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Background: Prognosis of advanced ovarian carcinomas (AOC) remains poor with a 5-year survival of 30%. Benefit from high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) in this disease has not been demonstrated to date., Methods: To evaluate the value of HDC as consolidation treatment after surgery and platinum/taxane-based therapy, we designed a monocentric retrospective comparative study. We used a subset approach to identify parameters associated with HDC efficacy., Results: One hundred and three AOC patients treated with conventional chemotherapy alone (CCA) were compared to 60 patients receiving HDC plus hematopoietic stem cell support. After a median follow-up of 47.5 months there was no overall survival (OS) advantage for the HDC group in the whole population (p=0.29). Nevertheless, HDC was associated to a better outcome in young patients (≤50 years), both in term of progression-free survival (p=0.02, log-rank test) and OS (p=0.05, log-rank test). Median OS was 54.6 and 36 months in the HDC and CCA groups, respectively., Conclusions: Although randomized trials failed to demonstrate any benefit for HDC in AOC patients, this study suggests that young patients may derive a substantial advantage from receiving it after the standard treatment. Further prospective studies are warranted to confirm this gain and to search for the biological processes associated with this improvement.

Background: Until 2004, we treated peritoneal carcinomatosis with cytoreductive surgery accompanied by perioperative systemic chemotherapy. From October 2004, we decided to initiate a hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) program for this condition., Objective: To determine the effect of HIPEC on postoperative outcomes at a single institution performing a high volume of cancer operations., Method: Sixty consecutive patients underwent cytoreductive surgery plus HIPEC (oxaliplatin; 460 mg/m2 in 2 L/m2) from October 1, 2004, through December 31, 2010. Usual perioperative factors were studied for 3 groups of patients who underwent HIPEC: 0 to 20 HIPEC procedures (period 1), 21 to 40 HIPEC procedures (period 2), and 41 to 60 HIPEC procedures (period 3)., Results: The mean peritoneal carcinomatosis index was 9.6, the mean duration of surgery was 410.7 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 450.2 mL/L. Mortality and morbidity were 0% and 33%, respectively. Grade III/IV morbidity (P = .02), transfusion (P < .01), and reintervention rate (P = .04) significantly decreased during the 3 periods. No difference was seen between the 3 periods with regard to mean peritoneal carcinomatosis index, operative duration, blood loss, mortality, overall morbidity, length of hospital stay, and readmission. The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates of 26 patients with peritoneal carcinomatosis originating from colorectal cancer were 100%, 51%, and 37%, respectively. The overall median survival was 39 months., Conclusions: We observed a significant reduction of grade III/IV morbidity, perioperative transfusion, and reintervention rate after 20 procedures. The introduction of the HIPEC program was successful because of the surgical team's prior experience in cytoreductive and cancer operations.

Objective: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of robotically assisted laparoscopy paraaortic lymphadenectomy (PAL), isolated or combined with another procedure using different surgical approaches., Methods: From February 2007 to December 2010, 53 patients underwent paraaortic lymphadenectomy up to the left renal vein. We used three different approaches with three different positions for the robot in relation to the surgical procedure (isolated transperitoneal PAL, isolated extraperitoneal PAL, or transperitoneal PAL combined with another procedure). Thirty-nine patients underwent isolated lomboaortic lymphadenectomy and 14 a combined procedure. Information concerning installation time, operative time, peri- and postoperative complications, blood loss, lymph node count, and conversion rate was recorded., Results: For the whole population, mean installation time was 33 ± 18 min, mean operative time was 197 ± 81 min, and mean hospital stay was 3.9 ± 2.8 days. We observed 15.1% lymph node involvement at definitive pathology. Between isolated trans- and extraperitoneal PAL, only body mass index (BMI, 27.4 versus 22 kg/m(2)) was significantly different. No difference was observed concerning mean number of lymph nodes or hospital stay. We observed statistical difference between combined and isolated PAL concerning mean operative time (256 versus 160 min), mean number of lymph nodes (7.8 versus 14.6), and hospital stay (5.9 versus 2.9 days)., Conclusions: Although laparoscopic robotic-assisted PAL is a safe and feasible procedure, lymph node staging seems to be better if the procedure is isolated. In case of combined procedures, the surgical approach should be modified regarding patient BMI and the associated procedure, to increase lymph node count.

Objectives: To describe our single-port experience in gynecologic oncology surgery, and emphasize the feasibility to use the single-port in this surgery., Patients and Methods: It is a retrospective, feasibility study, monocentric. All patients who were operated by the single-port, between 1st January 2010 to 1st November 2011, were included., Results: We note that 107 patients were included. We made different interventions: uni- and bilateral salpingo-ovariectomy, hysterectomy, pelvic and para-aortic lymph node sampling or lymphadenectomy in gynecologic malignancies. The median age of the population and the body mass index were respectively 52 and 22.6 kg/m(2). In total, six interventions will be converted. The median hospital stay of patients, all procedures combined, was 2 days. We find low rate of postoperative complications., Conclusion: Gynecological cancer surgery appears feasible for single-port. However, we need other studies to confirm a benefit of using the single-port compared to conventional laparoscopy., (Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of single-port surgery (SPS) for laparoscopic extraperitoneal aortic dissection., Methods: From December 2010 to April 2011, all patients referred for aortic lymph node staging underwent a laparoscopic extraperitoneal approach with a single-port device. The extraperitoneal approach was performed using only one 3-4 cm incision on the left side. Gelpoint from Applied Medical (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA, USA), a 10-mm 0° laparoscope, and 5-mm standard instruments were used., Results: The study enrolled 13 patients. Aortic dissection was complete for 11 patients and incomplete for 2 patients. The mean lymph node count was 16 (range, 7-40). The mean blood loss was 40.7 ml (range, 0-100 ml), and no transfusion was necessary. The mean hospital stay was 1.7 days (range, 1-4 days) for this series., Conclusion: The study results demonstrate the feasibility of single-port-access laparoscopy for extraperitoneal aortic lymphadenectomy. The lymph node count was similar to that described in the published experience of conventional laparoscopic extraperitoneal dissection. This preliminary report shows that SPS is usable for extraperitoneal aortic dissection and that it is possible to perform this procedure using only one skin incision compared with the three or four incisions required for conventional laparoscopy.

The recommendations of the Institut national du cancer and of the Société francaise d'oncologie gynécologique in endometrial carcinoma (2010) reported that laparoscopy is the standard surgical approach for patients with apparent stage FIGO I in preoperative outcomes including MRI (www.e-cancer.fr). For patients with stage FIGO greater than I, laparotomy is the standard surgical approach. In case of lymph nodes or peritoneal restaging, the laparoscopy could be a good option especially by extraperitoneal route in patients with recent first surgery.

