Primary ovarian sarcoma: analysis of prognostic variables and the role of surgical cytoreduction.

BACKGROUND: Data regarding the value of cytoreduction and cell histology in ovarian sarcomas are limited. The goal of this study was to assess the value of surgical cytoreduction, preoperative CA 125 levels, stage, histology, and platinum-based chemotherapy in the primary treatment of ovarian sarcomas. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 47 women with primary ovarian sarcomas was performed. RESULTS: Forty-one patients (87%) presented with advanced stage disease (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage III or IV). Optimal surgical cytoreduction (< 1 cm residual tumor burden) was achieved in 25 patients (53%). Forty patients (85%) had a malignant mixed müllerian tumor whereas 7 patients had a pure sarcoma. Eighteen women with mixed müllerian tumors had homologous tumors and 22 had heterologous elements. Patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy were significantly more likely to have a response (P = 0.008) compared with those treated with other regimens. Treatment with platinum-based chemotherapy also showed a survival advantage (P = 0.03). Preoperative CA 125 levels were elevated (> 35 U/mL) in 93% of patients with ovarian sarcomas. A preoperative CA 125 level < 75 U/mL was significantly associated with better survival (P = 0.01). In univariate analysis, other significant predictors of improved survival were early stage (P = 0.04), homologous tumors (P < 0.05), and optimal surgical cytoreduction (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis of various prognostic variables, optimal surgical cytoreduction (P < 0.001) was the most significant factor, followed by histologic subtype (P < 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian sarcomas are rare malignancies with a poor prognosis. All women with suspected ovarian carcinoma or sarcoma should have a preoperative CA 125 level taken. Surgical cytoreduction to a residual tumor burden of < or = 1 cm improves outcome and should be the goal of surgery. Although the optimal consolidation chemotherapy regimen remains unknown, platinum should be included as part of the regimen.

Life and death decisions in the intensive care unit.

More than 250,000 women will die of cancer in the United States this year, almost 10% of which are due to gynecologic malignancies. Many of these women will have received care in the intensive care unit (ICU). With important advances in medical technology and the advent of an expanded pharmacologic armamentarium, our ability to maintain life has increased greatly over the past few years. However, this phenomenon has been associated with great emotional and financial cost. It is estimated that ICU charges totaled almost 10% of the $810 billion spent on health care in the United States in 1992. Because 6-month survival rates for patients with cancer admitted to an ICU are the lowest of any disease subgroup (23.7%), we must critically evaluate the role of the ICU in the care of these patients. Decisions regarding admission to an ICU, level of care, and termination of care must take into account patient and family wishes, a reasonable estimation of the reversibility of the acute disease process in question, and the natural history of the underlying disease. Many prognostic scoring systems have been devised to estimate the probability of death among adult ICU patients; however, most of these systems were developed with data from trauma patients rather than from patients with an underlying malignancy, and none are capable of predicting which patient will die. Decisions concerning level of care in the ICU will necessarily involve medical as well as ethical considerations and are best made with a team approach.

Massive edema of the ovary associated with androgenic manifestations.

Massive ovarian edema is a rare tumor-like condition of the ovary characterized by marked enlargement of one or both ovaries due to marked accumulation of edema fluid in the ovarian stroma. This paper reviews the literature on massive ovarian edema and presents a case associated with androgenic manifestations.

Anaphylaxis to carboplatin following multiple previous uncomplicated courses.

Hypersensitivity reactions to carboplatin are rare but potentially life-threatening complications. A patient with an anaphylactic reaction to carboplatin is presented. This patient had received multiple courses of platinum-based chemotherapy including cisplatin and carboplatin. Close patient monitoring during chemotherapy is essential and skin testing to identify the etiologic agent is indicated when hypersensitivity reactions occur in the setting of combination chemotherapy.

Ureteroarterial fistulae in exenteration patients with indwelling ureteral stents.

Ureteroarterial fistulae (UAF) are a rare complication of prolonged ureteral stenting. To date only three patients have been reported who have developed UAF after pelvic exenteration. This report presents two additional patients with UAF following exenteration and prolonged ureteral stenting. Rapid diagnosis with pelvic arteriography and retrograde ureteral angioplasty balloon catheter placement is discussed, and successful management with femoral artery embolization and bypass surgery is reviewed.

Radical hysterectomy in the treatment of patients with bulky early stage carcinoma of the cervix uteri.

This study was done to assess the role of radical hysterectomy in patients with bulky (greater than or equal to 4 centimeters) early stage carcinoma of the cervix uteri. Of 48 patients with bulky carcinoma of the cervix uteri undergoing Type III radical hysterectomy between 1970 and 1987, 46 patients were Stage 1B and two were Stage 2A. Pathologic estimate of the dimensions of the lesion ranged from 4 x 3 to 9 x 11 centimeters. Fourteen patients had evidence of pelvic node metastasis and one patient had evidence of microscopic metastasis to the para-aortic nodes. Twelve patients received adjunctive radiation therapy for findings of nodal metastasis or tumor near or at the surgical margin. There were recurrences in 19 patients, 13 of which were isolated to the pelvic area. Of the patients with isolated pelvic recurrences, five were salvaged with secondary treatment. The overall five year survival rate was 73.6 percent and the ten year survival rate was 60.6 percent. Radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy seems to have equal efficacy and morbidity rates when compared with radiation therapy or the combination of extrafascial hysterectomy and radiation therapy in the treatment of patients with bulky early stage carcinoma of the cervix uteri.

