Diego Raimondo

Integrated histological parameters define prognostically relevant groups in atypical endometrial hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia

To assess the risk of endometrial carcinoma following a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia by endometrial biopsy, stratified based on integrated histological parameters. All women with atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia undergoing hysterectomy within 1 year of diagnosis without progestin treatment were included. Patients were subdivided into three study groups, based on two criteria: (a) grade of nuclear atypia and (b) foci (<2 mm) of confluent glands with no intervening stroma: low-grade, high-grade, and confluent glands. The rate of endometrial carcinoma on the subsequent hysterectomy was assessed in each study group, and differences between study groups were assessed using Fisher's exact test, with a significant p value <0.05. Reproducibility was assessed by using Cohen's κ. Ninety-six patients were included. Overall, 36 of 96 patients (37.5%) had endometrial carcinoma on the subsequent hysterectomy. The number of endometrial carcinomas was 4 of 42 (9.5%) in the low-grade group, 14 of 28 (50.0%) in the high-grade group, and 18 of 26 (69.2%) in the confluent glands group. The rate of endometrial carcinoma was significantly higher in the high-grade group than in the low-grade group (p<0.001), whereas it did not significantly differ between the high-grade group and the confluent glands group (p=0.176). The reproducibility among pathologists was moderate for low-grade versus high-grade (κ=0.58) and substantial for confluent glands versus low-grade (κ=0.63) and high-grade (κ=0.63). Atypical hyperplasia/endometrioid intraepithelial neoplasia can be stratified into prognostically relevant groups based on integrated histological parameters, with a possible major impact on patient management.

Impact of optimal secondary cytoreductive surgery on survival outcomes in women with recurrent endometrial carcinoma: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

AbstractBackgroundManagement of recurrent endometrial carcinoma (EC) represents a challenge. Although a complete resection of visible disease at secondary surgery (R0) is recommended, the impact of R0 on survival outcomes is unclear and pooled data are lacking.ObjectiveTo quantitatively assess the impact of R0 on survival outcomes in women with EC recurrence.Search StrategyA systematic review and meta‐analysis was performed searching eight electronic databases from their inception up to January 2024.Selection CriteriaAll peer‐reviewed studies that assessed quantitatively the impact of R0 on survival outcomes in women at first EC recurrence were included.Data Collection and AnalysisHazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for death of any cause and secondary recurrent or progressive disease in women with EC recurrence who underwent R0 compared to non‐optimal secondary surgical cytoreduction (R1) were pooled and assessed at both univariable and multivariable analyses.Main ResultsThree studies with 442 patients were included. At univariate analysis, in women with EC recurrence and R0 compared to women with EC recurrence and R1, pooled HR was 0.451 (95% CI: 0.319–0.638) for death from any cause, and 0.517 (95% CI: 0.298–0.895; p = 0.019) for recurrent or progressive disease.At multivariate analysis, in women with EC recurrence and R0 compared to women with EC recurrence and R1, pooled HR was 0.447 (95% CI: 0.255–0.783; p = 0.005) for death from any cause, and 0.585 (95% CI: 0.359–0.952; p = 0.031) for recurrent or progressive disease.ConclusionIn women with EC recurrence, R0 is an independent prognostic factor, decreasing the risk of death from any cause by approximatively 55%, and of recurrent or progressive disease by approximatively 40%, compared to R1.

