A direct endoscopic approach for left-sided infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy immediately after hysterectomy for endometrial cancer treatment: left dome formation (LDF).

BACKGROUND: Endoscopic surgery for infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy has been widely accepted. Two major approaches, "transperitoneal" and "extraperitoneal", are generally used; however, they have several disadvantages. A "transperitoneal" approach to the left para-aortic region is usually indirect, often performed after wide extension of the right para-aortic region. An "extraperitoneal" approach is unsuitable when a peritoneal tear exists after a prior surgical procedure such as hysterectomy. Here, we propose a modified transperitoneal technique, "Left dome formation (LDF)," which directly provides a surgical field for left infrarenal para-aortic lymphadenectomy even after hysterectomy. METHODS: The LDF procedure comprised three processes: (1) setting, (2) dissection of inframesenteric lymph nodes (step 1), and (3) dissection of infrarenal lymph nodes (step 2). SETTING: two trocars were added 4 cm bilateral to the low-mid abdominal trocar that was used in prior hysterectomy. Step 1: The posterior layer of the renal fascia along with the left ureter and left ovarian vessel were separated from the left common iliac artery and iliopsoas. Left inframesentric nodes were removed from the surgical field. Step 2: The left ureter was isolated from the posterior renal fascia, and the dome was expanded cranially to the left renal vein, with the ovarian vein always visualizable at the dome ceiling. Left infrarenal nodes were removed. RESULTS: We applied LDF to ten endometrial cancer patients, recommended for additional dissection of para-aortic nodes based on intraoperative evaluation using the laparoscopically removed uterus. The operative time and number of removed lymph nodes in Step 1 and Step 2 were 28.8 (20-49) min and 5.3 (2-10) and 54.6 (52-70) min and 6.5 (1-11), respectively. Blood loss was below 50 ml. No serious organ injury occurred during procedures. CONCLUSION: Since the left ureter is always observable, LDF procedure facilitates effective surgery to overcome the anatomical complexity of the left para-aortic region and is potentially useful for sentinel node sampling.

Embryo transfer associated with hormone replacement therapy cycles using assisted reproductive technology increases placenta accreta spectrum.

AIM: To evaluate obstetric outcomes in embryo transfer (ET) during estrogen with progestin hormone replacement therapy (HRT) cycles using assisted reproductive technology (ART). METHODS: Of the 118 singleton pregnancies conceived with ART and delivered between January 2015 and December 2017, we reviewed the data of 87 cases that had information on HRT at the time of ET. Data on pregnancy outcomes included the presence of small for gestational age fetuses, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, placenta previa (including low-lying placenta), placental abruption and placenta accreta spectrum (including placenta accreta, placenta increta and placenta percreta). We investigated the relationship between HRT cycles and adverse placental outcomes (placenta accreta spectrum, placental abruption, placenta previa, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and small for gestational age fetuses). We then analyzed the associations that correlated with adverse placental outcomes. RESULTS: Patients with ET during HRT cycles were more likely to have placenta accreta spectrum. During the study period, 87 out of 118 singleton live births using ART had information on HRT (60 HRT cycles and 27 ovulation cycles). The incidence of placenta accreta spectrum was significantly higher in the HRT cycle group than in the ovulation cycle group (HRT cycle, 31.7% [19 of 60] vs ovulation cycle, 7.4% [2 of 27]; P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The obstetric outcomes occurring in pregnancies involving HRT use may differ among ET cycles. ET during HRT cycles were associated with adverse obstetric outcomes due to placenta accreta spectrum. The potential interaction between HRT cycles and adverse placental events is novel and warrants further investigation.

Comparison Study of BD Onclarity HPV With digene HC2 High-Risk HPV DNA Test and Roche Cobas 4800 HPV for Detecting High-Risk Human Papillomavirus in Japan.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical performance of novel detection kits for 14 high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) types with the BD Onclarity HPV Assay (Onclarity; Becton Dickinson, Sparks, MD). Methods: Two cervical specimens from 144 women were obtained and placed in BD SurePath Collection Vials. The first specimen was used for cervical cytology and digene HC2 High-Risk HPV DNA Test (HC2; Qiagen, Germantown, MD), and the second specimen was used for Onclarity and Roche Cobas 4800 HPV (Cobas; Roche Molecular Systems, Pleasanton, CA). Other HPV genotyping kits were used for specimens identified as positive by Onclarity or Cobas. Results: Fifty-three of 144 specimens were positive by Onclarity. Overall agreement rates of Onclarity with HC2 and Cobas were 93.8% and 94.4%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia type 2 or higher of Onclarity were similar to HC2 and Cobas. Conclusion: The results showed that the clinical performance of Onclarity was equivalent to HC2 and Cobas.

Subserous invasion of VEGF-C-producing cancer cells is a possible risk factor for ileal ulceration in the non-metastatic mucosal layer during bevacizumab-combined chemotherapy for recurrent ovarian cancer: A case report.

A 65-year-old woman received chemotherapy using taxane and carboplatin prior and following optimal debulking surgery for ovarian cancer stage IV. Five months later, intra-abdominal recurrence was diagnosed, and second-line chemotherapy using nogitecan and bevacizumab was administered. After five courses, the patient presented with a symptom of subileus and subsequent intestinal perforation occurred. An emergent surgery revealed two perforation sites and longitudinally extended ulcerative lesions in the ileum. Pathologically, although metastatic sites were not observed in the submucus layer just beneath the ulcers, there were a number of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C-positive cancer cell invasion sites along with marked edema and an increase of the lymphatic endothelial cell marker 'podoplanin'-positive cells in subserous regions. Since bevacizumab is able to inhibit VEGF-A, but not VEGF-C, and induce compensatory increase in VEGF-C production, these findings suggest that the local disturbance of lymphatic circulation in the subserous regions by VEGF-C-producing cancer cells is a possible risk factor for the development of intestinal ulceration and perforation during bevacizumab therapy.