Criteria for patient selection prior to undergo pelvic exenteration have strongly diminished due to improvement in local control of locally advanced tumors treated with chemo-radiotherapy. Preoperative study with current image techniques improves the definition of tumor extension to better adapt surgical resection. New haemostatic devices have lead to a reduction in peroperative blood loss. Latero-pelvic extension requires a specific surgical approach with latero-endopelvic résection including vascular and nervous structures and/or intraoperative radiotherapy techniques. Laparoscopic approach is an alternative for selected patients presenting with central tumor. Reconstruction phase is crucial: the pelvic filling diminishes postoperative complications. Continent urinary diversions are the best option for young motivated patients. Pelvic reconstruction, especially by myocutaneous flaps should be systematically proposed to improve body image and cover the pelvis dead space. The development of pelvic isolated perfusion technique will probably emerge as an alternative to pelvic exenteration, or as a neoadjuvant treatment to improve oncological outcomes., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The expected increase in cancer incidence emphasizes the need for specific training in this area, including either family physician or specialized oncologists. In France, the fourth to sixth years of medical teaching include both theoretical classes at the university and daily actual practice at the hospital. Thus, clinical rotations are thought to play a major role in the training of medical students and also largely participate to the choice of the student of his/her final specialty. Pedagogic quality of these rotations is dependent on multiple parameters, including a rigorous planification of the expected learning. Here, we reported a systemic planification of learning activities for medical students during an oncology rotation at the Paoli-Calmettes Institute in Marseille, France, a regional comprehensive cancer center. This planification includes an evaluation of learning requirements, definition of learning objectives, selection of learning methods and choice of methods of assessment of the students' achievement of these objectives as well as the learning activity itself.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to establish the feasibility of the management of recurrent pelvic cancers by robot-assisted laparoscopy, and particularly the feasibility of robot-assisted laparoscopy anterior pelvic exenteration, from a single center series of seven patients., Patients and Methods: From February 2007 to April 2010, all patients cared for recurrent pelvic cancer have been included (n=7). Five patients have been cared for a cervical cancer recurrence, one patient for recurrent VAIN 3, and one patient for squamous cell carcinoma of the vaginal vault after hysterectomy for cervical carcinoma in situ. All patients were benefited from robot-assisted laparoscopy: two had surgery such as anterior pelvic exenteration with Miami Pouch urinary reconstruction, and five had colpectomy with or without lymph node removal, including one with vaginal preparation first before vaginal cuff resection. Data were collected prospectively identifying treatment history, intraoperative data, immediate outcomes, pathological findings, and long-term outcomes., Results: From February 2007 to April 2010, 195 patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopy at the Institut Paoli-Calmettes. Among them, seven patients had pelvic cancer recurrence. The median age was 53 years (44 to 67). The median BMI was 25 (19.7 to 35.3). The median Karnofsky index was 100 (80-100). The median operative time was 210 min (90 to 300) for colpectomy, 480 min for pelvectomy, 240 min (90-480) for the serie. The mean duration of the installation of the robot, all procedures combined, is estimated at 22.5 min (±4.8 min). There was no conversion to laparotomy, the median blood loss was 340 ml (100 to 800). One patient was transfused with two red blood cells. There was a surgical complication (wound of the inferior mesenteric artery). There were no early postoperative complications and the median hospital stay was 6 days (3-24). There was a late postoperative complication: a patient who underwent anterior pelvic exenteration had impaired wound healing, with scarring requiring led by the VAC system. On pathological findings, the average number of nodes removed in the pelvic was 8.5 (±2) on the left, and 4 (±1.4) on the right. Three patients had involved margins; it was an anterior pelvic exenteration and two colpectomy. There was no hospital mortality, neither post-operative mortality at D30 and D90. After a median follow up of 22 months (9-34), the recurrence rate was 71% (5 patients out of 7), and one patient died 10 months after the intervention of a pulmonary embolism., Discussion and Conclusion: The surgical management of recurrent cervical cancer by laparoscopy-assisted robot is feasible for selected indications, and could be proposed as an alternative to laparotomy. Monitoring data in this series raise the question of the validity of conservative treatment in cases of recurrent pelvic cancer. The possibilities in terms of urinary and vaginal reconstruction remain to be defined. The impact of this surgical approach on oncological data must be confirmed., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Objective: The objectives of the study were to highlight some of the differences in training systems and opportunities for training in gynecologic oncology across Europe and to draw attention to steps that can be taken to improve training prospects and experiences of European trainees in gynecologic oncology., Methods: The European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists national representatives from 34 countries were asked to review and summarize the training system in their countries of origin and fulfill a mini-questionnaire evaluating different aspects of training. We report analysis of outcomes of the mini-questionnaire and subsequent discussion at the European Network of Young Gynaecological Oncologists national representatives Asian Pacific Organization for Cancer Prevention meeting in Istanbul (April 2010)., Results: Training fellowships in gynecologic oncology are offered by 18 countries (53%). The median duration of training is 2.5 years (interquartile range, 2.0-3.0 years). Chemotherapy administration is part of training in 70.5% (24/34) countries. Most of the countries (26/34) do not have a dedicated national gynecologic-oncology journal. All trainees reported some or good access to training in advanced laparoscopic surgical techniques, whereas 41% indicated no access, and 59% some access to training opportunities in robotic surgery. European countries were grouped into 3 different categories on the basis of available training opportunities in gynecologic oncology: well-structured, moderately structured, and loosely structured training systems., Conclusions: There is a need for further harmonization and standardization of training programs and structures in gynecologic oncology across Europe. This is of particular relevance for loosely structured countries that lag behind the moderately structured and well-structured ones.

Objective: This survey evaluated if residents felt a benefit to their participation in robot-assisted procedures and highlights the interest of robot in the initial surgical training., Patients and Methods: A questionnaire was submitted to 33 residents participating as assistants in robot-assisted surgical procedures in our department and to seven residents of the Chapel Hill hospital, North Carolina, USA. Items rated their experience with the robot, their feeling during the surgical procedures and whether they thought they improved their technical skills., Results: The majority of French residents felt passive during the procedures (97%) or bored (75%); most of them found an immediate interest to learn anatomy (72.7%) and surgical procedures (66.7%). Then, a minority of them reported an improvement of their knowledge in anatomy (39.4%), in surgical procedures (24.2%), and conventional laparoscopy (9.1%). Most of French residents are not willing to repeat the experience as an assistant (81.8%), whereas they showed great interest in practicing robot-assisted surgery later. The oldest residents benefited more than younger in learning anatomy and surgical procedures. US resident' ratings concerning the contribution of the robot in their training were generally more positive. They were all convinced they made progress in anatomy, as in surgical techniques and they all wanted to repeat such procedures., Discussion and Conclusion: This work demonstrates the pedagogical value of using the robot for teaching surgical procedures and anatomy. It also suggests the establishment of training programs dedicated to the learning of robot-assisted surgery in gynaecology, in parallel with training in conventional laparoscopy., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

We report four cases of grade 2 and 3 endo-metrial adenocarcinomas managed conservatively in order to preserve fertility. In the literature, seven other cases have been reported. We discuss the management of these cases and compared the carcinologic and fertility outcomes with fertility-sparing management of grade 1 endometrial adenocarcinoma.

