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Background: The aims of the present study were to assess bilateral sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping with laparoscopic versus robotic approach, to assess variables affecting bilateral detection rates and to assess survival difference in patients with no/unilateral, compared to bilateral SLN detection. Methods: This is a retrospective, single-centre, observational cohort study, including patients with endometrial cancer FIGO stage IA-IVB, treated with minimally invasive primary surgery and undergoing indocyanine green (ICG) injection to detect SLN, between January 2015 and December 2019. Results: Of the 549 included patients, 286 (52.1%) and 263 (47.9%) underwent the laparoscopic and robotic approach respectively. 387 (70.5%) patients had bilateral SLN mapping, 102 (18.6%) and 60 (10.9%) had unilateral and no mapping, respectively. Patients who underwent the robotic approach were older (median 61 versus 64 years, p=0.046) and had a higher BMI (median 26.0 versus 34.8 kg/m2, p

Conflicting data exists on the impact of Body Mass Index (BMI) on sentinel lymph-node (SLN) detection. The primary study endpoint was to investigate the impact of obesity on overall detection rate, bilateral mapping, and mapping failure rate of SLN. In addition, we evaluated possible differences in terms of surgical management and "empty-packet dissection" rate among obese and non-obese patients.Multicenter, propensity-matched, retrospective study. Patients with apparent early-stage endometrial cancer were included. Study population was divided into women with BMI/≥ 30 (Group-1 and Group-2). To lower the selection bias, a propensity-matched analysis was performed. Matching was based on histotype (endometrioid vs non-endometrioid), age (/≥65 years old), and presence of lymph-vascular space invasion.Eight-hundred forty-four women were enrolled. After a 1:1 propensity-matched analysis, 764 patients were identified (Group-1 n = 382, Group-2 n = 382). A 1.156-fold increase in the risk of mapping failure for every 5 units of BMI increase was found (OR 1.156, 95% CI 1.033-1.294, p = 0.012), with a consequently decrease in bilateral mapping and overall detection rate (respectively OR 0.865, 95% CI 0.773-0.968, p = 0.012 and OR 0.785, 95% CI 0.670-0.920, p = 0.003). Obese patients were surgically under-staged in 9.4% of cases and showed an 8.2% of empty packet dissection (surgical under-staging: 5.0% vs 9.4%, p = 0.017; empty-packet dissection: 3.9% vs 8.2%, p = 0.022).BMI was confirmed as a statistically relevant predictor of mapping failure and decreased overall detection rate. In addition, obese women had a significantly higher odds of empty packet dissection.

To investigate the role of needleoscopic-assisted laparoscopy in terms of surgical impact and psychological outcomes in RR-BSO for BRCA1/2 patients.Prospective monocentric trial conducted at the Division of Gynecologic Oncology, "Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli" IRCSS in Rome. Between March 2016 and March 2018, 26 consecutive patients were prospectively enrolled in the study and underwent RR-BSO. Peri-operative surgical variables were collected. The psychological interview was performed at the discharge and during the first post-operative follow-up visit (between 30 and 60 days after surgery).We reported a median OT of 18.5 min (range, 15-37), a median EBL of 0 mL (0-20), and no conversion to laparoscopy or laparotomy. The median VAS score was "at rest" of 2, 3, and 1; while under "Valsalva maneuver" was 4, 3, 2, respectively at 2, 4, and 24 h. 77% (20/26) of the whole population had a previous diagnosis of breast cancer. All patients expressed great cosmetic satisfaction both at discharge and after 30/60 days, with an 84.6% of score 5 and a 15.4% of score 4. The highest number of "score 5", concerning the cosmetic outcomes, were clustered in the subgroup of breast cancer survivors with a 95% of score 5 versus 50% of score 5 in patients with no previous breast cancer (p = 0.0073). Similarly, the maximal psychological advantage of the ultra-MIS approach was revealed in the breast cancer survivors (70% of score 5 versus 16% of score 5, p = 0.02).The use of 2.4 mm instruments raises the possibility of decreasing post-operative incisional pain, reducing hospitalization, and ensuring better cosmetic and psychological outcomes without increasing complications. The full psychosomatic benefit of ultra-MIS within BRCA mutation carriers is revealed in breast cancer survivors, probably due to the comparison with the mutilating and invasive previous breast surgery.

