[Safety and Efficacy of Robot-Assisted Surgery for Early Uterine Cancer in Our Institution over Five Years Since Its Introduction].

Lacking experience of laparoscopic surgery against gynecologic malignancies, we started performing robot-assisted surgery for uterine cancer in September 2017. Here we compared the safety and efficacy of robot-assisted surgery with those of open surgery in early-stage uterine cancer patients. The surgical time was significantly longer and the blood loss and hospital stay were significantly shorter for robot-assisted versus open surgery. No recurrence was observed after robot-assisted surgery. Robot-assisted surgery can be safely performed even in general hospitals and is an effective treatment option for early-stage uterine cancer patients.

Iliac artery-enteric fistula developed during bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for recurrent cervical cancer: A case report and literature review.

An arterioenteric fistula is a devastating and life-threatening condition. As patients often present in extremis from hemorrhage shock, an early diagnosis and prompt life-saving interventions have to be performed. In this report, we describe a case of a 38-year-old Japanese woman who presented with hematochezia that rapidly progressed to hemorrhagic shock secondary to an iliac artery-enteric fistula that developed during bevacizumab-containing chemotherapy for recurrent cervical cancer. The patient underwent successful endovascular treatment with a covered stent-graft as a bridge to definitive open surgery.

Preoperative differentiation between tumor-related ovarian torsion and rupture of ovarian cyst preoperatively diagnosed as benign: a retrospective study.

INTRODUCTION: Patients with ovarian cyst sometimes present with acute abdomen caused by ovarian torsion or rupture, which are difficult to differentiate preoperatively. The purpose of this study was to determine preoperative features of patients with ovarian cyst that could be used in differentiation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Among 1723 patients with a preoperative diagnosis of benign ovarian cyst who underwent surgery between 1995 and 2010, 77 patients with ovarian torsion and 21 patients with ruptured ovarian cyst were retrospectively evaluated. The mean preoperative age, serum C-reactive protein (CRP) level, white blood cell count, body temperature, cyst size, and rate of acute abdomen were compared between the two groups, and postoperative pathological data were also collected. RESULTS: There were significant differences between the torsion and rupture groups in the mean preoperative CRP levels (0.9 mg/dL vs 6.6 mg/dL, respectively; P<0.01) and in the mean ovarian cyst sizes (9.7 cm vs 6.7 cm, respectively; P=0.04). CONCLUSION: In this study, the patients with ruptured ovarian cyst had elevated CRP levels. Another study has demonstrated that there was risk for necrosis in torsion patients with elevated CRP levels who presented more than 10h after the onset of acute abdomen. Therefore, preoperative differential diagnosis between ovarian torsion and rupture may be possible by combining the findings from preoperative imaging, data on the time from onset of acute abdomen, and CRP values.

Study of the correlation between tumor size and cyst rupture in laparotomy and laparoscopy for benign ovarian tumor: is 10 cm the limit for laparoscopy?

AIM: Laparoscopy is the gold standard for treatment of benign ovarian cysts, although there is a risk of intraoperative cyst rupture if the lesion is cancerous. This study is aimed at comparing the incidence of cyst rupture to tumor size in both laparotomy and laparoscopy in order to select the optimum surgical procedure for ovarian cysts. METHODS: A total of 1483 cases of benign ovarian cysts were surgically treated at our center between 1995 and 2010. These cases were divided into three groups according to the maximum diameter of the ovarian tumors: <5 cm, ≥5 cm but <10 cm, and ≥10 cm. The incidence of cyst rupture was compared between laparotomy and laparoscopy according to the size of the tumor in ovarian tumorectomy and adnexectomy. RESULTS: The incidence of cyst rupture was significantly higher in ovarian tumorectomy by laparoscopy than by laparotomy. Cyst rupture occurred independent of the tumor size in both laparoscopy and laparotomy. For adnexectomy for tumors smaller than 10 cm, there was no significant difference by tumor size in the incidence of cyst rupture between laparoscopy and laparotomy; however, the incidence of cyst rupture was significantly higher in laparoscopy of tumors sized 10 cm or larger than in the laparotomy of tumors of similar size; the incidence was also greater than laparoscopy of tumors smaller than 10 cm. CONCLUSION: Laparotomy, rather than laparoscopy, is recommended in cases of ovarian cysts with any finding suggestive of malignancy.

Predictive factors for ovarian necrosis in torsion of ovarian tumor.

