Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy with carboplatin for optimally-cytoreduced, recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian carcinoma: a pilot study.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility and tolerability of hyperthermic intraperitoneal carboplatin (HIPEC-carboplatin) following secondary cytoreduction for recurrent, platinum-sensitive ovarian cancer.

Methods: In a single institution prospective, pilot study, ten patients underwent secondary cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC-carboplatin at 1000 mg/m(2). Consolidation (6 cycles) was with platinum-based regimens.

A phase II trial of carboplatin and docetaxel followed by radiotherapy given in a "Sandwich" method for stage III, IV, and recurrent endometrial cancer.

Objective: To determine feasibility and efficacy of administering docetaxel and carboplatin chemotherapy followed by pelvic radiotherapy and then consolidation chemotherapy in patients with advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer.

Methods: Patients with surgically staged III-IV (excluding IIIA from positive cytology alone) endometrial cancer or biopsy confirmed recurrent disease were eligible. Treatment consisted of 3 cycles of docetaxel (75 mg/m²) and carboplatin (AUC 6) on a q21 day schedule followed by involved field irradiation (45 Gy)± brachytherapy and three additional cycles of docetaxel and carboplatin.

The effect of age on the tolerability of intraperitoneal chemotherapy, complication rate, and survival in patients with ovarian cancer.

Objective: We sought to determine if patient age influenced chemotherapy completion rate, complication rate, or progression free survival (PFS) among patients who received intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube, or primary peritoneal cancers.

Methods: Charts for patients receiving IP chemotherapy between January 2006 and September 2009 were reviewed at three institutions. Primary outcomes included completion rate of planned IP chemotherapy, complication rate, and PFS.

A single institution experience using sequential multi-modality adjuvant chemotherapy and radiation in the "sandwich" method for high risk endometrial carcinoma.

Objective: We sought to evaluate the outcomes and feasibility associated with delivering sequential chemotherapy and radiation in advanced stage endometrial cancer.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients treated at the University of Minnesota with sequential chemotherapy and radiation for advanced stage endometrial cancer from 1999 to 2007. Inclusion criteria were endometrial cancer patients treated with comprehensive surgical staging followed by adjuvant therapy consisting of sequential chemotherapy, radiation, and consolidation chemotherapy in a "sandwich" fashion.

Outcomes associated with different intraperitoneal chemotherapy delivery systems in advanced ovarian carcinoma: a single institution's experience.

Background: Despite increasing use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy the optimal delivery strategy and regimen remain undetermined. Catheter-related complications have been reported in 3-34% of cases across a number of platforms and port styles, but few data compare different catheters directly. We sought to evaluate the complication rate of two separate intraperitoneal chemotherapy port delivery systems used within a single practice.

A suspicious vulvar mass diagnosed as a subpubic cartilaginous cyst.

Background: Subpubic cartilaginous cysts were initially described in 1996 with few reports to date.

Case: We describe a 62-year-old woman with a history of breast cancer who presented with a painful, fixed, vulvar mass. MRI revealed an 18 x 10 x 12 mm3 mass extending from the anterior portion of the symphysis pubis without bony involvement.

Flat square knots: are 3 throws enough?

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the integrity of flat square knots.

Study Design: Three sutures were used in both 0 and 2-0 suture gauges: poliglecaprone 25 (Monocryl), polyglactin 910 (Vicryl), and silk. For each, flat square knots were tied with either 3 or 5 throws.

Retroperitoneal nodal metastasis in primary and recurrent granulosa cell tumors of the ovary.

Objective: To describe the incidence of retroperitoneal pelvic or paraaortic lymph node metastasis in patients with primary and recurrent ovarian granulosa cell tumors.

Methods: At Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, we conducted a retrospective chart review of all patients with ovarian granulosa cell tumors managed as inpatients from January 1991 to July 2005. The initial date of diagnosis ranged from 1971 to 2005.

Laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in breast cancer patients after transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous flap reconstructive surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (RRSO) in patients with a history of breast cancer who previously had undergone a transverse rectus abdominus myocutaneous (TRAM) flap reconstruction.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients with a history of breast cancer who had undergone laparoscopic RRSO between February 1995 and April 2002. Patients who had undergone TRAM flap reconstructive surgery were compared with patients who had undergone laparoscopic RRSO without prior reconstructive surgery.

The safety and efficacy of laparoscopic surgical staging of apparent stage I ovarian and fallopian tube cancers.

Objective: To compare the safety and efficacy of laparoscopic staging of ovarian or fallopian tube cancers to staging via laparotomy for epithelial ovarian carcinoma.

Study Design: We performed a case-control study of all patients with apparent stage I adnexal cancers who had laparoscopic staging from October 2000 to March 2003. The control group consisted of all patients with apparent stage I epithelial ovarian carcinoma who had staging via laparotomy during the same time period.

Tying a loop-to-strand suture: is it safe?

Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the integrity of the loop-to-strand knot when tied with square and nonidentical sliding knots.

Study Design: The synthetic absorbable monofilament suture poliglecaprone 25 in 0 and 2-0 suture gauges was used in this experiment. For each suture gauge, 3 groups of knots were tested: (1) single strand-to-single strand, flat square knot, (2) loop-to-single strand, flat square knot, and (3) loop-to-single strand, nonidentical sliding knot.

Malignant mixed mullerian sarcomas of the uterus--the LSUHSC Shreveport experience.

Objective: To evaluate our experience with malignant mixed mullerian sarcomas of the uterus (MMMT) and the clinical factors affecting survival.

Study Design: The records of 18 women with MMMT who received treatment at our hospital between 1989-2002 were reviewed. We analyzed factors influencing survival such as stage, presence of heterologous components, and post-operative radiation.

The effect of number of throws on knot security with nonidentical sliding knots.

Objective: The study was undertaken to test the integrity of nonidentical sliding knots made with 3 throws compared with those made with 6 throws with monofilament and braided absorbable suture.

Study Design: The 3 throw nonidentical sliding knot was compared with the 6 throw nonidentical sliding knot in 4 different suture groups. The groups were 0-0 polydioxanone, 2-0 polydioxanone, 0-0 polyglactin 910, and 2-0 polyglactin 910.

Detection of recurrent cervical cancer by whole-body FDG PET scan in asymptomatic and symptomatic women.

Objective: To determine the ability of whole-body [(18)F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET) scan to detect recurrent cervical carcinoma in both symptomatic and asymptomatic women.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 44 women previously treated for cervical cancer who underwent 47 posttreatment whole-body FDG PET scans in an attempt to detect recurrent disease. Twenty-six scans were performed in asymptomatic women, whereas 21 scans were performed in women with symptoms suggestive of recurrence.

Knot integrity with nonidentical and parallel sliding knots.

Objective: The study was performed to test the knot integrity of parallel and nonidentical sliding knots with the use of monofilament suture.

Study Design: We investigated the proportion of parallel sliding knots that become untied compared with nonidentical sliding knots in four different monofilament suture configurations: group A, 6 throws, 0-0 gauge; group B, 10 throws, 0-0 gauge; group C, 6 throws, 2-0 gauge; group D, 10 throws, 2-0 gauge. Each combination was tested 20 times, for a total of 160 knots.