Efficacy of dexamethasone in the management of malignant small bowel obstruction in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer.

Introduction: Malignant small bowel obstruction (MSBO) occurs in up to 50% of women with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) causing symptom burden and distress to women and their families, particularly in the terminal stages of the disease. Corticosteroids are used to promote symptom resolution in malignant small bowel obstruction (MSBO) related to EOC, with little published data on their efficacy, optimal dosing and duration of treatment.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of dexamethasone in achieving symptom control in women with advanced EOC presenting with MSBO, assess dexamethasone dosing and efficacy over subsequent presentations, and examine differences in dexamethasone responsiveness between platinum-resistant and platinum-sensitive patient.

Possible high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (pHSIL) in the new cervical screening paradigm: The outcomes and the role of clinicopathological review.

Background: A renewed National Cervical Screening Program (NCSP) was introduced in Australia in December 2017. Under the renewed NCSP, there are limited data to guide the management of discordant colposcopy and biopsy results after a liquid-based cytology (LBC) finding of 'possible high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion' (pHSIL).

Aims: This study aims to determine the proportion of women referred with pHSIL who are found to have HSIL, identify influencing factors of women most at risk, and examine the role that cytopathology review plays in management decisions.