Most cases of ovarian torsion require emergency surgery; the ovary has become necrotic and cannot be conserved. Preoperative determination of the ovarian necrosis extent is difficult but it may increase the likelihood of the ovary conservation. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated the findings in ovarian torsion among patients with ovarian tumors who underwent emergency surgery at a single hospital for possible preoperative indicators of ovarian viability. We thus evaluated 77 patients who were intraoperatively diagnosed with torsion of ovarian tumor between 1995 and 2010. These patients were classified into three groups depending on the postoperative histopathological findings: necrotic, congestive, and normal. Preoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level, leukocyte count, and body temperature, along with tumor size, degree of torsion, time from the onset of abdominal pain to surgery, and incidence of acute abdomen were compared among the three groups. The sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the preoperative serum CRP levels for ovarian necrosis were calculated. The CRP level, degree of torsion, and time from the onset of abdominal pain to surgery were significantly higher in the necrotic group than in the normal group. The sensitivity and specificity of the CRP level for necrosis were 35% and 83%, respectively, and positive and negative predictive values were 38% and 82% respectively. The potential for ovary conservation in suspected ovarian torsion should be greater if the tumor is non-malignant, the time from the onset of abdominal pain to operation is short, and the CRP level is < 0.3 mg/dl.

Incidental detection of breast apocrine carcinoma via endometrial cytology.

Breast apocrine carcinoma is a rare malignancy characterized histologically by a predominance of acidophilic tumor cells exhibiting apocrine metaplasia. Apocrine tumors represent only about 0.4% of all breast cancers. Many cases are diagnosed at stage I or II; thus, the prognosis is better than that for other types of breast cancer. Here we present a 57-year-old female patient with primary apocrine breast carcinoma that was incidentally discovered by endometrial cytology. The patient had undergone routine uterine cancer screening at the age of 56 with resulting positive endometrial cytology. Subsequent histological examination of an endometrial biopsy revealed suspected metastatic uterine adenocarcinoma. Further evaluation revealed a 3-cm mass in the left breast, which was histopathologically diagnosed as breast cancer. Dual procedures were performed at the departments of gynecology and breast surgery. The patient underwent a modified radical mastectomy of the left breast and left axillary lymph node dissection. Laparotomy revealed multiple adhesions throughout the peritoneal cavity that suggested invasive metastatic cancer, and a right adnexectomy was performed. Histopathological examination of the resected left breast and right ovary tissues revealed apocrine carcinoma. Thus, stage IV breast cancer was diagnosed. The patient finished 6 cycles of paclitaxel and is now under observation on an outpatient basis. In this patient, breast cancer was discovered incidentally through a detailed work-up after a positive result of endometrial cytology. Uterine cancer screening has the potential, although rare, to detect metastatic cancer originating elsewhere. This should be taken into consideration during the work-up due to positive endometrial cytology.

Indication for laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: Total hysterectomy procedures include total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH), and laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH). Our institution has introduced LAVH as a preferred option to the more invasive TAH. To date, no reports have proposed surgical indications for LAVH based on statistical analysis of surgical results. The purpose of this study was to establish criteria for performing LAVH through statistical analysis of a retrospective review of surgical outcomes in LAVH cases at our institution over a period of 15 years. METHODS: The medical records of 629 patients scheduled for LAVH for uterine fibroids and/or adenomyosis at our hospital were examined. Surgical results (blood loss, operative time, rates of conversion to laparotomy, and intraand postoperative complications) were compared among 9 groups classified by uterine weight. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in surgical outcomes were found between the group with a uterine weight ≥ 800g and the other groups. CONCLUSION: We found that when the uterine weight was ≥ 800g, TAH was more appropriate because significant blood loss and/or complications would be expected during LAVH. A removed uterus weighing 800g is reportedly equivalent to a preoperative uterine size of approximately 12 cm. Therefore, LAVH may be safely indicated for patients with a uterine size ≤ 12 cm (approximately equivalent to the uterine size at 16-weeks gestation).

Risk factors for deep-vein thrombosis and pulmonary thromboembolism in benign ovarian tumor.

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) is a serious postoperative complication. Reported rates of PE following gynecologic surgery are between 0.3% and 0.8%, with deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) as the major cause (via seeding of the lungs). Benign ovarian tumors are treated principally by surgery. Possible risk factors for DVT and PE in patients with benign ovarian tumors include tumor size, patient age, and obesity. To date, however, there has been no report addressing the association of these risk factors in patients with benign ovarian tumors. This study offers a retrospective analysis of the incident of preoperative DVT by age, tumor size, and BMI in patients undergoing surgery for benign ovarian tumors. A total of 843 Japanese patients with a preoperative diagnosis of benign ovarian tumor who underwent tumorectomy or adnexectomy at our institution between July 2003 and December 2010 were enrolled. The incidence of preoperative DVT was monitored and statistically stratified by age (< 50 years and ≥ 50 years), largest tumor diameter (< 10 cm and ≥ 10 cm), and BMI (< 25 and ≥ 25). The result indicates that tumor diameter of ≥ 10 cm is not a risk factor for preoperative DVT in patients with benign ovarian tumor. On the other hand, age ≥ 50 years and BMI > 25 are independent risk factors for preoperative DVT in Japan. The patients with each risk factor should be treated with preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative precautions against development of PE.