Objective: The aim of this study is to analyze the prognostic role of lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI), evaluated in a semi-quantitative fashion on prognosis of early stage, low risk endometrial cancer (EC). Methods: We enrolled patients who underwent surgery for endometrial cancer between 2003 and 2018 in two referral cancer center. All patients had endometrioid EC, G1–G2, with myometrial invasion

Introduction Sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping with indocyanine green (ICG) is widely utilized in the staging process for apparent uterine-confined endometrial cancer. The aims of the present study were to assess bilateral SLN mapping with laparoscopic versus robotic approach, to assess variables affecting bilateral detection rate and to assess survival difference in patients with no/unilateral, compared to bilateral SLN detection. Methods All patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer FIGO stage IA-IVB, treated with minimally-invasive primary surgery and undergoing indocyanine-green (ICG) injection to detect SLN, between 01/2015–12/2019, were included. Results 387 (70.5%) patients had bilateral SLN mapping, 102 (18.6%) and 60 (10.9%) had unilateral and no mapping, respectively. Patients who underwent robotic approach were older (median 61 versus 64 years, p=0.046) and had a higher BMI (median 26.0 versus 34.8 kg/m2, p Conclusions SLN mapping and bilateral SLN detection with ICG in endometrial cancer was not different in laparoscopic and robotic approach, even though patients undergoing robotic approach were older and more obese. Bilateral SLN detection was associated with improved 3-year DFS, but not with 3-year OS, compared to no and unilateral SLN detection.

Objectives Lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) is associated with an increased risk of recurrence. Usually, the interpretation of LVSI is just qualitative, as presence or absence. The aim of this study is to examine the quantitative analysis of LVSI. Methods Retrospective multicentre study. It included 2300 consecutive patients who received a histologically confirmed diagnosis of endometrial cancer between January 2000 and December 2018 at the Gynaecologic Oncology Unit of two tertiary hospitals in Italy. Results The rate of lymph node metastasis increased from the 5% in patients with no LVSI, to 15% in patients with focal LVSI and 33% in those with diffuse LVSI (p Conclusion The presence of diffuse LVSI is an independent risk factor of both lymph node metastasis and distant recurrence in endometrial cancer patients. It is associated with decreased OS and DFS. Adjuvant radiation improved survival regardless of grading, histotype, and lymph nodal metastasis in women with diffuse LVSI.

Objective To evaluate the prognostic role of LVSI, evaluated in a semi-quantitative fashion on prognosis of early stage, low risk endometrial cancer (EC). Methods We enrolled patients who underwent surgery for EC between 2003 and 2018 in two referral cancer center. All patients had endometrioid EC, G1-G2, with myometrial invasion Results Among 524 patients, any positive LVSI was found in 57 patients (10.9%) with 6.7% (n=35) focal LVSI and 4.2% (n=22) substantial LVSI. Substantial LVSI was associated to higher rate of G2 (p Conclusions Substantial LVSI represents the strongest independent risk factor for decreased survival and distant relapse, indicating a role for potential hematogenous dissemination.

IntroductionThe objective of this study was to compared standard ultra-staging (SU) with one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) for the detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis in women with apparent uterine-confined endometrial cancer.MethodsAll women underwent SLN identification with complete surgical staging. All SLNs were cut perpendicular to the long axis and two adjacent 5 µm sections were cut at each of two levels 50 µm apart. At each level, one slide was stained with hematoxylin and eosin and the other with immunohistochemistry using the AE1/AE3 anti-cytokeratin antibody, as well as one negative control slide for a total of five slides per block. For OSNA analysis, the 2 mm sections of the lymph nodes were homogenized to form a lysate. The lysate was then centrifuged and inserted into the RD 100i instrument where the isothermal amplification of CK19 mRNA was executed.ResultsOf the 396 patients included in the retrospective analysis, 214 were in the SU group, and 182 in the OSNA group. Overall 869 SLNs were identified (490 SU, 379 OSNA). Sixty patients exhibited SLN metastasis (34 SU, 26 OSNA). Macrometastasis, micrometastases, and isolated tumor cells (ITC) were 5.1%, 4.1%, and 0.2%, respectively, in the US group, and 2.4%, 6.3%, and 0.1%, respectively, in the OSNA group (p=0.022).ConclusionsThe OSNA assay detected a higher rate of micrometastasis and a lower rate of macrometastasis and ITC when compared with SU. The clinical and prognostic impact of ITC is debatable and controversial. Further studies are needed to clarify the respective roles of the OSNA and SU methods, and the possible role of ITC in the prognosis of patients with apparent early-stage endometrial cancer.

