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Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the anatomical space above the perineal floor, under the properitoneal pelvic tissues, while attempting to capture its details and related surgical relevance in gynaecological oncology. Materials And Methods: The authors used 12 fresh surgical specimens of female cancer patients submitted to an extralevator abdomino-perineal rectal resection, "en monobloc" with a total hysterectomy and posterior colpectomy, or a total cystectomy plus hysterectomy. They obtained as many histological macro-slides, which have been investigated with anatomo-topographic intent. Results: The authors successfully identified a small anatomical structure with a simple texture of adipose tissue, a scanty network of blood and without proper lymph nodes or nervous plexuses, wrapping the lower parts of the pelvic organs and directly continuing back and up with the retroperitoneum. Conclusion: The lower pelvic space is a real anatomic structure, with a corresponding radiological imaging. It can be affected by primary tumors of the pelvic organs, and its excision can be considered in radical pelvic surgery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The acantholytic dermatosis of the vulvocrural area (ADVA) is a rare skin disorder of unknown etiology, described for the first time by Chorzelski et al. in 1984. It is characterized by solitary or multiple skin-coloured to white, smooth papules or plaques, involving the genitocrural region, in particular the vulva. Here, the authors refer a case of ADVA in an 80-year-old female patient affected by recurrent endometrial carcinoma. The immunohistochemical investigation demonstrated the exclusive presence of G immunoglobulins inside the skin lesions, so indicating a paraneoplastic immunological action. The findings shed light on the etiopathogenetic mechanisms at the basis of this still scantly known nosological entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An enigmatic category of uterine mesenchymal neoplasms is descriptively referred to as uterine tumors resembling sex cord-gonadal stromal tumor. First described by Clement and Scully in 1976, they were subsequently subcategorized in 1) endometrial stromal tumors with sex cord-like elements (ESTSCLE) and 2) mural uterine tumors resembling ovarian sex cord tumors (UTROSCT). In the first subcategory, the prognosis depends on the type, grade, and stage of the underlying stromal neoplasm, while in the second one, a low-grade malignant behavior has been postulated on the basis of occasional local recurrences. Here, the authors report a new case of metastasizing UTROSCT in an 83-year-old Caucasian woman, providing a literature review, and emphasizing its metastatic potential. This tumor entity shows a variable immunohistochemical profile with possible co-expression of sex cord (inhibin, calretinin, WT1, MART1/melanA), epithelial, smooth muscle (actin, caldesmon), and miscellaneous markers, such as estrogen or progesterone receptors. For this aberrant expression of immunohistochemical markers, the final diagnosis of metastatic UTROSCT appears a diagnostic challenge. Finally, the authors detected the cdkn2a (p16INK4a) expression in about half of the neoplastic cells; this finding suggests a possible involvement of the CDKN2A gene in the genesis of an aggressive tumor clone, as observed in other uterine sarcomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thanks to their molecular affinity with natural hormones, endocrine disruptors (EDs) can interfere with the endocrine system by activating or blocking the receptor signal transduction. According to the World Health Organization, EDs and potential EDs are mostly man-made, found in various materials such as pesticides, metals, personal care products, additives or contaminants in food, and the human exposure to EDs occurs via ingestion of food, dust and water, via inhalation of gases and particles in the air, and through the skin. In 2015, the Endocrine Society released its second scientific statement about the evidence that EDs have effects on female reproduction, breast development and hormone-sensitive cancers in females, such as breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. Therefore, prevention campaigns to reduce the female exposure to EDs and, consequently, the death burden of hormone-sensitive female cancers are needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The media carry stories of patients who, thanks to early diagnosis of malignancy, claim to have been saved by their cancer-sniffing pets. It is established that the brain of a dog features a wide olfactory cortex, compared to that of humans, where the visual cortex predominates. The cat also possesses an acute sense of smell, due to its well-developed olfactory bulb and a large surface of olfactory mucosa. A series of diagnostic hallmarks of malignancy have been defined, among which tumor necrosis. It is a form of hypoxic death resulting in an accumulation of cell debris and decomposing tissue. It is well known that the decomposition process produces foulsmelling molecules, such as cadaverine and putrescine. Given their remarkable sense of smell, it is more than likely that some pets are able to detect on themselves and in their owner's body the odor of tumor necrosis deriving from aggressive cancers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Neoplastic spread to lymph nodes is one of the most important prognostic factors in female cancer and one of the well known TNM classification parameters, together with tumor size and distant metastases. The nodal status is in faet a significant predictor, which supports clinicians to decide on the most appropriate surgical approach and subsequent therapy. The precise intraoperative assessment of sentinel lymph node and eventual metastatic burden is therefore decisive for providing high diagnostic quality and reliable staging. Since methodologies differ across institutions, standardization of results is also a challenge. Today, one step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) meets all these needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]