Faculty Bibliography

OBJECTIVE:Uterine leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is a relatively rare malignancy that is associated with a poor prognosis. The rarity of LMS has led to a lack of consensus regarding appropriate treatment. The goal of this study was to identify the role that chemotherapy and radiotherapy have played in the treatment of uterine LMS in the United States as well as the effectiveness of adjuvant treatment. MATERIALS/METHODS/METHODS:We used the SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results)-Medicare database to gather information on uterine LMS patients older than the age of 66 years diagnosed between 1992 and 2009. Basic demographic and clinical characteristics were collected. A logistic regression model analysis was performed to determine predictors of treatment. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify clinical parameters and treatment strategies associated with survival differences. RESULTS:Our final study group included 230 patients. We found that the rate of use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy in the treatment of patients with uterine LMS increased over the period investigated. However, we identified no significant survival advantage associated with either mode of therapy. The strongest predictor of survival was stage at diagnosis. The logistic regression model analysis revealed that age at diagnosis, treatment year, stage, and underlying health status were all independent predictors of chemotherapy. Age at diagnosis was also a predictor of radiation therapy. CONCLUSIONS:The increasing rates of chemotherapy and radiotherapy use in this population seem to be unfounded given the lack of survival benefit. Further investigation into alternative treatment regimens is merited. The prognostic significance of stage at diagnosis indicates the importance of improving early detection of uterine LMS.

OBJECTIVE:We report the indications, methods, and complications of percutaneous gastrostomy/gastrojejunostomy (G/GJ) in patients with voluminous ascites. METHODS:Following institutional review board approval, 69 patients (14 male, 55 female, mean age 58±12 years, range 32-89 years) who underwent percutaneous G/GJ with paracentesis were identified from a prospectively acquired database. Electronic medical record data extracted included diagnosis, method of G/GJ insertion, clinical course, and complications, which were graded by The Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) criteria. Statistics were performed using Graphpad Instat. RESULTS:Sixty-six G and three GJ catheters were placed in 62 patients with malignant and 7 patients with benign disease; 47 procedures were conducted using fluoroscopy and 22 using computed tomography (CT; 10 patients had failed fluoroscopy). Sixty-six patients had 1980±1371 mL (range, 20-5000 mL) ascites drained (more in males, p=0.01) 0.8±1.6 days (range, 0-5 days) prior to placement. Forty-one patients had significantly less ascites (1895±1426 mL; range, 100-5400 mL) drained after G/GJ (p>0.0.5). Mean survival after insertion was 43±57 days (range, 1-252 days) among 38 patients for whom data were available. Fifty-six patients had a mean postprocedure hospital stay of 8.6±8.4 days (range, 0-45 days); 3 were outpatients and 10 patients died in the hospital. Successful gastropexy was confirmed on subsequent cross-sectional imaging in 22 of 25 patients. There were 25 tube maintenance issues that included catheter displacement and leakage, one patient experienced hemorrhage, and there were two deaths. All except one patient had satisfactory gastrostomy function. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Effective G/GJ placement is possible in most patients with voluminous ascites provided ascites is drained and gastrocutaneous fistula formation occurs. Caution is advised; placement is generally for fragile terminal patients, and fluoroscopy or CT guidance is required.

OBJECTIVE:To review and update the subsequent reproductive outcomes in patients with complete, partial, and recurrent hydatidiform moles, as well as gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS:Patients with complete and partial hydatidiform mole, recurrent hydatidiform mole, and GTN were identified from the Donald P. Goldstein, M.D., Trophoblastic Tumor Registry. Questionnaires regarding subsequent pregnancies were mailed to patients with current mailing addresses available. Additional patient data was obtained from electronic medical records. RESULTS:A total of 2,432 subsequent pregnancies have been reported since 1965. Of those, 1,388 pregnancies were after complete mole, 357 after partial mole, and 667 after GTN. The subsequent reproductive outcomes in patients with complete and partial molar pregnancies and persistent GTN remain similar to those in the general population. However, approximately 1.7% of patients with a prior molar pregnancy had a molar pregnancy in a later gestation. Furthermore, after successful chemotherapy for GTN the incidence of stillbirth was slightly increased to 1.3% in later pregnancies. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Patients with molar pregnancies and GTN should expect similar reproductive outcomes as compared to the general population. However, patients receiving chemotherapy for GTN have a slightly increased risk stillbirth in subsequent pregnancies.