Deep-vein thrombosis is associated with large uterine fibroids.

Pulmonary thromboembolism (PE) may occur upon a patient's first postoperative attempt of ambulation. PE is a serious complication, often leading to shock or sudden death. Reported rates of PE following gynecologic surgery are between 0.3% and 0.8%, while the incidence of postoperative deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), the major cause of PE, is between 17% and 20%. Therefore, effective preventive measures, such as preoperative assessment for asymptomatic DVT, should be considered. It is well known that DVT and/or PE are associated with large uterine fibroids, the common, benign tumor of myometrium. Here, to establish the statistical relationship between DVT risk and uterine fibroid size/weight, we assessed the preoperative DVT rate with respect to three possible risk factors: age, obesity level, and uterine size/weight. A total of 361 patients with uterine fibroids undergoing hysterectomy between July, 2003 and December, 2009 were enrolled. All patients were evaluated for preoperative DVT; the results were stratified for statistical comparison by patient age, BMI, and uterine weight. There was no statistical difference in the DVT rate for patients stratified by age (below age 45 years or older) or BMI (below 25 or higher). By contrast, the rate of DVT was significantly higher for patients with uterine weights of 1,000 gm or more (11.5% [7/61]) compared with weights below 1,000 gm (3.0% [9/300]). None of the patients studied developed PE. In conclusion, the incidence of DVT is significantly higher in cases where uterine weight is 1,000 gm or more (ie, adult head size on pelvic examination).

Case of acquired hemophilia with factor VIII inhibitor in a mother and newborn.

We report a mother and newborn in the puerperium with hemorrhage secondary to factor VIII inhibitor. A 31-year-old gravida 1 para 1 delivered at a local clinic with a massive postpartum hemorrhage. The activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged and factor VIII inhibitor was detected. The persistent hemorrhage improved following treatment, including transfusion, steroid therapy, and bypass therapy with factor VII formulations. After hysteroscopic removal of the retained placenta, the hemorrhage decreased. The newborn developed significant swelling of the hands after routine blood sampling and factor VIII inhibitor was detected. The inhibitor disappeared without any special treatment in the 5th month postpartum in the mother and the 4th month postpartum in the newborn. Factor VIII inhibitor may be transferred via the placenta from the mother to the fetus. Therefore, the newborn should also be carefully observed in a case of massive hemorrhage after delivery.

[Gynecologic laparoscopic surgery].

In Japan, endoscopic surgeries are covered by health insurance only when they are performed for benign diseases. Actually, endoscopic surgery is performed for the treatment of benign diseases in most cases. However, it is difficult to precisely know what types of cases are currently treated with laparoscopic procedures in Japan. The Japan Society of Gynecological and Obstetrical Surgery performed a survey to examine the frequency of the use of endoscopic surgery for the first time in Japan, and reported the results. In this article, we described the present situation and problem of gynecologic laparoscopic surgery in Japan from the results.

Carbamyl phosphate synthetase deficiency and postpartum hyperammonemia.

Carbamyl phosphate synthetase (CPS) is an enzyme that converts ammonia to carbamyl phosphate in the urea cycle. CPS deficiency is a genetic disorder that causes hyperammonemia because of enzyme activity deficiency. It is primarily diagnosed in neonates and infants and has a poor prognosis. We report an adult woman with CPS deficiency who developed hyperammonemia postpartum.

Emergency cesarean section as a result of acute eosinophilic pneumonia during pregnancy.

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia is a disease of unknown etiology characterized by peripheral blood eosinophilia and pulmonary infiltrative shadows on radiography. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia follows an acute course within 1 week and the symptoms include fever, dyspnea, and cough. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia has a good prognosis and responds promptly to steroid treatments. Here we present a critical case of acute eosinophilic pneumonia during pregnancy, which led to emergency cesarean section because of fetal distress. The patient was a 24-year-old gravida at 34 + 6 weeks gestation, with fever, and an elevated CRP; thus antibiotics were started. At 35 + 1 weeks gestation, cardiotocography (CTG) revealed late decelerations, fetal distress was diagnosed, and an emergency cesarean section was performed. The pre-operative maternal blood gas analysis showed a low PaO(2) of 55.7 mmHg and a chest X-ray revealed ground-glass opacities and pleural effusions in the middle lower lung fields bilaterally. A male of 2,336 g in weight was delivered with Apgar scores of 8 and 8 at 1 and 5 min, respectively. Due to the clinical progress and the elevated eosinophil count (532/microl) in the peripheral blood differential leukocyte count, the diagnosis of acute eosinophilic pneumonia was made. With the administration of oxygen and steroid treatment, the patient's general condition recovered. Both the mother and the baby were discharged on the 10(th) post-operative day and the patient has been leading a normal life with no recurrence for > 3 years since delivery.