Background: Basal breast cancers (BCs) represent ~15% of BCs. Although overall poor, prognosis is heterogeneous. Identification of good- versus poor-prognosis patients is difficult or impossible using the standard histoclinical features and the recently defined prognostic gene expression signatures (GES). Kinases are often activated or overexpressed in cancers, and constitute targets for successful therapies. We sought to define a prognostic model of basal BCs based on kinome expression profiling., Methods: DNA microarray-based gene expression and histoclinical data of 2515 early BCs from thirteen datasets were collected. We searched for a kinome-based GES associated with disease-free survival (DFS) in basal BCs of the learning set using a metagene-based approach. The signature was then tested in basal tumors of the independent validation set., Results: A total of 591 samples were basal. We identified a 28-kinase metagene associated with DFS in the learning set (N = 73). This metagene was associated with immune response and particularly cytotoxic T-cell response. On multivariate analysis, a metagene-based predictor outperformed the classical prognostic factors, both in the learning and the validation (N = 518) sets, independently of the lymphocyte infiltrate. In the validation set, patients whose tumors overexpressed the metagene had a 78% 5-year DFS versus 54% for other patients (p = 1.62E-4, log-rank test)., Conclusions: Based on kinome expression, we identified a predictor that separated basal BCs into two subgroups of different prognosis. Tumors associated with higher activation of cytotoxic tumor-infiltrative lymphocytes harbored a better prognosis. Such classification should help tailor the treatment and develop new therapies based on immune response manipulation.

Background: Prognosis of ovarian carcinoma is poor, heterogeneous, and not accurately predicted by histoclinical features. We analysed gene expression profiles of ovarian carcinomas to identify a multigene expression model associated with survival after platinum-based therapy., Methods: Data from 401 ovarian carcinoma samples were analysed. The learning set included 35 cases profiled using whole-genome DNA chips. The validation set included 366 cases from five independent public data sets., Results: Whole-genome unsupervised analysis could not distinguish poor from good prognosis samples. By supervised analysis, we built a seven-gene optimal prognostic model (OPM) out of 94 genes identified as associated with progression-free survival. Using the OPM, we could classify patients in two groups with different overall survival (OS) not only in the learning set, but also in the validation set. Five-year OS was 57 and 27% for the predicted 'Favourable' and 'Unfavourable' classes, respectively. In multivariate analysis, the OPM outperformed the individual current prognostic factors, both in the learning and the validation sets, and added independent prognostic information., Conclusion: We defined a seven-gene model associated with outcome in 401 ovarian carcinomas. Prospective studies are warranted to confirm its prognostic value, and explore its potential ability for better tailoring systemic therapies in advanced-stage tumours.

Prognosis of basal breast cancers is poor but heterogeneous. Medullary breast cancers (MBC) display a basal profile, but a favorable prognosis. We hypothesized that a previously published 368-gene expression signature associated with MBC might serve to define a prognostic classifier in basal cancers. We collected public gene expression and histoclinical data of 2145 invasive early breast adenocarcinomas. We developed a Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier based on this 368-gene list in a learning set, and tested its predictive performances in an independent validation set. Then, we assessed its prognostic value and that of six prognostic signatures for disease-free survival (DFS) in the remaining 2034 samples. The SVM model accurately classified all MBC samples in the learning and validation sets. A total of 466 cases were basal across other sets. The SVM classifier separated them into two subgroups, subgroup 1 (resembling MBC) and subgroup 2 (not resembling MBC). Subgroup 1 exhibited 71% 5-year DFS, whereas subgroup 2 exhibited 50% (P = 9.93E-05). The classifier outperformed the classical prognostic variables in multivariate analysis, conferring lesser risk for relapse in subgroup 1 (HR = 0.52, P = 3.9E-04). This prognostic value was specific to the basal subtype, in which none of the other prognostic signatures was informative. Ontology analysis revealed effective immune response (IR), enhanced tumor cell apoptosis, elevated levels of metastasis-inhibiting factors and low levels of metastasis-promoting factors in the good-prognosis subgroup, and a more developed cell migration system in the poor-prognosis subgroup. In conclusion, based on this 368-gene SVM model derived from an MBC signature, basal breast cancers were classified in two prognostic subgroups, suggesting that MBC and basal breast cancers share similar molecular alterations associated with aggressiveness. This signature could help define the prognosis, adapt the systemic treatment, and identify new therapeutic targets.

The aim of this work is to specify surgical procedures for the breast and the axillary lymph node area after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. The extent of glandular resection was chosen using a rational based on the goals of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the prognostical impact of response level and the evaluation of this response. The results of sentinel lymph node procedure before or after neoadjuvant chemotherapy are presented.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the feasibility and efficacy of robot-assisted laparoscopy with traditional laparotomy and conventional laparoscopy in a series of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer managed in our two institutions., Methods: Twenty-two patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopy were compared with 20 patients who underwent adjuvant surgery by laparotomy and 16 who underwent conventional laparoscopy, before the arrival of the Da Vinci surgical system., Results: There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of body mass index, FIGO stage, or tumor histology. The complication rate was similar in the three groups of patients, although there was a trend towards more lymphatic complications in the robot-assisted subgroup managed medically. There was no significant difference in the recurrence rate between the robot-assisted laparoscopy, conventional laparoscopy and laparotomy groups (27.3%, 29.4% and 30%, respectively)., Conclusion: Robot-assisted laparoscopy is feasible after concurrent chemoradiation and brachytherapy in cases of locally advanced cervical cancer. This new surgical approach reduces hospital stay, and seems to result in less severe complications than conventional laparotomy without modifying the oncological outcome., (Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Purpose: Three models have been developed to predict four or more involved axillary lymph nodes (ALNs) in patients with breast cancer with one to three involved sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs). Two scores were developed by Chagpar et al (Louisville scores excluding or including method of detection), and a nomogram was developed by Katz et al. The purpose of our investigation was to compare these models in a prospective, multicenter study., Patients and Methods: Our study involved a cohort of 536 patients having one to three involved SLNs who underwent ALN dissection. We evaluated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), calibration (for the Katz nomogram only), false-negative (FN) rate, and clinical utility of the three models. Results were compared with the optimal logistic regression (OLR) model that was developed from the validation cohort., Results: Among the 536 patients, 57 patients (10.6%) had > or = four involved ALNs. The AUC for the Katz nomogram was 0.84 (95% CI, 0.81 to 0.86). The Louisville score excluding method of detection was 0.75 (95% CI, 0.72 to 0.78). The Louisville score including method of detection was 0.77 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.79). The FN rates were 2.5% (eight of 321 patients), 1.8% (two of 109 patients), and 0% (zero of 27 patients) for the Katz nomogram and the Louisville scores excluding and including method of detection, respectively. The Katz nomogram was well calibrated. Optimism-corrected bootstrap estimate AUC of the OLR model was 0.86. Using this result as a reasonable target for an external model, the performance of the Katz nomogram was remarkable., Conclusion: We validated the three models for their use in clinical practice. The Katz nomogram outperformed the two other models.

Objective: To describe our early experience with robotic-assisted laparoscopy for extraperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy up to the left renal vein, including Da Vinci robot positioning., Methods: Six patients underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopy using the Da Vinci apparatus. The patients included a man with a pT2 non-seminomatous germ cell tumour of the left testicle treated by chemotherapy with an incomplete response (mature teratoma), four women with locally advanced cervical cancer, and one case of bulky cancer of the vaginal cuff. The procedure was carried out using four port sites: one for the camera, one each for the no. 1 and no. 3 arms of the Da Vinci robot system, and one for the assistant., Results and Conclusion: Robotic-assisted lymphadenectomy carried out using the Da Vinci system was safe and effective with a short learning period for an experienced oncological team. A larger prospective study is now required to evaluate this procedure further.