OBJECTIVE:The aims of this study are to determine if outcomes of patients with ovarian carcinosarcoma (OCS) differ from women with high grade papillary serous ovarian carcinoma when compared by stage as well as to identify any associated clinico-pathologic factors. METHODS:The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program data for all 18 registries from 1998 to 2009 was reviewed to identify women with OCS and high grade papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary. Demographic and clinical data were compared, and the impact of tumor histology on survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Factors predictive of outcome were compared using the Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS:The final study group consisted of 14,753 women. 1334 (9.04%) had OCS and 13,419 (90.96%) had high grade papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary. Overall, women with OCS had a worse five-year, disease specific survival rate, 28.2% vs. 38.4% (P<0.001). This difference persisted for each FIGO disease stages I-IV, with five year survival consistently worse for women with OCS compared with papillary serous carcinoma. Over the entire study period, after adjusting for histology, age, period of diagnosis, SEER registry, marital status, stage, surgery, radiotherapy, lymph node dissection, and history of secondary malignancy after the diagnosis of ovarian cancer, carcinosarcoma histology was associated with decreased cancer-specific survival. CONCLUSIONS:OCS is associated with a poor prognosis compared to high grade papillary serous carcinoma of the ovary. This difference was noted across all FIGO stages.

OBJECTIVE:To review the last 15 year experience of choriocarcinoma following a term gestation at the New England Trophoblastic Disease Center (NETDC) and compare these results to earlier data to determine any changes in the clinical presentation and outcome of this disease. METHODS:Women with postterm choriocarcinoma from 1996 through 2011 followed by the NETDC were identified by diagnosis codes. Twenty charts were identified and reviewed. These data were then compared to published results from the NETDC of 44 women from 1964 to 1996. RESULTS:Time from antecedent pregnancy to diagnosis of choriocarcinoma was significantly longer in the current series, 46.1 vs. 19.7 weeks (p = 0.03). Despite this change, patient outcomes remained comparable, with similar overall mortality rates (13% vs. 10%, p = NS). However, patient presentation was notably different. In the early series, five (11%) infants suffered hydrops or stillbirth, while in the recent series there were no adverse infant outcomes (p = 0.08). Six women in the current series presented in the absence of symptoms suspicious for choriocarcinoma (either by an incidental positive pregnancy test without other symptoms or by placental pathology), compared to one woman in the prior series (30% vs. 2%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS:In recent years postterm choriocarcinoma is being diagnosed or referred later after the antecedent pregnancy at our regional referral center. Recent patients more commonly have no other symptoms than a question of pregnancy and are less likely diagnosed due to the presence of fetal hydrops or stillbirth. Despite later diagnoses, survival with postterm choriocarcinoma continues to be high.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the clinicopathologic characteristics, treatment, and survival in patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma (ULMS) during the last 10 years in 3 referral academic centers. METHODS:All patients with ULMS who underwent treatment at the participating institutions between January 1, 2000, and December 31, 2010, were identified from the tumor registry database. In each case, the diagnosis was confirmed by a dedicated gynecologic pathologist following postsurgery pathology review. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate overall survival (OS) data. Factors predictive of outcome were compared using the log-rank test and Cox regression analysis. RESULTS:Analysis of 167 women with ULMS with adequate follow-up was performed. One hundred twenty-eight patients (77%) were initially managed at the participating institutions, and 39 (23%) were referred after initial management at a different institution. Ninety-two (55%) had stage I disease, 7 (4%) had stage II, 18 (11%) stage III, and 50 (30%) had stage IV disease. The median OS for women with stage I was 75 months, for stage II 66 months, stage III 34 months, and stage IV 20 months (P < 0.001). For patients with early stage (I and II), race, lower grade, smaller tumor size (<11 cm), low number of mitosis (<25/10 high-power field [HPF]), lymphovascular space invasion, and presence of necrosis were identified as variables with prognostic influence on survival in the univariate analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model identified size 11 cm or greater (hazard ratio, 5.9; P < 0.001) and mitotic count of 25/10 HPF or greater (hazard ratio, 2.3; P = 0.05) as independent predictors of OS. For patients with late stage (stage III and IV), race, stage III versus IV, lower grade, smaller tumor size (<11 cm), and low number of mitosis (<25/10 HPF) were all associated with significantly improved OS. A Cox proportional hazards model identified mitotic count of 25/10 HPF or greater (P = 0.01) as independent predictor of OS. CONCLUSIONS:In early stage, size of the tumor and number of mitosis were associated to survival. In contrast to late stage, only mitotic count was associated to survival.