Laparoscopic mucin removal in patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pseudomyxoma peritonei results from ovarian and appendiceal mucinous tumors. Cyst rupture results in intraabdominal mucin accumulation, leading to abdominal distension. No effective treatment has yet been established. Pseudomyxoma peritonei is generally associated with a poor prognosis. In a recent Mayo Clinic report, the 5-year survival rate for this disease was 53% and the 10-year survival rate was 32%, while the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center reported 5- and 10-year survival rates of 75% and 10%. METHODS AND RESULTS: In this report, we describe 4 patients with a laparoscopically confirmed recurrence of pseudomyxoma peritonei who subsequently underwent repeated laparoscopic mucin removal. CONCLUSION: Because laparoscopic surgery can be performed frequently, it appears that laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure, greatly improves the quality of life of patients with pseudomyxoma peritonei.

Definitive diagnosis of primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix by laparoscopic appendectomy.

We report a 62-year-old woman with a primary adenocarcinoma of the appendix mimicking ovarian tumor. We had diagnosed it definitively by laparoscopic appendectomy, and additional surgery was required in this case. However, the present case suggests that, in some cases, if cancer of the appendix can be diagnosed early, laparotomy can be avoided and the cancer treated with minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery alone.

Preoperative diagnosis of ovarian tumors, focusing on the solid area based on diagnostic imaging.

AIM: The objectives were to attempt to differentiate between benignancy and malignancy by focusing not on macroscopic finding of tumor sections, but on the solid areas by diagnostic imaging. To investigate the usefulness of diagnostic imaging for ovarian tumors, we examined the solid areas in the tumor and their shape and analyzed the relationship between these factors and the malignant potential. METHODS: Subjects were 921 surgical cases (1074 tumors) over a period of 7 years. Diagnostic images (ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging) were reread, focusing on the solid area. Tumors were classified into four groups according to the prominence of the solid area, and the findings were compared with the postoperative diagnosis. RESULTS: Of the cases, 718 indicated benign, borderline malignancy in 29 and malignancy in 174. The malignant potential of tumors with solid areas was significantly higher than those with no solid area. However, upon comparison among the different groups with solid areas, no significant differences were detected in terms of the frequency at which malignancies were detected, despite the differences between the groups with respect to size and shape. CONCLUSION: It is important for the treatment strategy that solid areas, even if small, should not be neglected, and that malignancies are found at high frequency regardless of shape, size and prominence.

Cytopathologic and clinicopathologic features of ovarian hepatoid carcinoma. A case report.

BACKGROUND: Hepatoid carcinoma is a rare ovarian tumor and is thought to be a different histopathologic subtype from hepatoid-type yolk sac tumor based upon its pathologic features. However, the cytopathologic characteristics of ovarian hepatoid carcinoma (OHC) have not been reported previously. We report the clinicopathologic and cytopathologic features and immunoreactivity of a case of OHC. CASE: A 36-year-old woman presented to our department with lower abdominal pain. A left ovarian tumor was found on pelvic examination, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography. The tumor was diagnosed as a hepatoid carcinoma of the left ovary based upon the histopathology of the surgically resected specimen. Cytopathologic specimens from a tumor touch preparation of the tumor exhibited pleomorphic tumor cells with abundant cytoplasm. The nuclei contained rough, granular chromatin and large, prominent nucleoli. Several tumor cells were multinucleated. Tumor cells were immunoreactive for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that the tumor cells were in a sinusoidal pattern resembling hepatocellular carcinoma without any glandular formation. The tumor cells were negative for human chorionic gonadotropin while positive for AFP, alpha-1-antitripsin, CA-125 and carcinoembryonic antigen. CONCLUSION: Cytopathologic examination is of considerable aid in the diagnosis of OHC since cytopathologic preparations highlight the characteristic cell pleomorphism.

Successful planned pregnancy in a patient with St Jude medical prosthetic mitral valve.

A primiparous woman with a St Jude Medical (SJM) mitral valve prosthesis and receiving anticoagulant drug delivered a healthy male infant by spontaneous normal vaginal delivery. Oral warfarin was replaced by subcutaneous heparin at the 6th week of gestation and the dosage of heparin was adjusted to maintain a partial thromboplastin time between 2.0 and 2.5 times the control value. Treatment with heparin was administered during the first trimester and the last 5 weeks of gestation. Warfarin was used between the 13th and 32nd week. Successful pregnancy and delivery in patients with a SJM mitral valve prostheses is possible with careful maintenance of anticoagulation.