Oncologic outcomes of surgically managed primary pelvic soft tissue sarcoma; tumour biology or surgical constraints of the true pelvis?

BACKGROUND: Pelvic soft tissue sarcomas are rare. Potentially curative resection remains challenging due to anatomical constraints of true pelvis and tumour spread through various anatomical hiatus. We sought to review the oncological outcomes of surgically managed cases at our centre and determine whether outcomes differ for patients with localised (limited to pelvis) versus extensive disease (with extra-pelvic extension). METHODS: Sixty-seven patients who underwent surgical resection with curative intent at the centre for primary, non-metastatic, WHO intermediate to high-grade soft tissue sarcoma of the true pelvis from January 2012 through January 2020 were analysed. Establishment of the extent of disease was made by review of pre-treatment imaging and surgical notes. Oncologic endpoints examined were resection margin, recurrence rate, disease-free and overall survival. RESULTS: Rates of complete oncological resection and disease control were similar for tumours with localised or extensive disease. On logistic regression analysis, tumour grade, and a negative resection margin (R0) correlated with the risk of recurrence (p=<0.05). On further multinomial analysis, R0 resection was associated with improved local control, but not metastatic relapse (p = 0.003). 5-year local recurrence-free and distant metastasis-free survival were 61.3% and 67.1%, respectively. Five and 10-year overall survival were 64% and 36%, respectively. Age >50 years and high tumour grade were associated with a worse outcome (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: When potentially curative surgery is performed for pelvic sarcoma, disease-extent does not influence oncologic outcomes. While a complete oncologic resection determines the risk of local recurrence, tumour grade and metastatic relapse remain primary prognostic determinants for overall survival.

[A woman with a tumour in her lesser pelvis]. / Een vrouw met een tumor in het kleine bekken.

A 63-year-old postmenopausal woman was referred for a mass on MRI: a well-defined 13 cm hyperechoic mass with high fat content. Exploratory laparotomy revealed normal ovaries and an enlarged uterus; hysterectomy was performed. Histological examination found uterine lipoleiomyoma, a rare benign type of uterine myoma.

[Big surprise in the lesser pelvis]. / Große Überraschung im kleinen Becken.

A 17-year-old young man presented at our clinic with asymptomatic microhematuria. Ultrasonography and computer tomography found an intraperitoneal lesion of unknown dignity located on top of the bladder. Surgical exploration and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a secondary pelvic spleen, a lien bipartitus.

Treatment efficacy for pain complaints in women with endometriosis of the lesser pelvis after laparoscopic electroablation vs. CO2 laser ablation.

Endometriosis is a chronic disease affecting mainly women of the reproductive age. Its most common manifestations include impaired fecundity, pelvic pain, and dyschezia. Laparoscopic removal of endometriotic foci remains to be the gold standard for the treatment of endometriosis. More effective techniques of endoscopic approach-among others, laser application-are continually being developed. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic treatment with the use of CO2 laser ablation vs. electroablation with regard to pain complaints in the affected patients. The study included 48 women (aged 22-42) with varying degrees of endometriosis of the lesser pelvis. The Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) was used to evaluate pain intensity before the surgery in all patients, followed by either laser ablation or electroablation of the endometriotic foci. The results of the laparoscopic treatment were monitored after 3 and 6 months postoperatively. p value of 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Patients from both groups reported less intensive pain before/during menstruation (dysmenorrhea) 6 months postoperatively, with more distinct tendency in the electroablation group (p = 0.004) as compared to the laser ablation group (p = 0.025). Despite the initial improvement reported at the 3-month checkup (p = 0.008), 6 months postoperatively, a statistically significant increase in pain intensity was noted in both groups (p = 0.016 and p = 0.032 for CO2 laser ablation and electroablation, respectively). Both surgical methods seem to be effective only in the treatment of endometriosis-related dysmenorrhea, whereas the intensity of other pain complaints (dyspareunia, dysuria, dyschezia, pelvic pain syndrome (PPS)) has remained on the same level.

[Mini-invasive interventions under magnetic resonance guidance in the clarifying diagnosis of small pelvic tumors].