Background: Several authors reported sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NC). Nevertheless, the ideal time of SLNB is still a matter of debate., Methods: We evaluated the feasibility and the accuracy of SLNB before NC using a combined procedure (blue dye and radio-labelled detection) before NC. Axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) was performed after completion of NC in a homogeneous cohort study with clinically axillary node-negative breast cancer., Results: Among the 20 women who had metastatic SLNB (65%), 4 (20%) had additional metastatic node on ALND. By contrast, all the 11 women who had no metastatic SLNB had no involved nodes in the ALND. The SLN identification rate before NC was 100% with any false negative., Conclusions: SLNB before NC is a feasible and an accurate diagnostic tool to predict the pre-therapeutic axilla status. These findings suggest that ALND may be avoided in patients with a negative SLNB performed before NC.

Introduction: A modified posterior pelvic exenteration (MPE) might be needed to reach an optimal tumoral reduction. The issue of this study is to relate a multicentric experience of this kind of resection., Materials: Three hundred five patients who needed an MPE were analyzed from 9 French cancer centers. One hundred sixty-eight MPEs were performed during initial surgery (55.1%), 69 during interval surgery (22.6%), 36 after chemotherapy (11.8%), and 32 for recurrences (10.5%)., Results: Three hundred two colorectal anastomoses were realized with a protective stoma in 59 (19.5%) of cases and a stoma closure in 76.5% (51). The rate of functional anastomosis was 96% (290/302). Complications occurred in 26.9% (82/305) of the patients, with a fistula in 25 (8.2%). The reintervention rate was 8.8% (27/305). The median length of hospitalization was 15 days. The absence of a macroscopic residual disease was obtained in 58% (173/303) of cases. A residual disease that was 1 cm or smaller was observed in 73 cases (24%) and 2 cm or smaller observed in 36 (11.9%). Postoperative chemotherapy was started with a median time of 32 days.Postoperative death occurred in 1 patient (0.33%). The survival rates were 62.7% and 27.6% at 2 and 5 years, respectively. With a multivariate analysis, the 2 significant prognostic factors were residual disease and time of surgery (P < 0.0001)., Conclusions: A rectal invasion should not be an obstacle to reach the aim to obtain a macroscopic minimal residual disease or, if possible, the absence of one. An MPE is useful in those cases to reach optimal cytoreduction, with comparable results whatever the patient's age is. A temporary protective stoma should be considered only exceptionally.

Purpose: Several models have been developed to predict nonsentinel lymph node (non-SN) status in patients with breast cancer with sentinel lymph node (SN) metastasis. The purpose of our investigation was to compare available models in a prospective, multicenter study., Patients and Methods: In a cohort of 561 positive-SN patients who underwent axillary lymph node dissection, we evaluated the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs), calibration, rates of false negatives (FN), and number of patients in the group at low risk for non-SN calculated from nine models. We also evaluated these parameters in the subgroup of patients with micrometastasis or isolated tumor cells (ITC) in the SN., Results: At least one non-SN was metastatic in 147 patients (26.2%). Only two of nine models had an AUC greater than 0.75. Three models were well calibrated. Two models yielded an FN rate less than 5%. Three models were able to assign more than a third of patients in the low-risk group. Overall, the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center nomogram and Tenon score outperform other methods for all patients, including the subgroup of patients with only SN micrometastases or ITC., Conclusion: Our study suggests that all models do not perform equally, especially for the subgroup of patients with only micrometastasis or ITC in the SN. We point out available evaluation methods to assess their performance and provide guidance for clinical practice.

Breast conserving surgery and mastectomy are equivalent for overall survival. However, the rate of local recurrence is higher for breast conserving surgery. Several predictive factors for local recurrence have been identified and some of them such as margins of resection, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormonotherapy can be modified. The aim of this study is to review arguments in the literature to define optimal margins of resection. The orientation of the specimen and the inking of lateral margins are essentials for the histopathological analysis. Lateral margins are the most important since the resection is close to the pectoral muscle. According to the literature, the rate of local recurrence is higher when margins are positive. Moreover, the presence of tumoral cells on specimen after a re-excision is correlated with the positivity of the margins. There are no agreements about the number of millimeters requested to consider a margin sufficient. However, two millimeters seem to show a decrease of local recurrence. The influence of extensive intraductal component on local recurrence risk has been studied. Several factors are correlated and to define independent factors seem to be interesting.

Objectives: The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the feasibility and the outcome of gynaecological cancer surgery with the Da Vinci S surgical system (Intuitive Surgical)., Methods: From February 2007 to September 2007, 28 patients underwent 32 gynaecological procedures in a single centre. Surgical procedures consisted of total hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, and pelvic and/or lombo-aortic lymphadenectomy. In all cases, surgery was performed using both laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic techniques. In this heterogeneous series, a subgroup of 12 patients treated for advanced cervical cancer was compared with a retrospective series of 20 patients who underwent the same surgical procedure by laparotomy., Results: Mean age of the entire population was 52.5 years (range 25-72 years) and mean body mass index (BMI) was 25 kg/m(2) (range 18-40 kg/m(2)). Indications for surgery were cervical cancer in 21 cases, endometrial cancer in 7 cases, ovarian cancer in 1 case and cervical dysplasia in 3 cases. Median operating time was 180 min (mean 175.25 min, range 80-360 min) and median estimated blood loss was 110 cc (range 0-400 cc); no transfusions were necessary. No perioperative complications were observed and median time of hospitalisation was 3 days (mean 3.9 days, range 2-8 days). In the subgroup of 12 advanced cervical cancer a significant difference was observed in terms of hospital stay compared with laparotomy; no difference was observed concerning operative time. Fewer complications were observed with laparotomy (33% versus 25%) but more serious complications than with robot-assisted laparoscopy., Conclusion: As suggested in the literature, the use of robot-assisted laparoscopy leads to less intraoperative blood loss, less post operative pain and shorter hospital stays compared with those treated by more traditional surgical approaches. Despite the need for more extensive studies, robot-assisted surgery seems to represent a similar technological evolution as the laparoscopic approach 50 years ago.

Objective: The objective was to assess in an animal model the mechanical properties of five prostheses used for pelvic floor repair., Study Design: Two months after pre-peritoneal implantation of the five types of prosthesis: Prolene, Prolene Soft, Mersuture, Vicryl and Vypro, we sacrificed the animals to measure retraction of the prosthesis, maximal resistance to traction, and maximal elongation., Results: Non-absorbable prostheses retracted least. Forces at rupture were disparate with a significant difference in favor of Prolene (p<0.001). Resistance was variably affected by cicatrization. There were no significant differences in elongation., Conclusions: This study is an introductory exploration. Monofilament and macroporous propylene prostheses seem, after implantation, to have the best mechanical performance and best tissue integration. This underlines the need for experimental prostheses, which are increasingly used, but still lack the extensive evaluation needed by the surgeon. Knitted polypropylene seems to be one of the best materials at present, but is probably not sufficient.