OBJECTIVE:The aim of the study is to review a single institution's experience with gastrostomy tubes (GTs) performed for malignant bowel obstruction from gynecologic cancers. METHODS:Women with gynecologic cancers who underwent venting GT placement from 2000 to 2008 were identified and clinical data were extracted. Logistic regression and spearman correlational coefficients were used to determine relationships between variables. Survival analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS:We identified 115 women who underwent GT placement, the majority of whom were diagnosed with ovarian cancer (84%). Median time from cancer diagnosis to GT placement was 2.2 years. Median survival following GT placement was 5.6 weeks. A majority (56%) developed GT complications requiring GT revision. While burden of disease as assessed on CT scan by the validated peritoneal cancer index (PCI) was not associated with survival, low CA-125 within one week of GT placement was associated with improved survival (p<0.01). TPN was administered in 36% of women, was associated with concurrent chemotherapy (p<0.001) and a 5 week survival benefit (p<0.01). Chemotherapy after GT was administered in 40% of women and was associated with a 10 week survival benefit (p<0.001). Age-adjusted multivariate analysis identified chemotherapy as the only independent variable associated with survival. CONCLUSIONS:Women with malignant bowel obstructions from gynecologic cancers requiring palliative GT placement had a guarded prognosis measured in weeks. Gastrostomy tubes near the end of life had a high rate of complications requiring medical intervention. Chemotherapy after GT was associated with TPN administration, and both were associated with a modest extension in survival.

Total pelvic exenteration (PE) is a radical operation, involving en bloc resection of pelvic organs, including reproductive structures, bladder, and rectosigmoid. In gynecologic oncology, it is most commonly indicated for the treatment of advanced primary or locally recurrent cancer. Careful patient selection and counseling are of paramount importance when considering someone for PE. Part of the evaluation process includes comprehensive assessment to exclude unresectable or metastatic disease. PE can be curative for carefully selected patients with gynecologic cancers. Major complications can be seen in as many as 50% of patients undergoing PE, underscoring the need to carefully discuss risks and benefits of this procedure with patients considering exenterative surgery.

OBJECTIVE:To examine adherence to evidence-based recommendations for preoperative testing and health care costs associated with excessive testing. METHODS:An institutional review of women who underwent gynecologic surgery between 2005 and 2007 was performed. Data on the type of surgery, age, comorbidities, and perioperative testing was extracted. We noted the preoperative performance of chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, metabolic panel, complete blood count, coagulation studies, liver function tests, and urinalysis. Each test was classified as being guideline-based (appropriate) or non-guideline-based (inappropriate) as described by the National Institute of Clinical Excellence perioperative guidelines. RESULTS:A total of 1,402 patients were identified. Ninety-five percent of patients underwent all of the guideline-recommended preoperative testing. Ninety percent of women underwent at least one nonindicated preoperative test. None of the 749 urinalyses, 407 liver function tests, or 1,046 coagulation studies performed was appropriate. Ninety-nine percent of the 427 chest X-rays ordered were inappropriate. Only 17% of metabolic panels, 36% of electrocardiograms, and 29% of complete blood counts were in accordance with evidence-based guidelines. Inappropriate perioperative tests led to a direct cost of more than $418,000. Of the inappropriate tests ordered, abnormalities were noted frequently but rarely changed management. CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Adherence to evidence-based recommendations for preoperative testing is poor. Inappropriate preoperative tests represent a major health care expenditure. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE/METHODS:III.