Race and ethnicity reporting in endometrial cancer literature

There is evidence that there are differences in survival outcomes among patients with endometrial cancer of different ethnic groups. We aimed to assess the quantity and quality of race/ethnicity reporting in the literature on endometrial cancer published from January 2020 to December 2020. In this systematic review, electronic searches of PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, Scopus, and Cochrane Library databases were performed for all articles published in 2020. A total of 3330 articles were reviewed, of which 949 (35%) peer-reviewed human-based articles focusing on endometrial cancer were included. Non-research-focused articles, review articles, meta-analyses, case reports, and non-human studies were excluded. We analyzed the proportion of studies reporting race/ethnicity and assessed the quality of reporting with regard to the adherence to the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) recommendations. We evaluated the influence of study characteristics on race/ethnicity reporting and compared articles published in journals which adhere to the ICMJE recommendations against those that did not explicitly state that they did. Of the 949 (28.5%) included articles, 166 (17.5%) reported race/ethnicity of patients, with low quality of reporting. The reporting rate of race/ethnicity was similar when comparing articles from ICMJE and non-ICMJE journals (62 (20.4%) vs 104 (16.1%); p=0.11), prospective versus retrospective studies (53 (22.7%) vs 113 (15.8%); p=0.02), and national versus international studies (147 (17.5%) vs 19 (17.4%); p=0.99). Studies performed in the WHO region of Americas were significantly more consistent in reporting race compared with other regions (119 (44.7%) vs 23 (6.8%) European, 2 (7.4%) Eastern Mediterranean, 21 (7.1%) Western Pacific, 0 (0%) South-East Asia; p<0.001). Female corresponding authors were significantly more consistent in reporting race than male authors (94 (22.5%) vs 72 (13.6%); p<0.001). Human-based articles focusing on endometrial cancer have a low frequency and quality of race/ethnicity reporting, even in journals claiming to follow ICMJE recommendations.

Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Surgical Staging for High-Risk Groups of Endometrial Carcinoma Patients

Background: In endometrial carcinoma (EC) patients, sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy has shown the potential to reduce post-operative morbidity and long-term complications, and to improve the detection of low-volume metastasis through ultrastaging. However, while it has shown high sensitivity and feasibility in low-risk EC patient groups, its role in high-risk groups is still unclear. Aim: To assess the role of SLN biopsy through the cervical injection of indocyanine green (ICG) in high-risk groups of early-stage EC patients. Materials and methods: Seven electronic databases were searched from their inception to February 2021 for studies that allowed data extraction about detection rate and accuracy of SLN biopsy through the cervical injection of ICG in high-risk groups of early-stage EC patients. We calculated pooled sensitivity, false negative (FN) rate, detection rate of SLN per hemipelvis (DRh), detection rate of SLN per patients (DRp), and bilateral detection rate of SLN (DRb), with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Five observational cohort studies (three prospective and two retrospective) assessing 578 high risk EC patients were included. SLN biopsy sensitivity in detecting EC metastasis was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.03–0.95). FN rate was 2.8% (95% CI: 0.6–11.6%). DRh was 88.4% (95% CI: 86–90.5%), DRp was 96.6% (95% CI: 94.7–97.8%), and DRb was 80% (95% CI: 75.4–83.9). Conclusion: SLN biopsy through ICG cervical injection may be routinely adopted instead of systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy in surgical staging for high-risk groups of early-stage EC patients, as well as in low-risk groups.

Prevalence of adenomyosis in endometrial cancer patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract Introduction Several studies have assessed the histological co-existence of endometrial carcinoma (EC) and adenomyosis. However, the significance of this association is still unclear. Objective To assess the prevalence of adenomyosis in women with EC for a better understanding of the association between the two diseases. Materials and methods A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed by searching electronics databases from their inception to March 2020, for all studies that allowed extraction of data about prevalence of adenomyosis in EC patients. Adenomyosis prevalence was calculated for each included study and as pooled estimate, with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results Eight retrospective cohort studies assessing 5573 EC patients were included in our analysis. Of total, 1322 were patients with adenomyosis, and 4251 were patients without adenomyosis. Pooled prevalence of adenomyosis in EC patients was 22.6% (95% CI 12.7–37.1%). Conclusion Adenomyosis prevalence in EC patients was not different from that reported for other gynecological conditions. The supposed association between the two diseases appears unsupported.

Assessment of sentinel Lymph node mapping with different volumes of Indocyanine green in early-stage ENdometrial cancer: the ALIEN study

