Differences in geographical distribution and risk factors for urinary incontinence in Turkey: analysis of 6,473 women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence, types and risk factors for urinary incontinence (UI) and to evaluate the impact of incontinence on quality of life by using validated and objective questionnaires in the western and eastern parts of Turkey. METHODS: In this multicenter observational study, 6,473 women from 38 cities in the western and eastern parts of Turkey were included. UI was assessed by ICIQ-SF (International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire Short Form) and IIQ-7 (Incontinence Impact Questionnaire). RESULTS: The UI rate was 20.9% (10% for stress, 8.3% overactive bladder and 2.6% for mixed type). In all, stress incontinence was the most common type. The rate of UI in women residing in the west was higher than in women living in the east (p < 0.001). ICIQ scores were comparable in the two groups but women in the west scored higher in each item of the IIQ. Age >40 years (p < 0.001), number of siblings >5 (p < 0.001) and low educational status (p < 0.001) increased the rate of incontinence. In binary logistic regression analysis menopausal status, age >40 years, number of siblings >5, being overweight, region of residence, and educational status were associated with UI. CONCLUSION: The rate of UI in women residing in the western part of Turkey was higher than women living in the east. Residing in a different geographical region (in our case living either in the western or eastern part of Turkey) seemed to be an independent risk factor for UI. Moreover, UI deteriorates quality of life and more attention should be paid to this vulnerable population.

Giant ovarian tumor presenting as an incarcerated umbilical hernia: a case report.

We report a rare case of a giant ovarian tumor presenting as an incarcerated umbilical hernia. A 61-yr-old woman was admitted to the hospital with severe abdominal pain, an umbilical mass, nausea and vomiting. On examination, a large, irreducible umbilical hernia was found. The woman underwent an urgent operation for a possible strangulated hernia. A large, multilocular tumor was found. The tumor was excised, and a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salphingo-oophorectomy were performed. The woman was discharged 6 days after her admission. This is the first report of incarcerated umbilical hernia containing a giant ovarian tumor within the sac.

Occult metastasis in early ovarian cancers: risk factors and associated prognosis.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define risk factors associated with the occult metastasis in early stage epithelial ovarian carcinoma (EOC), and to compare the survivals in respect to occult metastasis. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review of 169 patients with clinically early stage EOC was performed. RESULTS: Overall, 53 patients (53/169, 31.4%) were upstaged. The most common occult metastasis was the lymphatic involvement (22/53; 41.5%). Overall, 64.1% (34/53) of these upstaged patients had unrecognized disease in the upper abdomen or retroperitoneal space. Multivariable analysis revealed 3 factors to be associated with occult metastasis: Ca-125 levels > or = 500 U/mL (P = .04), positive peritoneal cytology (P = .001), and grade III disease (P = .04). Five-year survival rates were 61.83% and 88.25%, respectively, in patients with or without occult metastasis. Among the upstaged patients, omental or peritoneal metastasis revealed the worst prognosis. CONCLUSION: Proper surgical staging is an important issue in early stage ovarian cancers, particularly in patients with high Ca-125 levels, positive cytology, and high grade tumor.

A lost intrauterine device. Guess where we found it and how it happened?

Perforation of the uterus by an intrauterine device (IUD) is a serious complication occurring at or following 1/350 to 1/2,500 insertions. It is more common among women with 'lost' IUDs. If a woman presents with pelvic pain and a history of a 'lost' IUD, X-rays of the abdomen and of the pelvis should be ordered. We report on a 'lost' IUD that had been inserted 12 years previously. It was found in the lower anterior abdominal wall. Most probably uterine perforation had happened during a dilatation and curettage (D & C) attempted for removal of the device. Thereafter the IUD must have migrated to the abdominal wall. This case illustrates that unless it can be recovered by simple traction on the threads, a trained medical professional should be called upon for removal of the IUD.

The role of secondary cytoreduction in the treatment of ovarian cancer: Hacettepe University experience.

OBJECTIVE: This study was undertaken to evaluate the role of secondary cytoreduction in patients with recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. STUDY DESIGN: Secondarily, cytoreduced patients were retrospectively analyzed with respect to the clinicopathologic variables. RESULTS: A total of 64 patients were evaluated in this report. Multivariable analysis revealed 3 factors to be significant: optimal cytoreduction during primary (P = .003, odds ratio [OR]: 0.30; 95% CI: 0.14-0.66), secondary cytoreduction (P = .04, OR: 0.47; 95% CI: 0.22-0.99), and the endometrioid histologic type (P = .005, OR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.02-0.48). Intrinsic factors of the tumors (grade, stage, age), size, and number of recurrent tumors were nonsignificant. CONCLUSION: Secondary cytoreductive surgery should be offered in selected recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer patients. Further prospective randomized series are needed to determine specific recommendations.