Amniotic fluid embolism is a rare, unpredictable and often lethal complication of pregnancy and childbirth. Because of its variable presentation, an early biologic test would help to establish the diagnosis. We investigated in maternal serum 4 components of amniotic fluid, i.e., alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), l'insuline like growth factor binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1), fetal fibronectin (fFN) and placental alpha1-microglobulin (PAMG-1). On the 6 cesareans controls involved, none of the makers increased after membranes section. PAMG-1 is unsuitable because its detection is always positive or doubtful even in the baseline. On the 7 cases suspected of amniotic fluid embolism, no detectable increase in any of those markers was noted in 3 cases, which is not in favour of this diagnosis. In the remaining cases, IGFBP-1 and fFN became detectable, confirming histological evidences of amniotic fluid embolism in 2 cases. The follow up of those markers in maternal blood confirmed the suspicion of amniotic fluid embolism at 21 wg in one case of ongoing pregnancy. These preliminary results point out the potential interest to assay maternal serum AFP, IGFBP-1 and fFN to confirm amniotic fluid embolism using rapid laboratory tests.

Objectives: The purpose is to quantify objective tissue resistances before healing of prostheses used in pelvic floor surgery., Patients and Methods: We measured tissue resistances offered to five types of meshes by four classical surgical routes. We also tested the incidence of the modification of the width of meshes on tissue resistance. This study was realized on frozen cadavers, by pull on prostheses just after implantation. Tests are realized with a dynamometer and results obtained in Newton., Results: In the Retzius space, TVT offers a better resistance than IVS or LIFT meshes. We did not bring to the fore a significant difference between four routes for 1 cm wide prosthesis. The increase of width of Prolene meshes improves their resistance in tissues and thus quality of their fixation. We underscore a better resistance of the trans sacrospinous route with regard to the trans muscular one., Discussion and Conclusion: The increase of resistance is bound to the increase of the contact area between the prosthesis and the tissues. This increase of resistance should be taken into account in prolapse surgery: constraints are stronger than for stress incontinence. The posterior arms of meshes have to measure more than 1 cm wide and be set up through the sacrospinous ligament rather than through the elevator muscles. The type of knitting of prostheses is important and influences the resistance in tissues in the immediate postoperative time. Manufacturers should be interested in conceiving specific meshes for the tension-free fixation, with special and adapted mechanical properties.

Objective: To evaluate the tissue integration of and tolerance to five different mesh types used in genital prolapse surgery to provide mechanical support., Study Design: We placed five different meshes (Vicryl, Vypro, Prolene, Prolene soft, and Mersuture) on the peritoneums of 12 pigs. After 10 weeks, we used light microscopy to analyze the tissue integration of and tolerance to these meshes. We looked for inflammation, vascularization, fibroblasts, collagen fibers and the organization of connective tissue., Results: The absorbable prostheses made of polyglactin 910 (Vicryl) and the non-absorbable prostheses made of polypropylene (Prolene and Prolene soft) induced the least severe inflammatory reactions. Tissue integration was best with the polypropylene meshes, which allowed the development of a well-organized, fibrous, mature, connective tissue., Conclusion: The tissue response to prosthetic meshes depends on the material used and its structure. This work highlights the feasibility of carrying out experimental studies to test the tolerance to and integration of biomaterials used in gynecology. Such studies need to be carried out whenever new prostheses become available to validate their use in common practice.

The authors propose to report progress on the use of the CA 125 serum assay. It affects three situations: screening, diagnosis and the follow-up of the patients dealt with ovarian tumour either of benign or malignant nature. For each situation the interest and the relevance of CA 125 assay will be approached.

Introduction: The "tension-free" procedures are widely used by surgeons for the treatment of urinary incontinence and prolapse. The clinical results are largely in favour of these procedures. The aim of our study is to determine objectively the mechanical tissue resistance when using these techniques, before healing begins., Material and Methods: We measured the mechanical resistance using four different routes: the retro-pubic space, the transobturator, the translevator ani muscle and the trans-sacrospinous ligament. We compared five different meshes, TVT, IVS, Lift, Prolene and Prolene Soft. In order to study the effect of increasing dimensions, we tested Prolene tapes measuring 1, 1.5 and 2 cm in width. We performed traction tests on meshes implanted in cadavers. Measurements were made with a dynamometer and the results expressed in Newtons., Results: This study shows that TVT offers a better resistance to traction via the retro-pubic space route. There was no significant difference among the four routes when the same type of mesh measuring 1cm was used. However, an increase in the dimensions of Prolene tapes improves their resistance in the tissues, thereby facilitating fixation before healing begins. Also, these increasing dimensions (in width) show that there is better resistance with the trans-sacrospinous ligament compared with the transmuscular one., Discussion: The increasing size of prosthetic meshes does not show the superiority of certain routes with commercial meshes of 1cm in width. The higher resistance obtained with wider tapes is probably due to an increased surface area between the tissues and meshes. This increase in resistance does not seem to be important for the treatment of urinary incontinence. However, it should be of interest for the treatment of prolapse where traction and surface are more important., Conclusion: Two different recommendations can be deduced from our study. On one hand, the arms of prosthetic meshes for pelvic floor repair should measure more than 1cm in width in order to improve their maintenance in the tissues in the immediate post-operative period. On the other hand to improve fixation, the posterior arms of the transperineal mesh should be passed through the sacrospinous ligament rather than via the transmuscular route. The resistance of tissues is also influenced by the armature of the prosthetic mesh. They must therefore be developed commercially specifically for "tension-free" fixation. Our results need to be confirmed by further studies including more cadavers and younger patients.

Small cell carcinoma of the ovary of the hypercalcemic type is a rare tumour, usually lethal and occurring almost exclusively in young patients. In the majority of described cases, signs of this lesion were revealed by the associated hypercalcemia or by virtue of the physical tumour bulk alone. We report the first case of ovarian small cell carcinoma of the hypercalcemic revealed by a severe acute pancreatitis in a 19-year-old patient.

Objective: Underline the objective strength of the pelvic ligaments., Patients and Methods: Twenty nine human female pelvis cadavers, whose storage conditions differed, were used in our study. In each cadaver we dissected all the ligaments used in pelvic surgery. A subjective clinical evaluation of the ligament properties was performed by visual observation as well as by finger palpation. Ligaments were classified into three groups in terms of thickness and apparent strength following finger palpation, high, doubtful and low apparent quality ligaments. Then a suture taking the entire ligament switched the ligaments and a force was applied on the vagina axis until tearing. The device used for strength measurement during traction was a Samson type force gauge, which was developed for the purpose of our study. Results were given in Newtons., Results: We found a great variability in the values obtained at tearing with maximal values at 200 newtons and minimal at 22. Individually measured, ligament strength varied between individuals, and for a same patient between the type of ligaments and the side. The pre-vertebral ligament was on average the strongest. For bilateral ligaments, there was no difference between the left and right side. The iliopectineal ligament was statistically significantly stronger than sacrospinous and arcus tendineus of pelvic fascia. There was a correlation between subjective evaluation and objective strength measurements., Discussion and Conclusion: We performed the only study of the strength of pelvic ligaments at tearing. These are, however, routinely used in the cure of prolapse and urinary incontinence. Our results show that there is a great variability in strength between individuals, and for a same patient between the types of ligaments and side. These observations could explain some of the surgical intervention failures and demonstrate the importance of per-operative strength evaluation. Per-operative subjective evaluation on strength is related to objective measurements and could be used to determine the type of ligaments to be used for surgical assembly suspension.

