[Importance of the Pap smear in the age of HPV testing]. / Gynäologische Vorsorge.

Importance of the Pap smear in the age of HPV testing Abstract. Screening for cervical cancer prevention is considered a success story. Since the introduction of the Pap test in the 1950s, the incidence and mortality of cervical carcinomas has decreased dramatically in the industrialized world. In developing countries, and especially in certain countries in Africa, cervical cancer is still one of the most common fatal cancers due to the lack of screening and therapeutic options. For decades, Pap tests and colposcopy were the basis of cervical cancer screening. In the early 1980s, it became known that almost without exception cervical carcinomas require infection with certain human papilloma viruses (HPV). Among other things, this finding also revolutionized cervical cancer screening. The quality of the Pap test is influenced by the conditions of collection and by the so-called interobserver variability. Overall, cytology shows a good specificity of 95 % with a lower sensitivity of 70 %. Additional immunohistochemical tests to determine the biomarkers p16 and Ki-67 can increase the sensitivity of the Pap test up to 94 % (analogous to the HPV test), which is why cytological tests are still considered very effective in countries with sufficient resources and expertise. In contrast, the HPV test is not subjective and has a high sensitivity of 94 %. However, the specificity is worse than for the Pap test, which is why HPV-based screening carries an increased risk of unnecessary clarification and therapy. The superiority of HPV versus cytological screening seems to be proven under defined study conditions, but only after the second or third screening round. If screening is performed opportunistically, as in Switzerland, there is a risk of so-called lost follow-up. It is precisely the failure to take advantage of screening examinations or their performance at irregular intervals that is considered the most significant risk factor for the development of cervical carcinoma. It should also be remembered that the HPV test only reflects the current viral shedding but does not provide any information about the time and duration of HPV infection. Further studies are necessary to determine long-term results and cost-effectiveness.

[Vulvodynia - Diagnostics and Management Strategies]. / Vulvodynie: Diagnostik und Management.

Vulvodynia - Diagnostics and Management Strategies Abstract. Vulvodynia is characterized by chronic, idiopathic vulvar pain lasting for at least three months. After exclusion of other, specific diseases associated with vulvar pain, which can be treated accordingly, realistic therapy goals for this chronic disease should be defined. The therapy concept is multimodal, interdisciplinary as well as individualized and includes the combination of general recommendations with physiotherapeutic and psychotherapeutic measures. Pharmacological therapy, which is indispensable, is carried out off-label and includes the topical and/or systemic use of various substances and substance combinations. Surgical measures may be regarded as a possible option, especially in women with therapy-resistant and provocable vulvodynia. Alternative therapy options such as acupuncture, hypnosis and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation are also worth investigating.

[Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Female Bladder Outlet Obstruction]. / Blasenentleerungsstörungen bei der Frau ­ Ursachen, Diagnostik und Therapie.

Etiology, Diagnosis, and Management of Female Bladder Outlet Obstruction Abstract. Bladder outlet obstruction affects up to every fourth woman. This condition is causing difficulties to void. Patients complain about frequency, an urge to void, or they describe the feeling of post-void residual urine. Increased post-void residual urine or a pathological micturition pattern with increased pressure or pathological flow curves are suggestive for a bladder outlet obstruction. Common causes are genital organ prolapse, previous incontinence surgery, or dysfunctional voiding. Correspondingly, the underlying etiology is determining therapy: surgical correction of the pelvic organ prolapse usually eliminates the obstructive situation; a tightly placed incontinence sling should be loosened or incised, while dysfunctional disorders can be well addressed by pelvic floor rehabilitation.

Squamous Carcinoma of the Neovagina after Male-to-Female Reconstruction Surgery: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the neovagina after genital reconstruction surgery is a rare occurrence with only very few cases published up to the present. We report a case of a 43-year-old transgender woman who developed neovaginal SCC 23 years after vaginoplasty. The patient tested positive for high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). At the time of diagnosis, radiological investigations revealed already existing lymph node and osseous metastases. The treatment consisted of various cycles of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Unfortunately, the formation of additional metastases, including cerebral, pulmonary, and hepatic metastases, could not be prevented. After comparing the literature on the topic, we conclude that neovaginal carcinoma often appears years and decades after genital reconstruction surgery. We therefore recommend the continuation of regular clinical follow-up for transgender women after postoperative follow-up is completed. With this approach, potential lesions may be detected at an earlier stage and a better outcome may be achieved. Follow-up should include neovaginal examination and cytological smear testing. At a later age, we recommend additional regular prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing and digital rectal examination (DRE). Moreover, transgender women are advised to take part in mammography screening starting at the age of 50, especially when additional risk factors are present.

Subcutaneous botulinum toxin type A injections for provoked vestibulodynia: a randomized placebo-controlled trial and exploratory subanalysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies using botulinum toxin type A (BT) to treat provoked vestibulodynia (PVD) reported conflicting findings, possibly attributable to singular injections or low doses. We assessed PVD treatment effectiveness with high-dose single injections of BT (50 or 100 units) versus placebo, and then repeat BT 100 U injections over 6 months. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, three-arm, placebo-controlled study with 33 PVD patients. BT 50 U (arm A), 100 U (arm B) or saline (arm C) were injected subcutaneously into the dorsal vulvar vestibulum and pain was assessed after 3 months. The investigation proceeded as an unblinded exploratory analysis, in which symptomatic patients received a BT 100 U injection. Symptomatic patients in arm C received a second BT 100 U injection at the 6-month visit. Symptoms were measured at 3-month cycles using: (1) cotton swab-provoked visual analogue scale (VAS), (2) von Frey filaments, and (3) Marinoff dyspareunia scale. RESULTS: The three groups were comparable in terms of demographics and baseline clinical characteristics. Three months after the initial injection, no significant differences in pain were observed among the study arms, yet significant improvements occurred within all groups using the von Frey filaments test. Results from the exploratory analyses showed repeat injections of 100 U BT over 6 months led to significant pain reduction (VAS and von Frey filaments). Fifty-eight percent (7/12) of patients assessable after repeat injections were symptom-free or had ≥ 2 VAS reduction. Adverse events were minor and no serious adverse events occurred during the RCT or exploratory analysis. CONCLUSIONS: PVD symptoms after one subcutaneous injection of BT (50 or 100 units) did not significantly differ compared to placebo, yet all three study arms experienced a reduction in pain 3 months after a single injection. Exploratory analyses indicated that repeat high-dose BT injections may significantly reduce pain over 6 months. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This trial was registered with the Swiss Medical Agency (reference number: 2007DR2102) in 2007.

[Burning Vulva: Significance of Surgery in Inflammatory and Precancerous Vulvar Pathologies]. / Vulväres Brennen: Stellenwert der Chirurgie bei entzündlichen und präkanzerösen Vulvapathologien.

Vuval pathologies manifested by allodynia and burning sensations can be due to infection, inflammatory dermatoses or other causes. Infective as well as certain inflammatory diseases, e.g. drug eruptions, allergic eczemas, irritative dermatitis/vulvitis, Behcet's Syndrome and pemphigus/pemphigoid usually respond well to conservative treatment. The category of inflammatory diseases also contains pathologies that in certain circumstances do require a surgical intervention, e.g. Lichen ruber planus/Lichen sclerosus, Condyloma, scars, premalignant lesions (VIN, genital M. Paget) and cancer. Vulodynia also can cause some stinging to the vulvar skin. The surgical aspects relating to the treatment of the benign and premalignant pathologies indicated above are mentioned in this mini-review.