Up-Front Multigene Panel Testing for Cancer Susceptibility in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Endometrial Cancer: A Multicenter Prospective Study.

Purpose: Clinical utility of up-front multigene panel testing (MGPT) is directly related to the frequency of pathogenic variants (PVs) in the population screened and how genetic findings can be used to guide treatment decision making and cancer prevention efforts. The benefit of MGPT for many common malignancies remains to be determined. In this study, we evaluated up-front MGPT in unselected patients with endometrial cancer (EC) to determine the frequency of PVs in cancer susceptibility genes.

Triple negative lobular breast carcinoma metastatic to an ovarian fibrothecoma.

A postmenopausal woman with lobular breast carcinoma metastatic to a large ovarian fibrothecoma is presented. The two metastatic tumor nodules were grossly subtle and could have been overlooked in the background of the large ovarian stromal tumor. Thorough sampling of the tumor for histologic examination and supporting immunohistochemical stains were important in establishing the diagnosis.

Using virtual reality to maintain surgical skills during periods of robotic surgery inactivity.

Periodic practice is needed for newly trained robotic surgeons to maintain skills during periods of robotic inactivity. The current study was performed to determine whether virtual robotic skill maintenance can serve as an adequate substitute for practice on a surgical robot. Eleven surgical residents with no prior robotic training were trained to a level of robotic proficiency with inanimate models, including a needle driving pad, a running suture pad, and ring placement on a rocking peg board.

Training to maintain surgical skills during periods of robotic surgery inactivity.

Background: The study was performed to establish a level of practice needed for newly-trained residents to maintain robotic surgical skills during periods of robotic inactivity.

Methods: Ten surgical residents were trained to a standardized level of robotic surgery proficiency with inanimate models. At the end of two, four and six weeks, the residents practiced with the models for a total of one hour.

Robotic surgical skills: acquisition, maintenance, and degradation.

Background And Objectives: The degradation in robotic skills that occurs during periods of robotic surgical inactivity in newly trained surgeons was measured. The role of animate training in robotic skill was also assessed.

Methods: Robotically naive resident and attending surgeons underwent training with the da Vinci robot on needle passage (DN), rocking ring transfer peg board (RPB), and running suture pod tasks (SP).

Endometrial cancer survivors' assessment of the benefits of exercise.

Objective: The majority of women who have had endometrial cancer remain at risk for obesity related diseases. The social cognitive theory was used to explore their beliefs about exercise to aid in the development of effective interventions.

Methods: Women who had been treated for Stage I endometrial cancer were asked about their level of exercise to determine if they had been exercising regularly for more than 6 months (exercisers vs non-exercisers).

A rare case of carcinosarcoma of the fallopian tube presenting with torsion, rupture and hemoperitoneum.

► Fallopian tube carcinosarcomas may present emergently with hemoperitoneum. ► Fallopian tube carcinosarcomas may be detected better with MR than with CT. ► Heterologous fallopian tube carcinosarcomas have been reported more often than the homologous type.

Polymorphism in the IL18 gene and epithelial ovarian cancer in non-Hispanic white women.

Over 22,000 cases of ovarian cancer were diagnosed in 2007 in the United States, but only a fraction of them can be attributed to mutations in highly penetrant genes such as BRCA1. To determine whether low-penetrance genetic variants contribute to ovarian cancer risk, we genotyped 1,536 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in several candidate gene pathways in 848 epithelial ovarian cancer cases and 798 controls in the North Carolina Ovarian Cancer Study (NCO) using a customized Illumina array. The inflammation gene interleukin-18 (IL18) showed the strongest evidence for association with epithelial ovarian cancer in a gene-by-gene analysis (P = 0.

Baseline characteristics influencing quality of life in women undergoing gynecologic oncology surgery.

Background: Quality of life (QoL) measurements are important in evaluating cancer treatment outcomes. Factors other than cancer and its treatment may have significant effects on QoL and affect assessment of treatments. Baseline data from longitudinal studies of women with endometrial or ovarian cancer or adnexal mass determined at surgery to be benign were analyzed to determine the degree to which QoL is affected by baseline differences in demographic variables and health.

Surgical treatments for vulvar and vaginal dysplasia: a randomized controlled trial.

Objective: To compare pain, adverse effects and recurrence of dysplasia in patients with vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia or vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia prospectively treated by carbon dioxide laser or ultrasonic surgical aspiration.

Methods: Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment by laser or ultrasonic surgical aspiration from 2000-2005. Preoperative biopsy was done to confirm presence of dysplasia.

Body weight and composition changes in ovarian cancer patients during adjuvant chemotherapy.

Objective: To prospectively examine body weight changes in women with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer receiving surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Body composition was examined in a subset of these women.

Methods: Body weight (BW) and body composition, using bioelectrical impedance (RJL Systems Inc.

Longitudinal assessment of quality of life and lifestyle in newly diagnosed ovarian cancer patients: the roles of surgery and chemotherapy.

