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Highlights • Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare disease. • LPD is associated with power morcellation during previous laparoscopic myomectomy. • Long-term follow-up is necessary to detect LPD, which is not always symptomatic., Introduction Leiomyomatosis peritonealis disseminata (LPD) is a rare disease in which multiple leiomyomas are formed intraperitoneally. Several LPD cases were associated with laparoscopic myomectomy using power morcellators; however, LPD with a large tumor size remains extremely rare. We present a case of large LPD occurring after laparoscopic surgery. Presentation of case A 26-year-old woman, gravida 0, underwent laparoscopic myomectomy with power morcellation in our institution. After 5 years, follow-up examination revealed pelvic tumors. Although we recommended resection, she refused and only wanted to be followed up. After 9 years from the first surgery, the tumors became symptomatic and were increasing in number (>10 nodules) and size (>15 cm). Needle biopsy detected leiomyoma. Computed tomography angiography showed that omental and mesenteric arteries were feeding the tumors. We performed laparotomy, and all the 19 tumors emerging from the omentum and mesenterium and weighing 7647 g in total were removed without injuring other organs. The maximum diameter of the largest tumor was 34 cm. The pathological diagnosis was nonmalignant LPD with leiomyoma. Discussion Among all reported cases, our case had the largest LPD size. The tumors reached such a huge size because of two possible reasons: (1) they gradually grew asymptomatically over a long period from the time of diagnosis, and (2) they were fed by particularly large vessels, including the omental and mesenteric arteries. Conclusion A large LPD is not always symptomatic. After a laparoscopic myomectomy, especially with power morcellation, long-term follow-up is necessary to detect LPD.

Aim Skeletal muscle loss is often observed in advanced cancer patients. This study investigates whether skeletal muscle loss is associated with survival outcomes of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients after induction chemotherapy (IC) in a Japanese cohort. Whether serum inflammatory markers are associated with skeletal muscle changes is also addressed. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 60 patients with stage III/IV EOC who underwent IC between 2010 and 2017. Skeletal muscle area (SMA) was measured at the third lumbar vertebrae level on a single axial computed tomography-scan image. Receiver operating curve analysis was used to determine cut-off values of pre- and post-IC SMA and SMA ratio (SMAR). Univariate and multivariate analyses of overall survival (OS) were conducted using the log-rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression model, respectively. Results The SMA decreased significantly after IC (P = 0.019). The cut-off value between low and high SMAR was 0.96. High or low SMAR was observed in 34 (57%) and 26 (43%) patients, respectively. Univariate analysis revealed that low SMAR was associated with poor OS (P = 0.025). Multivariate analysis showed that incomplete resection during interval debulking surgery (hazard ratio, 0.30; 95% CI, 0.11-0.80; P = 0.016) and a low SMAR (hazard ratio, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.18-9.06; P = 0.022) were independent predictors of poor OS. Of the serum inflammatory markers investigated, only post-IC absolute neutrophil count correlated significantly with SMAR (P = 0.012). Conclusion Low SMAR can be used to predict poor prognosis in advanced EOC patients who have undergone IC.

Study Objective: To investigate the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy in patients with ureteral endometriosis (UE).Design: Retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients who underwent surgery for the ureter endometriosis with hydronephrosis.Setting: A private hospital that provide primary, secondary and tertiary care.Patients: 30 consecutive patients with UE who underwent laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy at our institution between May 2008 and April 2020. Interventions: Laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy, if necessary, hysterectomy, salpingo-oophorectomy, cystectomy, partial bladder resection, or partial bowel resection were performed.Measurements and Main Results: The most common chief complaint was pelvic pain (40%). Endometriosis affected only the left ureter in 56.7% of patients, only the right ureter in 33.3%, and both ureters in 6.7%. Involvement of the ipsilateral ovary was confirmed in 64.3%. The most frequent location of UE was 1 to 3 cm above the UVJ (46.7%). A psoas hitch was performed in 7 patients (23.3%), and the Boari flap was used in 9 patients (30%). Hysterectomy was performed in 12 patients (40%), and 6 of them had a concomitant bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (20%). In addition, 3 patients (10%) underwent partial bowel resection, and 2 patients (6.7%) underwent partial bladder resection. After surgery, 24 of 27 patients (80.0%) were free of sever hydronephrosis after surgery. Hydronephrosis recurred in a single patient (3.3%), but the grade of hydronephrosis improved significantly after surgery (P

Aim Patients with recurrent cervical cancer after radiotherapy have poor prognoses because of the lack of effective treatment options. Biomarkers to predict survival outcomes for recurrent cervical cancer are warranted because patients with limited life expectancy sometimes benefit from less aggressive treatment in combination with early palliative care. Therefore, we aimed to explore a predictive biomarker for the outcomes of patients with recurrent cervical cancer. Methods We retrospectively investigated 231 patients initially treated with radiation-based therapy between January 2004 and December 2015. The associations between clinicopathological features at the time of relapse and overall survival after relapse were assessed. As factors which reflect patients' conditions, we particularly focused on C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio (CAR) and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) at the time of relapse. Additionally, we investigated biomarkers predictive of short-term survival. Results Among 231 patients, 91 patients experienced relapse and 74 patients died during the follow-up period. Multivariate analysis revealed that treatment after relapse, CAR, and NLR was significantly associated with overall survival. Among them, treatment after relapse significantly affected survival outcomes, and patients who received definitive local treatment had a better 3-year survival rate than those who received other treatments. Conversely, NLR was the most influential biomarker for short-term survival, and the prognosis of patients with high NLRs was much worse than those with low NLRs. Conclusions This study thus demonstrated that, for the patients with recurrent cervical cancer who received radiation-based therapy, definitive local treatment can provide long-term survival and extremely high NLRs are predictive of short-term survival.

