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Aims To report 18 yolk sac tumours ( YSTs) of the female genital tract (17 ovary, one uterus) in patients aged 40 years or over, most arising from a somatic epithelial neoplasm. Methods and results Six patients had pure YST, two were associated with immature teratoma (one with an endometrioid adenocarcinoma) and in 11 there was an epithelial neoplasm comprising high-grade serous carcinoma ( HGSC) ( n = 5), clear cell carcinoma ( n = 1), borderline clear cell adenofibroma ( n = 1), endometrioid adenocarcinoma ( n = 2), serous tubal intra-epithelial carcinoma ( n = 1) and large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma ( n = 1). In one case of pure YST, there was an ipsilateral endometriotic cyst but no other neoplastic component. In two cases, the YST was a hepatoid variant and in most of the others it exhibited predominantly glandular morphology, closely mimicking an epithelial neoplasm. Conclusions Pathologists should be aware of the association between YST and an epithelial neoplasm, the former probably arising from the latter through a process of neometaplasia/retrodifferentiation. Those rare gynaecological pure glandular YSTs in adults may arise secondary to total overgrowth of an epithelial neoplasm. Pathologists need a high index of suspicion to diagnose the YST component, as the morphology is characteristically of a glandular variant with marked morphological overlap with adenocarcinomas. There is also often significant immunophenotypical overlap with epithelial neoplasms, as the YST component may be positive with epithelial membrane antigen ( EMA), Ber EP4 and cytokeratin 7 ( CK7), as well as YST markers. We propose the term 'somatically derived YSTs' for these neoplasms and suggest unification of the terminology between different sites where such neoplasms occur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paediatric and adolescent gynaecology involves the care of young women and their special needs as their bodies change and grow into adulthood. Diagnosis and management of common problems in gynaecology in this age group requires knowledge regarding congenital reproductive anomalies, disorders of gender development, reproductive endocrinopathies, gender identity, and gynaecologic malignancies. Gynaecologic disease states in paediatric patients frequently present with vulval and vaginal manifestations, while those in the adolescent age range present as abdominal-pelvic pain and abnormal menstrual bleeding. A case-based learning of common childhood gynaecologic disorders and their treatment is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose Many low-income patients enroll in Medicaid at the time of cancer diagnosis, which improves survival outcomes. Medicaid enrollment before cancer diagnosis may confer additional benefits. Our objective was to compare stage at diagnosis and overall mortality between women with and without Medicaid enrollment before gynecologic cancer diagnosis. Methods and Materials Women younger than 65 years with a gynecologic cancer (2003 to 2008) were identified through the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry and linked to state Medicaid enrollment files. Those with and without Medicaid enrollment within 6 months before diagnosis were identified. Propensity matching was used to balance the exposure groups. Stage at diagnosis was evaluated by using logistic regression, and all-cause mortality was assessed with Cox proportional hazard models. Results Of 564 women, one half (n = 282) had prediagnosis Medicaid enrollment. Disease sites included the cervix (44%), uterus (25%), ovary (26%), and vulva/vagina (5%). More than one half (51%) of cancers were advanced stage. Women without prediagnosis Medicaid had an increased odds of advanced-stage disease (hazard ratio, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.05). Crude survival outcomes differed significantly between the groups; however, when adjusted for stage at diagnosis, lack of prediagnosis Medicaid coverage had a hazard ratio of 1.19 (95% CI, 0.92 to 1.53). Conclusion Medicaid enrollment before gynecologic cancer diagnosis is associated with an earlier stage at presentation. Given the existence of a cervical cancer screening program in North Carolina and lack of Medicaid expansion, these data suggest that screening programs alone are not sufficient to counteract the delay in diagnosis that is common for uninsured individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Radiation therapy has become a well-established treatment for the management of advanced gynecological cancers. Standard of care can include external beam radiation therapy with concurrent chemotherapy and internal intracavitary brachytherapy. Brachytherapy plays an important role in the management of cervical cancer, endometrial cancer and vaginal cancer, as it allows very high ablative doses of radiation to be delivered directly to the tumour with a sharp dose drop-off allowing for surrounding normal tissue to be spared. Interstitial brachytherapy is an effective treatment option for patients with locally advanced or recurrent gynecological cancer. It involves a complex procedure with detailed radiation planning and physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context.--Immunohistochemistry has assumed an increasing role in the identification and characterization of gynecologic disorders including lesions with deceptively bland morphology, uncommon and underdiagnosed neoplasms, and neoplasms with specific genetic alterations associated with overexpression or loss of expression of specific proteins. The diagnostic accuracy has been significantly improved owing to the discovery and increasing experience with the tumor-associated biomarkers, and the increasing demand for precise tumor classification to assess suitability for the expanding therapeutic modalities including clinical trials. Objective.--To differentiate lesions of the gynecologic tract through the use of effective immunohistochemical panels. Data Sources.--Literature review and authors’ personal practice experience. Conclusions.