The validity and significance of substages of advanced ovarian cancer.

No studies to date have evaluated the validity of the new FIGO substaging of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer nor assessed the importance of substage in relation to other elements such as age at diagnosis, debulking surgery, and second-look laparotomy. The purpose of this study was to determine the significance of these factors. One hundred sixty-seven patients with Stage III ovarian cancer were restaged according to the 1988 FIGO criteria (6% Stage IIIa, 15.6% Stage IIIb, and 78.4% Stage IIIc). The mean age at diagnosis was 40.5 for Stage IIIa, 51 for Stage IIIb, and 62 for Stage IIIc (P = 0.0001). Median survival was 2.5 years for patients age < 60 and 1.4 years for those age > or = 60 (P = 0.0001). Median survival for patients undergoing TAH/BSO was 2.06 years, bowel resection 1.39 years, and biopsy only 1.38 years (P = 0.0003). Only 61 of 131 Stage IIIc patients underwent second-look laparotomy. Seven of nine Stage IIIa, 6 of 17 Stage IIIb, and 14 of 61 Stage IIIc patients had negative second-look laparotomies (P = 0.004). Only 4 of the 14 patients with Stage IIIc and 8 of 13 Stage IIIa/b patients are alive after negative second look (P = 0.37). Median survival for Stage IIIa patients has not been reached and for Stages IIIb and IIIc was 2.29 years and 1.33 years, respectively (P = 0.0001). These data confirm the prognostic validity of FIGO substages for Stage III. The age differential by substages suggests that the natural history of Stage III disease is progressive over several decades. The appropriateness of aggressive cytoreductive surgery and second-look laparotomy must be reevaluated using the new FIGO staging system.

Use of a single random serum progesterone value as a diagnostic aid for ectopic pregnancy.

We evaluated the usefulness of serum progesterone (P) determinations in differentiating between ectopic pregnancy (EP), normal intrauterine pregnancy (IUP), and abnormal IUP. Values were obtained from 233 samples from 54 patients with IUP, 100 samples from 26 patients with abnormal IUP, and 125 samples from 46 patients with EP. Although mean values from all three groups were significantly different, we could not detect a single value that readily predicted both the presence and absence of EP. Only 2% of patients with EP (excluding those having undergone ovulation induction) had a P greater than 20 ng/mL and only 2% of patients with IUP had a value less than 10 ng/mL. Thirty-one percent of IUP, 23% of abnormal IUP, and 52% of EP had values that fell between 10 and 20 ng/mL, which limits the clinical usefulness of this test.

Pelvic exenteration with low rectal anastomosis: survival, complications, and prognostic factors.

Between July 1979 and January 1989 there were 31 patients who underwent pelvic exenteration with low rectal anastomosis (PE and LRA) at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). There were no operative deaths; however, 32% of the patients experienced significant postoperative morbidity. Survival (Kaplan-Meier) at 1 year is 86%. Overall survival is 68% with follow-up ranging from 10 months to greater than 9 years. For those patients with disease confined to the cervix and/or vagina (n = 18) the survival is 89% while it is 38% for patients with spread to the bladder, rectum, or parametrium (n = 13). Survival was not influenced by tumor differentiation, time from irradiation to exenteration, or initial stage. Complete healing of the LRA was achieved in 16 patients (52%). However, in the subset of patients with an omental wrap (n = 13) the complete healing rate is 85%. Protective colostomies were utilized in 12 patients; however, this was not shown to improve the healing rate of the LRA. This group of patients is compared to similar patients who had anterior pelvic exenteration at UAB for morbidity and survival. LRA at the time of pelvic exenteration for recurrent cervical cancer is associated with acceptable morbidity and survival and should be attempted in those patients who are appropriate candidates.

Clinical and histopathologic factors predicting recurrence and survival after pelvic exenteration for cancer of the cervix.

Between September 1969 and January 1, 1986, 143 pelvic exenterations for recurrent cervical cancer were performed by the gynecologic oncologists at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Of this group, 78 patients underwent total pelvic exenteration, 63 patients had anterior exenteration, and two had posterior exenteration. The overall operative mortality rate was 6.3%, mostly associated with total pelvic exenteration. The 5-year survival rates were 50% overall, 63% with anterior exenteration and 42% with total exenteration. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify clinical and histopathologic factors predictive of prolonged survival. Using three clinical factors (duration from initial radiation therapy to exenteration, size of the central mass, and presence of preoperative sidewall fixation), low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups were constructed; the 5-year survival rates for these groups were 82, 46, and 0%, respectively. Inclusion of one histopathologic factor (margin status of the surgical specimen) added to the ability to predict 2- and 5-year survival rates. The best candidates for cure by pelvic exenteration were those with recurrent small (less than 3 cm), mobile central masses who were a year or longer from the time of their previous radiation therapy. Attempts to resect bulky pelvic recurrences that impinge on the pelvic sidewall, especially in the case of persistent or early recurrent disease (within 6 months), or continuation of exenterative procedures in women known to have nodal metastases or extrapelvic spread, are generally futile. For those women falling between the two extremes, sound clinical and operative judgment is imperative in regard to selecting the treatment offering the best quality of life.