Objective: We describe the intra and postoperative frequency of complications in vaginal hysterectomies for benign disorders in patients with a history of caesarean section., Patients and Methods: Since 1996, 963 hysterectomies have been performed in our institution. 76.94% were performed exclusively by vaginal route (n = 741), 10.1% (n = 98) were by laparoscopic-assisted vaginal route and 12.9%, by pure abdominal route. We compared two groups of patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy, with or without history of caesarean section. In each group we recorded the characteristics of the population and compared the intra and postoperative data, such as bladder or digestive tract wounds and haemorrhages. We used analysis of variance tests to compare means, chi2-tests and Fisher's exact tests for comparisons of numbers. A probability of P < 0.05 was adopted as the limit of significance., Results: The frequency of haemorrhages was significantly higher in the patients with a history of caesareans. Bladder and intestine injury rates are significantly higher in the previous caesarean section group, but not significant for the bowel injuries. We compared the cumulative frequency of complications between the two groups. In the group with previous caesarean section, we recorded 18.3% of intra operative complications. In the group without history of caesarean section, we recorded 3.58% of complications. There is a significant difference between the cumulative frequency of complications in the two populations of patients in favour of the sub group without a history of caesarean scar (P < 0.0001)., Discussion and Conclusion: A history of single or multiple previous caesarean section increases the intra operative risk in vaginal hysterectomies. The surgeon must take into account the history of caesarean section and be attentive to the previous operating time of the bladder and uterine region especially at the time of opening the anterior peritoneal cul-de-sac. Nevertheless, uterine scarring as a sequel to caesareans must not be a contraindication to the vaginal route.

Aims: Measurements of the tensile and bending strength of samples of vaginal tissue collected during corrective surgery of prolapse., Materials and Methods: Our measurements were conducted on two samples of vaginal tissue 2 cm x 2 cm collected during surgical correction of prolapse by vaginal route in 16 post-menopausal patients. The samples were collected from posterior vaginal fundus, were orientated, and then fixed on a plate holding the edges and allowing the tissue to be stretched over an orifice of 1 cm. The tensile measurements were made using a suture passed over this distance of 1 cm in one of the two samples by recording the strength curve in order to evaluate the force at rupture of the collagen fibres. The second sample was prepared in the same way and a piston of 1 cm diameter was made to penetrate to determine the strength of breakage of the fibres. The pressure and tensile strength curves were recorded up to rupture of the sample, as was the value of the tissue elongation., Results: There was a great variability in the measurements of maximum strength at rupture of the vaginal samples and in the elongation before rupture of the samples. The mean rupture values in tensile tests were 44 and 59 N in bending with extremes of 12 and 130 N. The values of elongation before rupture of a 10 mm sample were 23 mm in tensile tests and 11 mm in bending tests. There was a great variability of results from one patient to another. There was no relation between the values observed and the patient age. There was a statistical relation between the elongation values of the samples and the maximum force before rupture in both the tensile and bending tests. There was also a relation between the measurement of the maximum force at rupture in bending and in tensile tests although there was no such relation in terms of the values of elongation before rupture., Discussion: There is no published reference concerning the strength at rupture or the tensile strength curves for human vaginal tissues. Vaginal tissues are however commonly used as a suspension component in the vast majority of operations for correcting prolapse or urinary incontinence. These suspensions are made by passing a suture through the thickness of the vaginal tissue. The results that we report do however show that these vaginal tissues are very variable in strength from one patient to another. The same finding was made in terms of the elongation values for the vaginal tissue before rupture. The values in bending tests showed that the highest rupture force values and the greatest mean elongation before rupture were lower than in tensile tests., Conclusions: These findings could explain some failures of these surgical procedures, which are all based on the tensile strength properties. Finally these results could be included in modelling of the reaction of vaginal tissues to the pressure experienced within the vagina.

Aims: This study describes the characteristics and per- and postoperative frequencies of complications in vaginal hysterectomies for benign lesions in patients with a history of cesareans. We compare these figures with the frequency of complications in vaginal hysterectomies without a history of such operations., Patients and Methods: Over a period of 8 years we studied all the hysterectomies for benign lesions (963) conducted at the Hospital Jeanne de Flandre in Lille and at the Paul Gellé maternity clinic at Roubaix. During that time 76.94% of the hysterectomies were conducted exclusively by the vaginal route (n = 741), 10.1% (n = 98) were by the laparoscopic-assisted vaginal route, and 12.9% (n = 124) by the pure abdominal route. We selected the hysterectomies conducted by the pure vaginal route from this series. We compared two subgroups of patients that were subjected to hysterectomy by the vaginal route: patients with a history of cesarean section and those never having had cesarean delivery. In each of these groups we recorded the characteristics of the population and compared the peroperative and postoperative data of the hysterectomies. We gave special attention to peroperative complications such as bladder or digestive tract wounds and hemorrhages. We used analysis of variance tests to compare means and chi2-tests and Fisher's exact tests for comparisons of numbers. A probability of p < 0.05 was adopted as the limit of significance., Results: The two populations were comparable in terms of age, weight, height, parity and history of pelvic surgery causing adhesions. There was a significant difference in the number of annexectomies between the two populations. The frequency of peroperative reductions in the uterine volume was also similar in the two vaginal hysterectomy groups. We were unable to find any significant difference in uterine weight or in the operating or hospitalization time. The frequency of hemorrhages was significantly higher in the patients with a history of cesareans. The number of injuries to the bladder and intestines was higher in the patients with a history of cesareans but not significant for the bowel injuries. We compared the cumulative frequency of complications in the group of hysterectomies with a previous history of cesareans and the group without a history of cesarean section. In our patients with a history of cesareans, we recorded 13 peroperative complications out of 71 hysterectomies (18.3%). In the group of hysterectomies without history of cesareans, we recorded 24 complications out of 670 (3.58%). There was a significant difference between the cumulative frequency of complications in the two populations of patients in favor of the subgroup without past cesarean scarring (p < 0.0001)., Conclusion: In vaginal hysterectomy, a history of single or multiple cesareans increases the peroperative risk for hysterectomies by the vaginal route. The surgeon must take into account the history of cesareans and be attentive to the previous operating time of the bladder and uterine region especially at the time of opening the anterior peritoneal cul de sac. Nevertheless, uterine scarring as a sequel to cesareans must not be a contraindication for the vaginal route.

