Current Approaches to the Management of Sentinel Node Procedures in Early Vulvar Cancer in Germany: A Web-Based Nationwide Analysis of Practices.

BACKGROUND: Lymph node involvement is the most important prognostic factor for recurrence and survival in vulvar cancer. Sentinel node (SN) procedure can be offered in well-selected patients with early vulvar cancer. This study aimed to assess current management practices with respect to the sentinel node procedure in women with early vulvar cancer in Germany. METHODS: A Web-based survey was conducted. Questionnaires were e-mailed to 612 gynecology departments. Data were summarized as frequencies and analyzed using the chi-square test. RESULTS: A total of 222 hospitals (36.27%) responded to the invitation to participate. Among the responders, 9.5% did not offer the SN procedure. However, 79.5% evaluated SNs by ultrastaging. In vulvar cancer of the midline with unilateral localized positive SN, 49.1% and 48.6% of respondents, respectively, would perform ipsilateral or bilateral inguinal lymph node dissection. Repeat SN procedure was performed by 16.2% of respondents. For isolated tumor cells (ITCs) or micrometastases, 28.1% and 60.5% of respondents, respectively, would perform inguinal lymph node dissection, whereas 19.3% and 23.8%, respectively, would opt for radiation without further surgical intervention. Notably, 50.9% of respondents would not initiate any further therapy and 15.1% would opt for expectant management. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of German hospitals implement the SN procedure. However, only 79.5% of respondents performed ultrastaging and only 28.1% were aware that ITC may affect survival in vulvar cancer. There is a need to ensure that the management of vulvar cancer follows the latest recommendations and clinical evidence. Deviations from state-of-the-art management should only be after a detailed discussion with the concerned patient.

A questionnaire-based survey on the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for patients with STIC in Germany.

PURPOSE: Despite the growing understanding of the carcinogenesis of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) of the ovary and peritoneum and its precursor lesion serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC), evidence-based proven recommendations on the clinical management of patients with STIC are lacking so far. METHODS: A questionnaire containing 21 questions was developed to explore the clinical experience with patients with the diagnosis of STICs and the diagnostic, surgical and histopathological approaches in Germany. Overall, 540 clinical heads of department in all German gynaecological centres were asked to participate. RESULTS: 131 questionnaires (response rate 24.3%) were included in this survey. 45.8% of the respondents had treated one to three STIC patients during their career. 75.6% of the respondents performed opportunistic bilateral salpingectomies during other gynaecological surgeries. Most of the participants (31.3%) started with the SEE-FIM (Sectioning and Extensively Examining the FIMbria) protocol in 2014. It was requested by 39.7% centres for prophylactic salpingectomies, by 13.7% for both prophylactic and opportunistic salpingectomies and by 22.1% for neither of both. 38.2%, 1.5% and 24.4% of the participants would use the laparoscopic, transverse and midline laparotomic approach for a surgical staging procedure, respectively. 25.6% (54.7%) of the respondents recommended a hysterectomy in premenopausal (versus postmenopausal) patients with a STIC, 24.4% (88.4%) a bilateral oophorectomy and 50.0% (4.7%) an affected side oophorectomy (all p values < 0.001). Omentectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy would be performed by 60.5% (64.0%), 9.3% (11.6%) and 9.3% (11.6%) of respondents in premenopausal (versus postmenopausal) patients (all p values > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our survey highlights significant inconsistency in the management of patients with STIC. Prospective data are urgently needed to elucidate the clinical impact of a STIC lesion and its clinical management.

Incidence of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma after isolated STIC diagnosis: A systematic review of the literature.

Objective: Serous tubal intraepithelial carcinoma (STIC) is a precursor lesion of pelvic high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC). Information on treatment and outcome of isolated STIC is rare. Therefore, we reviewed systematically the published literature to determine the incidence of subsequent HGSC in the high- and low-risk population and to summarize the current diagnostic and therapeutic options. Methods: A systematic review of the literature was conducted in MEDLINE-Ovid, Cochrane Library and Web of Science of articles published from February 2006 to July 2021. Patients with an isolated STIC diagnosis and clinical follow-up were included. Study exclusion criteria for review were the presence of synchronous gynaecological cancer and/or concurrent non-gynaecological malignancies. Results: 3031 abstracts were screened. 112 isolated STIC patients out of 21 publications were included in our analysis with a pooled median follow-up of 36 (interquartile range (IQR): 25.3-84) months. 71.4% of the patients had peritoneal washings (negative: 62.5%, positive: 8%, atypic cells: 0.9%). Surgical staging was performed in 28.6% of all STICs and did not show any malignancies. 14 out of 112 (12.5%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy with Carboplatin and Paclitaxel. Eight (7.1%) patients developed a recurrence 42.5 (IQR: 33-72) months after isolated STIC diagnosis. Cumulative incidence of HGSC after five (ten) years was 10.5% (21.6%). Recurrence occurred only in BRCA1 carriers (seven out of eight patients, one patient with unknown BRCA status). Conclusion: The rate of HGSC after an isolated STIC diagnosis was 7.1% with a cumulative incidence of 10.5% (21.6%) after five (ten) years. HGSC was only observed in BRCA1 carriers. The role of adjuvant therapy and routine surveillance remains unclear, however, intense surveillance up to ten years is necessary. Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021278340.