Primary cervical lymphoma: report of two cases and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Primary lymphoma arising from the female genital tract has been rarely encountered. Primary cervical lymphoma is even rarer in gynecologic oncology practice and accounts for approximately only 1% of extranodal lymphomas. In this article, two cases of cervical lymphoma are presented with a review of the available literature. CASE HISTORIES: A 51-year-old woman presented with abnormal vaginal discharge. On pelvic examination, cervix was apparently normal; however, a solid and mobile pelvic mass was palpated. Pap smear was reported as HSIL at another institution. Radiological evaluation revealed a cervical mass with a 3 cm diameter. Histopathological evaluation of LEEP material was reported as diffuse large B cell lymphoma. We performed abdominal hysterectomy plus bilateral salphingo-oopherectomy and the patient was treated with adjuvant 6 cycles of CHOP chemotherapy. A second case was a 49-year-old postmenopausal woman who had undergone a routine gynecologic follow-up examination without any complaint at another institution. Routine cytological smear revealed HSIL. Punch biopsy under colposcopic examination presented no remarkable pathology except for a benign inflammation. Due to discordance between cytology and histology, LEEP was performed under colposcopic examination, which revealed follicular lymphoma grade III. This patient was treated with 6 cycles CHOP chemotherapy without any surgery. CONCLUSION: Primary cervical lymphoma is a rare disorder. Although most reported cases in the literature have a normal Pap smear, some may represent with co-existent cytological abnormalities. Therefore, cervical lymphomas should be kept in mind in patients with cytological abnormalities.

Lymphatic metastasis in epithelial ovarian carcinoma with respect to clinicopathological variables.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors, and the patterns of lymphatic metastasis in EOC patients who were treated with systematic pelvic and paraaortic lymphatic dissection. METHODS: A total of 420 EOC patients was retrospectively evaluated. Clinical factors available were evaluated for a possible significance in terms of lymphatic metastasis and paraaortic involvement. RESULTS: Two-hundred and three patients were found to have lymphatic metastasis. In multivariable analysis, stage (P < 0.001), histology (P < 0.01 for serous; P = 0.02 for mixed, and P = 0.04, for Brenner), and Ca-125 level higher than 500 U/ml (P = 0.04) were found to be significantly related with the lymphatic involvement. Age and grade were significant factors for paraaortic metastasis both in univariable and multivariable analysis (P = 0.003 and P = 0.02, respectively). Most of the patients with unilateral tumors had contralateral pelvic and/or paraaortic metastasis. There were eleven patients with lymphatic metastasis in stage I-II disease, and five had paraaortic metastasis while an additional five patients had contralateral pelvic nodal metastasis. However, there was no lymphatic involvement in Stage IA, Grade I-II disease (0/63). Survival analysis revealed no significant difference by the number of metastatic lymph nodes. CONCLUSION: In multivariable analysis, lymphatic involvement was predicted independently by stage, histology, and Ca-125 level. In apparently stage I-II disease, a considerable part of patients were upstaged due to lymphatic involvement. Although routine systematic lymphadenectomy is suggested for patients with early stage disease, further series are needed for a definite regimen in patients with stage IA G1-2 disease since we did not detect any lymphatic involvement in this unique group.

Routine appendectomy in epithelial ovarian carcinoma: is it necessary?

OBJECTIVE: To detect risk factors for the appendiceal metastasis and to define the role of routine appendectomy in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. METHODS: A total of 285 patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma who had undergone primary cytoreductive surgery including appendectomy were retrospectively evaluated. Appendiceal involvement was divided into 2 groups: gross and microscopic. Clinicopathologic variables were evaluated for possible significance in terms of appendiceal metastasis. A second analysis was performed using the same variables to detect a possible relation with microscopic metastasis. In a subgroup analysis, we also analyzed the role of routine appendectomy in patients with clinically early stage disease. RESULTS: One-hundred six patients were found to have appendiceal metastasis (37%). Univariate and multivariate analysis revealed stage of disease as the unique factor determining the appendiceal metastasis (P < .001). Five patients with apparently stage I-II disease were upstaged due to isolated appendiceal metastasis (4.9%). In the second analysis excluding the patients with gross involvement, ascites was an independent predictor of microscopic involvement (P < .01). CONCLUSION: Routine appendectomy is indicated in all epithelial ovarian carcinoma patients as part of the initial surgical staging procedure because of a considerable rate of upstaging in early stage disease and optimal cytoreduction in advanced stages. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II-3.