Objectives: To report on a large series of cervical cancer patients at risk for lymph node metastasis who underwent surgical staging by a novel technique., Methods: Between 1/97 and 3/02, we identified 111 patients who underwent an infrarenal aortic and common iliac lymph node dissection via a laparoscopic extraperitoneal approach for either bulky or locally advanced cervical cancer. We reviewed the medical records and extracted pertinent information., Results: There were no intraoperative complications. Mean patient age was 46 (+/- 9) years. Mean node count was 19 (+/- 12). Thirty (27%) patients had lymph node metastasis. The mean operative time was 157 (+/- 46) min, and mean postoperative stay was 2 days. The majority of complications in the early part of the series were symptomatic lymphoceles. Since 4/01, preventive peritoneal marsupialization has been performed without lymphocele occurrence (37 patients). Two patients (2%) required reoperation. In the node-positive group, extended-field radiation and chemotherapy were well tolerated, but prognosis was dismal (median survival, 27 months). In the node-negative group, the median survival after pelvic radiation limited to the lower level of the surgical dissection was not reached after an average follow-up of 16.6 months., Conclusions: This novel technique is feasible and combines the benefits of laparoscopy with those of a retroperitoneal approach. It can be used to tailor external radiation therapy. The benefits of extended-field radiation therapy remain unclear; however, this approach does not preclude later use of radiation therapy, whereas possibly minimizing associated toxicities secondary to adhesions.

Objectives: To measure the strength at tearing of pelvic ligaments used in the cure of prolapse and urinary incontinence., Material and Methods: We performed our measurements on pelvis ligaments from cadaveric specimens. We dissected 29 human female pelvis cadavers of which storage conditions differed. Ten were frozen, 10 fresh and 9 were stored in formalin. In each cadaver we dissected pre-vertebral ligaments at promontory and right and left symmetrical ligaments. These were the iliopectineal, sacrospinous and arcus tendineus of pelvic fascia. A subjective clinical evaluation of the ligament properties was performed by visual observation as well as finger palpation. Ligaments were classified into three groups. Group A contained high quality ligaments, in terms of thickness and apparent strength following finger palpation. Ligaments of doubtful quality were classified in group B and low apparent quality ligaments in group C. Then the ligaments were stitched by a suture taking the entire ligament and a force was applied on the vagina axis until tearing. The device used for strength measurement during traction was a SAMSON type force gauge, model EASY, serial number SMS-R-ES 300N manufactured by Andilog that was developed for the purpose of our study. Measurements were given in Newton (N)., Results: There was a great variability in the values obtained at tearing with minimal values at around 20N and maximal values at 200N. Individually measured, ligament strength varied between individuals, and for the same patient between the type of ligaments and the side. The pre-vertebral ligament was on average the strongest. There was no significant difference according to the storage condition except for the pre-vertebral ligament in formalin cadavers. For bilateral ligaments, there was no difference between the left and right side. The iliopectineal ligament was statistically significantly stronger than the sacrospinous and arcus tendineus of pelvic fascia. There was a correlation between subjective evaluation and objective strength measurements., Discussion: No papers have been published on the strength of pelvic ligaments at tearing. These are however routinely used in the cure of prolapse and urinary incontinence. Our results show that there is a great variability in strength between individuals, and for a same patient between the types of ligaments and side. These observations could explain some of the surgical intervention failures and demonstrate the importance of per-operative strength evaluation. Per-operative subjective evaluation of strength is related to objective measurements and could be used to determine the type of ligaments to be used for surgical suspension. Freezing does not damage pre-vertebral ligament strength and further studies are required to evaluate elasticity of pelvic ligaments.

Objectives: New and much debated data of the endometrial cancer concerning the preoperative assessment of myometrial invasion, the surgical staging, and the adjuvant treatment., Patients and Methods: Medline (1998-2002): searching for "endometrial carcinoma"., Results: The pap smears are useful when it is difficult to have a transvaginal ultrasonography or an MRI. We can perform the pap smears and the endometrial biopsy in the clinic. If a patient has pap smears with malignant cells or elevated preoperative CA 125, it probably is a cancer with poor prognostic factors. Surgical staging with abdominal and node evaluation is necessary. The MRI seems to be the best preoperative imaging because we have information about adnexal and abdominal metastases, pelvic or aortic nodes and the invasion of the myometrium. So it gives us information on the surgical route, and provides indication for a lymphadenectomy. The surgical staging is a part of the treatment of the endometrial cancer: an exploration of the peritoneal cavity, a pelvic lymphadenectomy, a para-aortic lymphadenectomy if the pelvic nodes are positive or if there are factors of bad prognosis (deep stage IC, grade 3, adnexal or abdominal involvement, serous carcinoma of the endometrium). It can be performed if technical conditions are correct. The adjuvant teletherapy in the documented stage IpN0 (surgical staging with pelvic lymphadenectomy) does not seem to be necessary. But we can perform an adjuvant brachytherapy (high-dose rate if it is possible) in patients with a high local recurrence (stage IC, stage I with grade 3, stage IB grade 2)., Conclusion: The preoperative MRI is useful choosing the surgical approach, and the depth of the myometrial invasion, which can be an indication for a pelvic lymphadenectomy. The surgical staging must be a part of the treatment of the endometrial cancer. So the adjuvant teletherapy in patients with stage IpN0 documented should not be used.

Background: Solidity and elasticity are the two main biomechanical properties of pelvic tissues involved in surgical cure of genital prolapse-prevertebral, pectinate, and sacrospinal ligaments, tendinous arcs of the pelvic fascia, vaginal tissue. We report data in the literature and personal studies concerning these autologous biological tissues., Material and Methods: The resistance of pelvic tissues was tested on 29 cadavers. Measurements were also made on two 2-cm samples of vaginal tissue obtained during vaginal route surgery for prolapse cure in 20 menopaused women. Stress tests were conducted to determine resistance and level of rupture., Results: There was a wide variability in ligament resistance, ranging from a minimum of 22 Newtons to a maximum to the order of 200 Newtons. Results varied greatly from one woman to another and also between the two sides in the same woman. The prevertebral ligament exhibited the greatest resistance. The pectinate ligament was significantly more resistant than the sacrospinal ligaments and the tendinous arcs of the pelvic fascia. There was a significant relationship between the subjective assessment of ligament quality and objective measurements of resistance. For vaginal tissues, resistance varied greatly from 12 Newtons to a maximum to the order of 76 Newtons. Flexion values ranged from 14 to 130 Newtons., Conclusion: Our findings illustrate pelvic tissue failure observed in patients with genital prolapse. Individual maximal resistance of the pelvic ligaments is vary variable, between ligaments and between subjects, and even between sides in a given subject. Pelvic ligaments used for cure of genital prolapse are moderately resistant with wide interindividual variability. The mechanical properties of vaginal tissue are also very variable, illustrating why these tissues may exhibit a certain resistance against dissociation when exposed to loading but much less resistance when exposed to traction by a surgical suture. These findings suggest a revision of classical surgical procedures.

Background: Vaginal evisceration is generally repaired by vaginal or abdominal route. We describe two cases of vaginal evisceration using a combined laparoscopic and vaginal approach employing an omental flap., Cases: Case 1: A radical abdominal hysterectomy was performed in a premenopausal patient for a FIGO IB1 cervical cancer. Four months later, she was found to have a vaginal cuff dehiscence which was repaired by a vaginal approach. Two months later, she had a vaginal cuff evisceration which was repaired using a combined laparoscopic and vaginal approach employing an omental flap with good success. Case 2: A postmenopausal woman who underwent an abdominal hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for a FIGO IB endometrial cancer was noted to have a vaginal evisceration two months after primary surgery. This was also successfully repaired using a combined laparoscopic and vaginal approach employing an omental flap., Conclusion: The combined laparoscopic and vaginal approach with omental flap is effective for repair of a vaginal cuff dehiscence with bowel evisceration. The addition of laparoscopy provides an opportunity for inspection of the small bowel, the peritoneal toilet, and mobilization of an omental flap.