Objectives: To prospectively evaluate quality of life (QoL), use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and diet/exercise changes in ovarian cancer patients during the first 6 months following diagnosis.

Methods: Patients with newly diagnosed ovarian cancer were enrolled pre- or post-operatively and surveyed at 3 and 6 months. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT-G), Medical Outcomes Survey (SF-36), and CAM/diet/exercise questionnaires were used.

The impact of obesity and age on quality of life in gynecologic surgery.

Objective: This study was undertaken to prospectively evaluate the effect of early stage endometrial cancer, age, and obesity on quality of life (QOL).

Study Design: Women undergoing surgery for endometrial cancer or an adnexal mass determined at surgery to be benign (controls) were enrolled preoperatively and followed for 6 months.

Results: Seventy-nine women completed the study.

Effect of method of administration on longitudinal assessment of quality of life in gynecologic cancer: an exploratory study.

Background: Longitudinal assessments of quality of life are needed to measure changes over the course of a disease and treatment. Computer versions of quality of life instruments have increased the feasibility of obtaining longitudinal measurements. However, there remain occasions when patients are not able to complete these questionnaires.

Complementary and alternative medicine use in the Amish.

Objective: To examine the rate of utilization of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in Amish women, a population that traditionally uses non-mainstream medicine.

Methods & Results: Sixty-six Amish women completed a survey concerning their use of CAM. Thirty-six percent of the Amish women used at least one form of CAM, primarily reporting a use of diet and nutrition programs, herbal therapies, and chiropractic medicine.

A comparison of complementary and alternative medicine use by gynecology and gynecologic oncology patients.

Our objective was to describe and compare the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) in gynecology and gynecological oncology patients. Five hundred and twenty-nine gynecology and gynecological oncology patients completed a questionnaire regarding CAM use. Overall, 56.

Hemolytic anemia and benign pelvic tumors. A case report.

Background: Hemolytic anemia associated with benign pelvic neoplasms is very rare. Sixteen cases have been reported in the English-language literature.

Case: A 27-year-old woman complained of dizziness, fatigue and headache.

Primary fallopian tube carcinoma with isolated torsion of involved tube.

Background: Primary fallopian tube carcinoma (FTC) is an aggressive but rare tumor. Worldwide, more than 1,500 cases have been published, and about 20 new cases are added every year. Isolated fallopian tube torsion (IFTT) is an unusual and uncommon event.

Functioning liver metastases on an I-131 whole-body scan: a case of malignant struma ovarii.

A 46-year-old women was examined for severe constipation. Pelvic examination revealed a large pelvic mass extending to the level of the umbilicus. Computed tomography showed a large multicystic, septated mass in the pelvis and a small amount of fluid in the cul de sac.

Presence and characteristics of receptors for [D-Trp6]luteinizing hormone releasing hormone and epidermal growth factor in human ovarian cancer.

This study was undertaken to establish the presence and characteristics of receptors for [D-Trp6]LH-RH on the membranes of human ovarian cancer. Specific binding of [125I, D-Trp6]LH-RH was found in 29 of 37 (78.4%) ovarian cancers and in 6 of 11 (54.

A randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study of ORG 2766 in the prevention or delay of cisplatin-induced neuropathies in women with ovarian cancer.

Objective: The objective was to evaluate the efficacy of Org 2766 (a hexapeptide analogue of ACTH) in the prevention or delay of cisplatin-induced neuropathy during chemotherapy in women with ovarian cancer as measured by vibration perception threshold (VPT).

Methods: In this randomized, multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 196 women with ovarian cancer were treated with cisplatin 75-100 mg/m2, cyclophosphamide 600-1000 mg/m2 plus placebo or two dose levels of Org 2766. The cisplatin-induced neuropathies were monitored by determining the VPT with the Vibratron II.

Pure embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the fallopian tube.

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a neoplasm of childhood which commonly arises in the genitourinary tract. Reported locations include the bladder, prostate, paratestis, vagina, uterus, cervix, and ovary. Rhabdomyosarcomas have been reported to occur in the fallopian tube only as a component of a malignant mixed müllerian tumor.

Wound seeding associated with endometrial cancer.

We report a patient with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma of the endometrium who developed a recurrence in the anterior abdominal wall probably secondary to wound seeding at the time of her original surgery. She underwent total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. She then received 15 mCi of 32P for positive peritoneal washings.

Magnetic resonance imaging to avoid laparotomy in pregnancy.

Objective: To determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in pregnancy would help define a benign pelvic mass, thereby avoiding laparotomy.

Methods: During a 2-3-year period, five pregnant women with adnexal masses suspected to be leiomyomas underwent MRI.

Results: Four patients had evidence of leiomyoma and one had a benign cystic teratoma.

The effect of immediate intraperitoneal carboplatinum on wound healing.

The effect of introducing intraperitoneal carboplatinum on wound healing immediately after wound closure was studied using a rat model. All animals were opened through a midline incision. A bowel anastomosis was then performed in a single-or two-layer fashion using 6-O suture.