To evaluate the impact of different volumes of indocyanine green (ICG) on the detection rate and bilateral mapping of sentinel lymph nodes in patients with apparent uterine-confined endometrial cancer. All patients who underwent surgical staging with sentinel node mapping in six reference centers were included. Two different protocols of ICG intracervical injection were used: (1) 2 mL group: total volume of 2 mL injected superficially; (2) 4 mL group: total volume of 4 mL, 2 mL deeply and 2 mL superficially. Logistic regression was used to analyze factors that could influence dye migration and detection rates. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to determine how independent variables could affect the sentinel node detection rate. Of 442 eligible patients, 352 were analyzed (172 in the 2 mL group and 180 in the 4 mL group). The bilateral detection rates of the 2 mL and 4 mL groups were 84.9% and 86.1%, respectively (p=0.76). The overall detection rate was higher with a volume of 4 mL than with 2 mL (97.8% vs 92.4%, respectively; p=0.024). In the univariate analysis the rate of bilateral mapping fell from 87.5% to 73.5% when the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2009 tumor stage was >IB (p=0.018). In the multivariate analysis, for both overall and bilateral detection rates a statistically significant difference emerged for the volume of ICG injected and FIGO 2009 stage >IB. Increasing body mass index was associated with worse overall detection rates on univariate analysis (p=0.0006), and significantly decreased from 97% to 91% when the body mass index exceeded 30 kg/m In patients with early-stage endometrial cancer, a volume of 2 mL ICG does not seem to compromise the bilateral detection of sentinel lymph nodes. In women with obesity and FIGO 2009 stage >IB, a 4 mL injection should be preferred.

Three‐Dimensional Ultrasound Evaluation of Pelvic Floor Muscle Contraction in Women Affected by Deep Infiltrating Endometriosis: Application of a Quick Contraction Scale

ObjectivesUsing transperineal 3D/4D ultrasound, we evaluated the prevalence of the various categories of a 4‐point pelvic contraction scale among women affected by ovarian endometriosis (OE), deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE), and healthy controls.MethodsThis prospective study was conducted on nulliparous women scheduled for surgery to remove endometriosis, and nulliparous healthy volunteers who did not show any clinical or sonographic signs of endometriosis, who served as controls. Patients were subjected to 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound obtaining measurements of the antero‐posterior diameter (APD), both at rest and during maximal pelvic floor muscle (PFM) contraction (PFMC). The difference of APD from rest to maximal PFMC was then calculated as percent change from baseline (ΔAPD) and patients were thus categorized using the 4‐point pelvic contraction scale.ResultsOne hundred sixty‐four patients were considered for the study. Mean difference in APD between relaxed state and maximal PFMC was 23.3 ± 7.9% (range 2.4–40.0) in controls, 20.5 ± 9.0% (range 0.0–37.3) in patients with OE, and 14.6 ± 10.4% (range 0.0–37.1) in patients with DIE (F‐test = 19.5, P‐value &lt; .001). A significant negative correlation was found between the contraction scale and dyspareunia (rs = −0.17, P = .032), and it appeared to be stronger among patients with DIE (rs = −0.20, P = .076).ConclusionsPFM function in endometriotic patients could be assessed reliably through this 4‐point scale. The rapid identification of women suffering from PFM dysfunction, along with deep dyspareunia, could enable gynecologists to offer them additional therapies, such as PFM rehabilitation.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis of Uterine Leiomyomas and Sarcomas

Differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas is challenging. Ultrasound shows an uncertain role in the clinical practice given that pooled estimates about its diagnostic accuracy are lacking. To assess the accuracy of ultrasound in the differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas. A systematic review was performed searching 5 electronic databases (MEDLINE, Web of Sciences, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ClinicalTrial.gov) from their inception to June 2023. All peer-reviewed observational or randomized clinical trials that reported an unbiased postoperative histologic diagnosis of uterine leiomyoma or uterine sarcoma that also comprised a preoperative ultrasonographic evaluation of the uterine mass. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios, diagnostic odds ratio, and area under the curve on summary receiver operating characteristic were calculated for each included study and as pooled estimate, with 95% confidence interval (CI); 972 women (694 with uterine leiomyomas and 278 with uterine sarcomas) were included. Ultrasound showed pooled sensitivity of 0.76 (95% CI, 0.70-0.81), specificity of 0.89 (95% CI, 0.87-0.92), positive and negative likelihood ratios of 6.65 (95% CI, 4.45-9.93) and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.07-1.0) respectively, diagnostic odds ratio of 23.06 (95% CI, 4.56-116.53), and area under the curve of 0.8925. Ultrasound seems to have only a moderate diagnostic accuracy in the differential diagnosis between uterine leiomyomas and sarcomas, with a lower sensitivity than specificity.