Objective: To determine the feasibility of intraoperative radioisotopic mapping using an endoscopic gamma probe associated with patent blue dye injection in patients with early stage cervical cancer., Methods: Between April 2001 and March 2002 a total of 12 patients underwent laparoscopic bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy (squamous carcinoma in 10 cases, all stage FIGO IB1, and adenocarcinoma in 2 cases, stages IA2 and IB1). Lymphoscintigraphies were performed on the day before surgery to visualize sentinel lymph nodes, 31 +/- 22.5 and 174 +/- 34 min after injection of 200 microCi of technetium 99m rhenium sulfur colloid. The marker was injected at the 3, 6, 9, and 12 o'clock positions. The day of surgery 2 ml of patent blue dye plus 2 ml of physiological serum was injected in the cervix, at the same locations as the radioactive isotope injection., Results: A total of 35 sentinel lymph nodes were detected. Eight sentinel lymph nodes were only detected by color, 8 sentinel lymph nodes were only detected by the endoscopic gamma probe, and 19 sentinel lymph nodes were "hot and dyed." We found 3 metastatic lymph nodes. In one case, bilateral positive sentinel nodes were only detected by the endoscopic gamma probe. Permanent section identified one inframillimetric micrometastasis in a lymph node that was neither blue nor hot intraoperatively (sensitivity = 66%, specificity = 100%, positive predictive value = 100%, negative predictive value = 90%)., Conclusion: The identification of the sentinel lymph node with blue dye and radioisotope using an endoscopic gamma probe is feasible and improves detection rate. False negatives still occur, but the proportion is low even at the beginning of the learning curve. Isotopic imaging identifies nodes in areas outside the pelvis not routinely sampled in early cervical cancer patients.

Objectives: To review our experience with the laparoscopic restaging procedure of presumed early stage borderline ovarian tumours., Design: Retrospective study., Setting: Cancer centre., Population: Thirty patients with presumed stage I borderline ovarian tumours after limited initial surgery., Methods: From April 1991 to May 2001, the patients were laparoscopically reassessed. The procedure involved peritoneal cytology, exploration of the peritoneal cavity, infracolic omentectomy, directed or random peritoneal biopsies, and when appropriate, contralateral oophorectomy and hysterectomy and appendectomy. Medical records were reviewed for patients' age, interval time between procedures, tumour stage, histological type, operative time, hospital stay, peri-operative complications and follow up., Main Outcome Measures: Seroperative and postoperative data, pathology and clinical follow up., Results: Laparoscopic restaging was completed in all 30 (100%) identified patients. The mean age was 34.8 (10.5) years; the delay between initial operation and restaging laparoscopy averaged 9.8 (6.6) weeks. The mean operative time was 165.4 (53.8) minutes, and the mean hospital stay was 2.7 (1.3) days. There were two (7.0%) major complications related directly to the procedure. Eight (26.6%) patients were upstaged. Mean follow up was 29.1 (6.6) months, all patients are alive and one (3.2%) recurrence was observed., Conclusions: Laparoscopic approach of restaging for borderline ovarian tumours is an accurate safe procedure. It is associated with an acceptable rate of minor complications, it has similar morbidity associated with laparotomy and it minimises the incidence of infertility in the young patients. Whenever staging of borderline ovarian tumours is to be considered in an individual patient, laparoscopy provides a suitable alternative approach.

Objectives: To create a follow-up protocol for pregnant patients with Marfan syndrome., Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of patients who delivered in the Jeanne de Flandre University Hospital between June 1996 and June 1999. Four pregnant patients with Marfan syndrome were identified., Results: Three of these patients had Bentall procedure. One of them had vaginal delivery and the two others underwent cesarean section. One of these two patients developed aortic valve thrombus at 14 weeks of amenorrhea. The fourth patient did not have surgery and had two vaginal deliveries., Discussion: According to our results and after reviewing literature pregnant patients with Marfan syndrome were divided into two groups. The 1st group was comprised of patients who underwent Bentall procedure. The 2nd one was comprised of patients who did not undergo any surgical procedure. The possibility of vaginal delivery for patients who underwent Bentall procedure (one case) and the interest of Propanolol and anticoagulant treatment are emphasized., Conclusion: The multivariant approach of pregnant patients with Marfan syndrome is stressed out with special reference to the potential complications of this syndrome such as aortic dissection and to the problems related to the anticoagulant treatment.

Objective: We conducted a prospective study to assess what indications remain for abdominal hysterectomy for benign conditions., Patients and Methods: Four hundred fifty-three hysterectomies were performed for benign conditions between April 4, 1996 and December 14, 1998 in our unit. Abdominal hysterectomy was chosen for large uteri, when vaginal access was unusable, or in case of suspected post-operative pelvic adhesions., Results: We performed 330 vaginal hysterectomies (72.85%), 71 laparoscopy-assisted vaginal hysterectomies (15.6%) and 52 abdominal hysterectomies (11.4%). In 10 cases, laparoconversion was required when a vaginal or a laparoscopy-assisted hysterectomy was complicated by pelvic adhesions or poor vaginal access. Mean operative time for abdominal hysterectomy was 130 minutes and mean blood loss was 504 ml. Mean uterus weight was 612 g and mean hospital stay 6.4 days. We had 6 complications (11.53%) (one bladder injury, one ilial injury and four cases of intraoperative hemorrhage)., Discussion: Our experience showed that the rate of complications is greater with laparoscopic hysterectomy due to patient selection and should be performed by trained surgeons.

Objective: hysterectomy for benign disorders is usually well tolerated, but complications do occur. The aim of this retrospective study is to document such complications., Patients and Methods: between March 1991 and December 1998, 1604 patients (mean age: 46 years) underwent hysterectomy for benign disorders. Peroperative and early postoperative complications were recorded for the 1248 vaginal hysterectomies (8%), 190 laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomies (12%), and 166 abdominal hysterectomies (10%)., Results: none of the patients died. There were 15 bladder (0.9%) and one ureter injury (0.06%) with no significant difference between routes. Intestinal injuries (0.6%) overall were more common when laparotomy was performed (2.4%). In 45 patients (2.8%), bleeding exceeded 500 ml. The rates were vaginal hysterectomy (2%, P<0.001), laparotomy (6.7%), and laparoscopy (5.3%). The overall reoperation rate of 0.8% does not differ with the type of the procedure., Conclusion: Per and early postoperative complications after hysterectomy remain important and patients should be aware of them. In order to control complications and decrease the morbidity, a high-risk population should be defined based on the patients' history of pelvic surgery and endometriosis, on their parity and the size of their uterus. For these patients, the most appropriate route should be preferred and complications should be assessed using different tests and subsequently treated during the same procedure.