OBJECTIVE: To perfect and estimate the possibilities of using a mini-invasive diagnostic procedure under magnetic resonance (MR) guidance in the complex anatomic situations in cases of pathological small pelvic changes of unknown origin. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Ten small pelvic interventions were made under MR guidance. The indications for bone biopsy under MR guidance were poor visualization of bone changes or their absence during radiography, including computed tomography. Small pelvic organ and soft tissue biopsies were carried out in the situations of complex location of pathological changes adjacent to critical organs, large vascular and neural structures. All interventions were done using a high-field MR scanner. Freehand biopsy was performed in a stepwise fashion under axial and sagittal T2-weighted image control. RESULTS: Informative histological material was obtained in 100% of cases. No complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS: It became possible to verify the diagnosis based on morphological findings and to timely determine management tactics only by target biopsy under MR guidance in these 10 patients with small pelvic changes of unknown origin.

[Exenteration of the small pelvis in treatment of local tumors].

The authors analyzed the experience at the period from September 2000 to January 2014. The total exenterations of the small pelvis were performed on 23 patients (12 men and 11 women) at the age from 37 to 71 years old. Supralevator total exenterations with full visceral reconstruction were carried out in 13 cases out of 23. Total infralevator pelvic exenterations were used in 10 cases. There wasn't the intraoperative lethality. Patients (3 cases) died in postoperative period. Postoperative complications developed in 10 patients, though serious complications, which required an application of surgical strategy were noted only in 3 cases. The mean life span consisted of 29 months. The performance of total exenteration of the small pelvis considerably increased the life span of the patients and in case of application of reconstructive methods allowed restoration of quality of life to high level and obtaining moral, psychological and social rehabilitation.

[Level of sIgA, IgG, IgA in vaginal secretion in women with chronic inflammatory disease of small pelvis organs].

AIM: Determine levels of sIgA, IgG, IgA in vaginal secretion and saliva of women of reproductive age with chronic inflammatory diseases of small pelvis organs (IDSPO) at exacerbation stage and remission period. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical-laboratory and gynecological examination of 105 women was carried out. Based on the results obtained 3 groups were formed: patients with IDSPO at exacerbation stage; patients at remission stage; clinically healthy women. sIgA, IgG, IgA parameters were studied in vaginal secretion and saliva in women with IDSPO at exacerbation stage and remission period by radial immune diffusion in gel by Manchini method. RESULTS: An increase of immunoglobulin level in vaginal secretion of women with IDSPO at remission period and a sharper increase of these parameters during exacerbation of the disease compared with women of the control group were detected. During analysis of sIgA, IgG, IgA levels in saliva in the same groups of women the results were obtained that give evidence that the presence of IDSPO and local immune reaction do not lead to the changes of these parameters. CONCLUSION: The obtained parameters on the dependence of an increase of immunoglobulin levels in vaginal secretions and the degree of intensity of the inflammatory process give basis to use them with the aim of additional diagnostics.

[The capacities of ultrasound study and magnetic resonance imaging of small pelvic masses after hysterectomy].

The purpose of the study was to develop the ultrasound study (USS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) semiotics of small pelvic masses after hysterectomy, to comprehensively use USS and MRI for the diagnosis of these masses, and to define indications for MRI. One hundred and seventy-five female patients with small pelvic masses after hysterectomy were examined. For the specification of the pattern of small pelvic masses and their differential diagnosis, USS and MRI were carried out in 175 and 72 patients, respectively. Four groups of the masses were identified; of them there were tumor-like masses of the uterine appendages in 67 (38.2%) patients, ovarian tumors in 31 (17.7%), other additional masses of the small pelvis in 27 (15.4%), and a mixed variant of its masses in 50 (28.5%). The findings suggest that it is reasonable to concurrently use USS and MRI in the diagnosis of small pelvic masses following hysterectomy for the specification of their pattern and their differential diagnosis. The benefit of MRI is that information images of the basic structures of the small pelvis can be obtained in patients with a marked commissural process after hysterectomy in the absence of limitations in large mass sizes. Practical guidelines were proposed to comprehensively use USS and MRI for the diagnosis of small pelvic pathology.