The formation of gastrointestinal-type epithelium is found in 7–13% of mature cystic teratomas, which are the most common germ cell tumors of the ovary. Few cases harboring organized gastrointestinal tract formation have been reported, and a mucinous neoplasm arising in them is further rare. Here, we report a case of an ovarian mature cystic teratoma with intestinal structures harboring intestinal-type mucinous neoplasm, mimicking low-grade appendiceal mucinous cystadenoma. A 66-year-old female, with remarkably increased serum carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) level, underwent total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy due to the ovarian tumor. The immunoprofile of the tumor showed CK7−/CK20+. We review the past literatures, and then consider that the existence of mucinous neoplasm should be kept in mind if we find elevated level of serum CEA and the organized gastrointestinal development in an ovary. The immunoprofile of CK7/CK20 is useful to determine the origin of mucinous tumors associated with mature cystic teratomas.

Objective To demonstrate anatomic and technical highlights of a robot-assisted nerve plane–sparing eradication of deep endometriosis (DE). Design Stepwise demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage. Setting An urban general hospital. Interventions Laparoscopic nerve-sparing techniques as represented by the Negrar method reportedly result in lower rates of postoperative bladder, rectal, and sexual dysfunctions than classical approaches [1] . In addition, robotic surgery has become available, and 2 meta-analyses have confirmed that robotic surgery is safe and feasible for the treatment of endometriosis, especially in advanced cases [ 2 , 3 ]. However, few papers have shown the surgical techniques for a nerve-sparing procedure using a robotic approach. The patient was a 45-year-old woman who presented with severe chronic pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea resistant to medication therapy. She had no nerve-specific complaints such as pain in the pudendal distribution or a voiding dysfunction. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple uterine fibromas and adenomyosis with DE, involving the uterosacral ligament and surface of the rectum, with cul-de-sac obliteration. The parametrium was not involved in the DE. Robot-assisted nerve plane–sparing excision of DE with a double-bipolar method was performed using the following 8 steps: step 1, adhesiolysis and adnexal surgery; step 2, checking the ureteral course; step 3, separation of the nerve plane (step 3.1, dissection of the avascular layer below the hypogastric nerve, between the prehypogastric nerve fascia and presacral fascia; and step 3.2, dissection of the avascular layer above the hypogastric nerve, between the prehypogastric nerve fascia and fascia propria of the rectum) [ 4 , 5 ]; step 4, reopening of the pouch of Douglas; step 5, complete removal of DE lesions while avoiding injury to the nerve plane; step 6, hysterectomy (if the patient desires non–fertility-sparing surgery); step 7, checking for rectal injury using an air leakage test; and step 8, barrier agents for adhesion prevention. With regard to step 3, as a result of sharp dissection between avascular layers both above and below the hypogastric nerve, autonomic nerves in the pelvis were separated like a sheet with the surrounding fascia (the nerve plane). We then performed steps 4 to 6 in a step-by-step manner while avoiding injury to the nerve plane. The urinary catheter was removed within 24 hours after the surgery, and no residual urine was seen. The patient developed no perioperative complications; in particular, no postoperative bladder or rectal dysfunctions. The precise sharp dissection of the right embryo-anatomic planes on the basis of the detailed mesoanatomy seems important for improving functional outcomes in nerve-sparing surgery [5] . Conclusion Robot-assisted nerve plane–sparing eradication of DE is as technically feasible as the conventional laparoscopic approach. The step-by-step technique should help surgeons perform each part of the surgery in a logical sequence, making the procedure easier and safer to complete. However, the latent benefits of robot-assisted nerve-sparing surgery in the treatment of DE remain uncertain.