--The application of diagnostic and prognostic immunohistochemical panels has enabled pathologists to better guide therapeutic decisions and to better predict the clinical outcome. It is now well established that the use of ancillary testing, including immunohistochemistry, has a significant power in the identification, differentiation, and classification of reactive, premalignant, and malignant gynecologic disorders. This article discusses the utilities and pitfalls of the commonly used immunohistochemical markers in the context of overlapping morphologic features encountered in the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of this study was to explore how older women in rural Appalachia with gynecological cancer construct and interpret their experience with cancer. Design and Methods: Grounded in social constructionist theory, semistructured in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 women, aged 51–82, who had been treated for gynecological cancer. Transcripts were analyzed using the constant comparative method. Results: Although women narrated their experience along a common trajectory from symptoms to diagnosis to treatment, four distinct patterns of posttreatment perceptions were described: (a) positive: women believed they were cancer survivors, (b) cautious: women saw themselves as survivors but not risk free, (c) distanced: women viewed themselves as cured and equated survivor with victim, and (d) resigned: women refused more treatment. All of the women acknowledged an inner strength in how they experienced cancer, requiring a more nuanced framework for understanding how negative and positive feelings coexist with faith in a higher power and the capacity to endure a devastating threat to life and health. Implications: The findings expand the concept of survivor identity, suggesting that the women’s perception that they had met life’s challenges with fortitude and inner strength may have more resonance in later life than the concept of survivorship. Family members and medical and public health professionals need to support older women’s individual response to cancer recovery and acknowledge their complicated reactions to a cancer diagnosis and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Context.-Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is a predominantly benign, spindle cell, mesenchymal neoplasm with myxoid areas that occurs rarely in the female genital tract and may be confused with other spindle cell lesions, particularly leiomyosarcoma. Objective.-To investigate the utility of detecting anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1 protein expression and ALK gene rearrangements in the diagnosis of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors in the female genital tract. Design.-Eight inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors arising in the female genital tract and seen in consultation (from 2004 to 2011) were reviewed. Immunohistochemistry for anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1 and fluorescence in-situ hybridization studies for ALK gene rearrangements were performed. Results.-The anatomic sites included myometrium (4 cases) and endometrium, fallopian tube, cervix, and a cervical polyp (1 each), with a patient age range from 25 to 52 years. Histologic features ranged from bland spindle cells to striking cytologic atypia, embedded in a prominent myxoid background. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1 immunohistochemistry was positive in 7 cases. Fluorescence in-situ hybridization studies detected ALK gene rearrangements in 5 cases. Five cases had both immunopositivity and fluorescence in-situ hybridization abnormalities, 2 cases had immunopositivity only, and 1 case was negative by both methods. Conclusions.-This is the first report, to our knowledge, of ALK gene rearrangements in inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors in the female genital tract. If a myxoid background is appreciated in a spindle cell lesion of the female genital tract, especially if inflammatory cells are present, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-1 staining along with fluorescence in situ hybridization studies, for ALK gene rearrangements, may aid in distinguishing inflammatory myofibroblastic tumors from their malignant mimics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Inside Knowledge: Get the Facts About Gynecologic Cancer campaign raises awareness of the five main types of gynecologic cancer: cervical, ovarian, uterine, vaginal, and vulvar. It encourages women to pay attention to their bodies and know what is normal for them so they can recognize the warning signs of gynecologic cancers and seek medical care. This report provides an overview of the development of this national campaign. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) has gained interest as an imaging modality for assessment of tumor extension and response to cancer treatment. The purpose of this study is to assess the impact of the choice of b-values on the calculation of the Apparent Diffusion Coefficient (ADC) for locally advanced gynecological cancer and to estimate a stable interval of diffusion gradients that allows for best comparison of the ADC between patients and institutions. Material and methods. Six patients underwent a high resolution single shot EPI based DWI scan with 16 different diffusion gradients on a 3 Tesla Philips Achieva MR-scanner. Data analysis was performed by applying a monoexponential and a biexponential model to the acquired data. The biexponential function models the effect of both perfusion and diffusion. Results and conclusion. ADC changes of up to 40% were seen with the use of different b-values. Using a lower b-value ≥ 150 s/mm2 and an upper b-value ≥ 700 s/mm2 limited the variation to less that 10% from the reference ADC value. By eliminating the contribution of perfusion the uncertainty of quantitative ADC values were significantly reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Imiquimod modulates the immune response, and is a new approach for treatment of papillomavirus-associated lesions, although it has not been approved for the treatment of intraepithelial neoplasia. We present a case of a patient treated with imiquimod on account of high-grade intraepithelial neoplasia in the vulva and other locations. The posterior biopsies confirm the absence of lesions but show drug-induced pemphigus as a side effect. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An asymptomatic 66-year-old woman showed a large perineal mass extending close to pelvic organs on MRI. CT-guided needle biopsies revealed a desmoid tumour (DT). The patient refused radical surgery. Four years later, the tumour had marginally increased in size and was still asymptomatic. The revision of earlier biopsies then revealed typical aspects of aggressive angiomyxoma (AA). AA and DT are rare mesenchymal tumours of lowgrade malignancy, usually of large size, that occurs in female pelvi-perineal region. Radical resection with wide margins is classically advocated in such tumours in order to prevent the high risk of recurrences. However, due to a slow growth, rare infiltration of adjacent organs and a very low metastatic potential, a watchful waiting policy can be proposed when high postoperative morbidity is expected. In order to propose the accurate treatment, frontline biopsies of the tumour are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]