was an independent negative predictor of OS when evaluating all histologies together (HR 1.54 [1.18-2.00]) and for endometrioid EC specifically (HR 1.77 [1.10-2.83]). Among women with serous EC, HBB had markedly worse median OS (18.5 months [13.4-46.5]) relative to USB (29.9 months [26.3-35.9]) and JBB (41.0 months, [34.1-82.6], p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: Country of birth is associated with endometrial cancer survival in Black women, with HBB demonstrating worse outcomes.

Risk factors for catheter-associated urinary tract infections following radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer.

BACKGROUND: Radical hysterectomy is the mainstay of treatment for early-stage cervical cancer. Urinary tract dysfunction is one of the most common complications after radical hysterectomy, and prolonged catheterization has previously been defined as a significant risk factor for catheter-associated urinary tract infections. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infections after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer, and to identify additional risk factors for developing catheter-associated urinary tract infections in this population. STUDY DESIGN: We reviewed patients who underwent radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer from 2004 to 2020 after institutional review board approval. All patients were identified from institutional Gynecologic Oncology surgical and tumor databases. The inclusion criterion was radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer. Exclusion criteria included inadequate hospital follow-up, insufficient records of catheter use in the electronic medical record, urinary tract injury, and preoperative chemoradiation. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection was defined as an infection diagnosed in a catheterized patient or within 48 hours of catheter removal, with significant bacteriuria (>103 cfu/mL) and symptoms or signs attributable to the urinary tract. Data analysis was performed using comparative analysis and univariate and multivariable logistic regression using Excel, GraphPad Prism, and IBM SPSS Statistics. RESULTS: Of the 160 included patients, 12.5% developed catheter-associated urinary tract infections. In univariate analysis, catheter-associated urinary tract infection was significantly associated with current smoking history (odds ratio, 3.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.39-10.08), minimally invasive surgical approach (odds ratio, 5.24; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-16.87), estimated surgical blood loss >500 mL (odds ratio, 0.18; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.57), operative time >300 minutes (odds ratio, 2.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-9.36), and increased duration of catheterization (odds ratio, 18.46; 95% confidence interval, 3.67-336). After adjusting for interactions and controlling for potential confounders with multivariable analysis, current smoking history and catheterization for >7 days were identified as independent risk factors for development of catheter-associated urinary tract infections (adjusted odds ratio, 3.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.28-12.37; adjusted odds ratio, 19.49; 95% confidence interval, 2.78-427). CONCLUSION: Preoperative smoking cessation interventions for current smokers should be implemented to decrease risk for postoperative complications, including catheter-associated urinary tract infections. In addition, catheter removal within 7 postoperative days should be encouraged in all women undergoing radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer in an effort to decrease infection risk.

Isolated para-aortic nodal recurrence after treatment of early stage cervical carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: Surgical evaluation of lymph node metastasis is paramount in the treatment of cervical cancer. We sought to explore the outcomes of patients with and without para-aortic lymphadenectomy undergoing curative-intent radical hysterectomy for stage IA-IIA cervical cancer. METHODS: Institutional data were retrospectively reviewed to identify women undergoing curative-intent radical hysterectomy with concurrent lymphadenectomy for stage IA-IIA cervical carcinoma from 2004 to 2021. Any carcinoma histology was allowed. Clinical risk stratification was performed according to GOG 92 and GOG 109 protocols. Disease outcomes, patterns of recurrence, and survival were analyzed with Chi square, t-test, Kaplan-Meier, and Cox proportional hazards multivariable statistics. RESULTS: 300 patients were identified, 265 met inclusion criteria. Median follow up was 56 months. Pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND) was performed in 71%, with the remainder undergoing combined para-aortic dissection (PPaLND). Baseline patient demographics and presence of clinical risk factors were well balanced between groups. PPaLND was more common in patients undergoing open surgery (OR 10.58, p <.0001), and tumors were larger in this group (2.96 vs 2.12 cm, p = .0002) and more likely non-squamous histology (OR 2.02, p = .017). Recurrence of disease was present in 13% of cases, with no difference between PLND and PPaLND regardless of histology. There were zero cases of isolated PaLN recurrence in either group. Neither progression free nor overall survival was different between groups. Prophylactic extended field radiation (EFRT) was not prescribed. CONCLUSION: Omission of PaLN dissection, in the absence of suspicious nodes, did not decrease survival. There were no isolated PaLN recurrences after PLND alone.

Are we taking a risk with risk assessment tools? Evaluating the relationship between NSQIP and the ACS risk calculator in colorectal surgery.

GOAL: To evaluate the relationship between the ACS Risk Calculator and NSQIP expected outcomes in elective colorectal resections. METHODS: The 2015 NSQIP morbidity report for elective colorectal procedures at a single institution was evaluated. Risk Calculator (RC) reports were completed for predicted risk. Correlation coefficients were calculated for the general relationship between the tools for complications. Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curves compared the predictive accuracy of the tools to actual outcome measures of any complication, serious complications, readmissions, unplanned return to the operating room, and mortality. RESULTS: There was high correlation between NSQIP and the RC for any complication, but low correlation for serious complications. Predictive accuracy of both tools for identifying actual occurrences was poor, with area under the ROC<0.60 for all metrics with both tools, except NSQIP mortality, which had good accuracy. CONCLUSIONS: The tools were highly correlated for predicting complications in general, but neither was accurate for predicting actual outcomes. As underestimating risk and complications could have financial implications under value-based care, refinement could benefit informed consent and quality improvement at the institutional level.