Objectives We compared the traditional ultrastaging (SU) with the one-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) for the detection of sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis in women with apparent early stage endometrial carcinoma (EC). Methods All women were surgically staged including SLN mapping. Nodes were cut perpendicular to the long axis and two adjacent 5 mm sections were cut at each of 2 levels 50 mm apart, and one slide was stained with H&E and the other with immunohistochemistry using the AE1/AE3 anticytokeratin antibody, and one negative control slide for a total of five slides per block. For OSNA analysis, the 2mm sections of the SLN were homogenized to form a lysate that was centrifuged and inserted into the RD100i instrument where for the isothermal amplification of CK19 mRNA. Results Totally 409 patients were included in the analysis (183 OSNA, 226 SU). Overall, 3521 lymph nodes were removed, of those 871 SLN’s (24.7%) were identified (381 OSNA, 490 SU). Sixty patients had metastasis on SLN’s (26 OSNA, 34 SU). Macrometastasis, micrometastases, and ITC were 25.7%, 68.6% and 5.7% for OSNA; 48.1%, 36.5% and 15.4% for SU (p = 0.015). ITC alone were recorded in 7 women (2 OSNA, 5 SU). Conclusions The OSNA assay detected a higher rate of micrometastasis and a lower rate macrometastasis and ITC compared to SU. The clinical and prognostic impact of ITC is still controversial. Further studies are needed to clarify the clinical impact of the OSNA assessment technique and the prognostic impact of ITC in patients with stage I EC.

This video article demonstrates an inguino-abdominal combined approach for laterally extended pelvic resection, a major surgical procedure for locally advanced primary or recurrent gynecological cancer infiltrating the pelvic sidewall, for which palliative therapy is the only alternative.1 After local institutional review board approval (protocol No CICOG 02/03/62), we made a step by step surgical video of an inguino-abdominal combined approach for laterally extended pelvic resection , defined as an en bloc resection of a pelvic tumor with pelvic sidewall structures, including the iliopsoas and/or obturator internus muscles.2 3 The patient, a 48-year-old woman, diagnosed with single pelvic platinum resistant recurrence after five lines of chemotherapy for serous ovarian cancer G3, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IIIC, BRCA wild type. The preoperative positron emission tomography/computed tomography scan detected uptake on the right side at the level of the external iliac region and obturator fossa: the tumor surrounded the right external iliac vessels by more than 50% of their circumferences, with possible involvement of the vascular wall and venous vascular compression (Tinelli’s score=4).4 The tumor extended towards the obturator fossa, with possible involvement of the inguinal canal. Due to an uncertain pathological response, the size of the recurrence, and its close contiguity with the ureter and bowel, we decided to avoid radiation therapy as it could result in a ureteral or intestinal fistula. We performed a laterally extended pelvic resection, as shown step by step in the video.The procedure was conducted until complete removal of recurrence (R0). Estimated blood loss was 1000 mL and total operative time was 240 min. The patient was discharged after 15 days; we reported a urinary infection, a likely postoperative complication. The pathology report described a lymphnodal relapse of ovarian cancer (diameter=6 cm) with infiltration of surrounding tissue and in the sano margins. Six months after surgery, the patient is alive without evidence of relapse.The borders of pelvic surgical anatomy are continually extending, requiring surgeons to use a personalized approach and to continually update their anatomic knowledge. In this context, laterally extended pelvic resection could be a feasible surgical procedure, representing a salvage treatment in recurrent or persistent primary gynecological malignancies infiltrating the pelvic sidewall, when other approaches have failed. However, additional clinical trials are needed to confirm these results.3