Study Objective Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign gynecological soft tissue tumors in women. Although the laparoscopic approach is a standard treatment option, it is more difficult to achieve minimally invasive hysterectomy in cases with giant myomatous uteri. The laparoscopic removal of a myomatous uterus over 7000g without mini-laparotomy has not been reported in literature. Here we report the surgical challenges in the case of a patient with a 7060g myomatous uterus with cystic degeneration. Design Stepwise demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage. Setting An urban general hospital. Patients or Participants A 54-year-old woman was referred to our department for treatment for a huge fibromatous uterus. She suffered pelvic pressure and abdominal distension for several months. A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed a cystic-degenerated fibromatous uterus measuring 27.5cm × 21.3cm × 29.5cm with no suggestion of malignancy. Interventions We performed a laparoscopic hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. Intraoperatively, we aspirated the contents of the degenerative cyst of the uterus for mass reduction, and then closed the cyst hole by suturing to prevent leakage of the contents. This was followed by our usual surgical steps. We removed the specimen transvaginally. The total weight of the uterus removed was 7060g, including 5300g of cyst contents. The operation lasted for 79 minutes, and the intraoperative blood loss was 50g. No intraoperative complications occurred. Measurements and Main Results The histology confirmed the diagnosis of leiomyoma. The patient's postoperative course was unremarkable with no complications. Conclusion Uterus size has been considered a barrier to the use of laparoscopy for hysterectomy. We believe this is the first reported laparoscopic hysterectomy without mini-laparotomy in a patient with a giant uterus, over 7000g. Though appropriate case selection is necessary, this case demonstrates the efficiency and safety of laparoscopic hysterectomy for giant myomatous uterus cases.

Objective To show technical highlights of a nerve-sparing laparoscopic eradication of deep endometriosis (DE) with posterior compartment peritonectomy. Design Demonstration of the technique with narrated video footage. Setting An urban general hospital. A systematic review and meta-analysis has suggested significant advantages of the nerve-sparing technique when considering the relative risk of persistent urinary retention in the treatment of DE [1] . In addition, a recent article has suggested that complete excision of DE with posterior compartment peritonectomy could be the surgical treatment of choice to decrease postoperative pain, improve fertility rate, and prevent future recurrence [2] . However, in DE, nerve-sparing procedures are even more challenging than oncologic radical procedures because the pathology resembles both ovarian/rectal cancer in terms of visceral involvement and advanced cervical cancer in terms of wide parametrial infiltration through the pelvic wall. Interventions The video highlights the anatomic and technical aspects of a fertility- and nerve-sparing surgery in DE with posterior compartment peritonectomy. After adhesiolysis and ovarian surgery, we developed retroperitoneal space at the level of promontory. The hypogastric nerve consists of the upper edge of the pelvic plexus, therefore the autonomic nerves were separated in a “nerve plane” by sharp interfascial dissection of the loose connective tissue layers both above (between the fascia propria of the rectum and the prehypogastric nerve fascia) and below (between the prehypogastric nerve fascia and the presacral fascia) the hypogastric nerve [ 3 , 4 ]. As a result of these dissections, the autonomic nerves in the pelvis were separated like a sheet with surrounding fascia. We then completely resected all DE lesions including peritoneal endometriosis while avoiding injury to the nerve plane. In a small number of our experiences, none of the patients (n = 51) required clean intermittent self-catheterization after this procedure. Conclusion Fertility- and nerve-sparing laparoscopic eradication of DE with total posterior compartment peritonectomy is a feasible technique and may provide both curability of DE and functional preservation. Our nerve-sparing technique can reproducibly simplify this complex procedure.

AIM We compared the short-term outcomes between conventional laparoscopic surgery (CLS) and robot-assisted surgery (RAS) to assess the technical feasibility of the latter for early-stage endometrial cancer. METHODS We retrospectively compared the perioperative outcomes between two groups of 223 patients (CLS group, n = 102; RAS group, n = 121) with early-stage endometrial cancer. Surgical procedures included hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy. We analyzed the data from intrapelvic surgery alone because para-aortic lymphadenectomy was performed via conventional endoscopic extraperitoneal approach without robot for both groups. RESULTS No differences were identified in patients' age and body mass index. The mean operative time was 133 ± 28 versus 178 ± 41 min (P

ObjectiveWe investigated whether the pretreatment albumin to globulin ratio, serum albumin level, and serum globulin level can be used to predict survival among cervical cancer patients treated with radiation based therapy and assessed globulin fractions.MethodsWe retrospectively enrolled 128 patients with cervical cancer treated with radiation based therapy at our institution between 2010 and 2015. The associations of the pretreatment albumin to globulin ratio, and serum albumin and globulin levels with overall survival were assessed. Additionally, the associations of the globulin fractions with the serum globulin levels and overall survival were evaluated.ResultsMedian follow-up duration was 30 months (IQR 16–44 months). A low albumin to globulin ratio (< 1.53) was found to be an independent prognostic factor for overall survival (HR= 3.07; 95% CI, 1.03 to 13.3; P=0.044). On evaluating serum globulin and albumin separately, a high serum globulin level was significantly associated with overall survival (cut-off value 2.9 g/dL; HR=3.74; 95% CI 1.08 to 23.6; P=0.036) whereas a low serum albumin level was not associated with overall survival (cut-off value 3.6 g/dL; HR=1.77; 95% CI 0.57 to 4.54; P=0.29). Electrophoresis data of the serum proteins revealed that the γ-globulin fraction was most strongly correlated with the globulin levels (PConclusionsA pretreatment low albumin to globulin ratio, which might be attributable to a high serum globulin level, can be used to predict poor prognosis in cervical cancer patients treated with radiation based therapy.