Vakkas Korkmaz

A novel technique for transdiaphragmatic latero-pericardial cardiophrenic lymph node excision using the minimally invasive surgical access procedure in patient with advanced stage ovarian cancer

This study reports the first case of transdiaphragmatic lateropericardial cardiophrenic lymph node excision using the GelPOINT™ mini access platform in a patient with advanced-stage ovarian cancer. A 69-year-old woman with high-grade serous epithelial ovarian cancer. Cardiophrenic lymph node dissection is vital in advanced ovarian cancer surgery, as enlarged nodes are linked to poor prognosis. No clear guidelines exist for operating on patients with enlarged cardiophrenic lymph nodes [1,2]. These nodes are categorized by location relative to the heart: anterior, median (lateropericardial), and posterior [3]. Cardiophrenic lymph node resection can be performed using transdiaphragmatic, transxiphoid, or transthoracic approaches with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery [4]. In cases with suspicious nodes on imaging, removing them is essential for optimal cytoreduction and accurate staging. In this case, preoperative computed tomography revealed suspicious cardiophrenic lymph nodes measuring 16×13 mm and 10×8 mm, located near the xiphoid process and lateral pericardium. A 30 mm diaphragm incision was made 60 mm from the xiphoid process. An Alexis O-wound retractor was used, and the GelPOINT™ mini platform was introduced with three ports, including one for the camera. A 30-degree optic scope was used to excise the node with LigaSure. When we needed smoke management, we used an aspirator. With this method, we were able to access distally located cardiophrenic lymph nodes with a small incision. Transdiaphragmatic excision of the cardiophrenic lymph node using the mini access platform can be performed effectively with a smaller incision, demonstrating the feasibility and safety of this minimally invasive technique in managing such cases.

The relationship between lymph node metastasis and immunohistochemical molecular subtypes in endometrial cancer: A cohort study of 339 patients

Abstract Aim This study evaluated the association between immunohistochemically (IHC) molecular subtypes and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in endometrial cancer. Methods The study included 339 patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer (EC) confined to the uterus and treated with pelvic ± para‐aortic lymph node dissection (LND), who were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups: LNM‐negative (Group 1, n  = 289) and LNM‐positive (Group 2, n  = 50). All patients underwent IHC‐based molecular subtype analysis. Demographic, clinical, and histopathological characteristics were evaluated. Results The median age was 62 years (34–79) in Group 1 and 64 years (48–79) in Group 2 ( p  = 0.022). Body mass index (BMI) and parity were similar between the groups ( p  > 0.05). LNM was detected in 14.7% of patients (50/339). Among Group 1, 64.4% (186/289) had a non‐specific molecular profile (NSMP), 20.1% (58/289) had mismatch repair deficiency (MMRd), and 15.5% (45/289) had the p53 abnormal (p53abn) subtype. In contrast, in Group 2, 44% (22/50) were NSMP, 24% (12/50) were MMRd, and 32% (16/50) were p53abn ( p  = 0.008). A statistically significant association was observed between LNM and the p53abn subtype. LNM was present in 26% (16/61) of patients with the p53abn subtype, compared to 17% (12/70) in the MMRd group and 11% (22/208) in the NSMP group. Conclusion While our study identified an association between the p53abn subtype and lymph node metastasis, this finding alone does not support using p53 status in isolation to determine lymphatic staging; instead, it should be considered a complementary marker alongside established clinicopathologic factors.

Impact of molecular and histopathological findings on FIGO 2009 stage I endometrial cancer: Transition to FIGO 2023 staging system

Abstract Aim This study aims to investigate the impact of integrating molecular and histopathological findings into the revised International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2023 staging system on patients initially diagnosed with stage I endometrial cancer (EC) according to the FIGO 2009 criteria. Methods A cohort of 197 EC patients, initially classified as stage I under FIGO 2009, underwent restaging based on the updated FIGO 2023 criteria. The patients' molecular and histopathological characteristics were documented, and their impact on upstaging was analyzed. Results Molecular profiling was conducted for 81.2% (160/197) of the patients, revealing that 55.3% (109/197) were classified as non‐specific molecular profile, 14.7% (29/197) as mismatch repair deficiency, 11.2% (22/197) as p53 abnormality (p53abn), and 18.8% (37/197) as unknown. Upstaging was identified in 26.9% (43/160) of the 160 patients with known molecular profiles. Among the upstaged patients, 51.2% experienced upstaging due to p53 abnormality, 20.9% due to substantial lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), 20.9% due to aggressive histological types, and 6.9% due to high grade. Conclusions The introduction of the molecular profile into the revised FIGO 2023 staging system for stage I EC has led to notable changes in the staging of approximately one‐fifth of patients. While p53 abnormalities have emerged as the most influential factor contributing to the upstaging, LVSI and aggressive histological types also represent significant contributing factors.

Factor affecting lymph node metastasis in uterine papillary serous carcinomas: a retrospective analysis

The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with uterine serous cancer (USC) who underwent systematic staging surgery. Eighty patients who were operated on for pure uterine serous papillary carcinoma between 2008 and 2020 in our clinic were retrospectively analysed. The effects of demographic information and clinicohistopathological characteristics of the included patients on LNM were examined. The median age of the patients included in the study was 64.3 and the tumour diameter was 3.8 cm. At the time of diagnosis, 65.8% of the cases were in the advanced stage, while 34.2% were in the early stage. There was no LNM in 42 (52.5%) of the cases, only pelvic in six (7.5%), only paraaortic LNM in four (5%) patients, and both pelvic and paraaortic LNM in 24 (30%) patients. When factors that may affect LNM were evaluated with multivariate analysis, lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and cytology positivity were found to be independent risk factors (

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with stage IVB uterine serous carcinoma: a Turkish multicentric study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors for and determine the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) on oncologic outcome in stage IVB pure serous endometrial carcinoma patients who received taxane and platinum. Forty-two patients with 2009 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IVB uterine serous carcinoma were enrolled from six gynecologic oncology centers and a study group was created. The study group had a 2-year disease-free survival (DFS) of 32% and 2-year disease-specific survival (DSS) of 73%. On univariate analysis; lymphadenectomy (not performed vs. performed), paraaortic lymph node metastasis (positive vs. negative) and number of metastatic lymph node count (≤5 vs. >5) were found to have statistical significance for DFS (

Is hemoglobin A1c valuable for predicting concurrent endometrial cancer in diabetic women with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia?

The purpose of this study was to determine the predictive value of preoperative hemoglobin A1c (HgA1c) level for endometrial cancer in diabetic women with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia (EIN). Six hundred patients with EIN were retrospectively studied in a tertiary referral center in Turkey between January 2014 and December 2021. One hundred and thirteen diabetic patients with EIN who met the inclusion criteria were enrolled in the study and divided into three groups according to the final pathological results: Group 1 with benign findings ( Mean preoperative HgA1c levels were different among three groups (5.41 ± 0.64, 6.01 ± 0.72, 6.65 ± 1.15, HgA1c could be used in prediction of endometrial cancer. The optimal cutoff value determined in our study could be considered in predicting endometrial cancer in diabetic women with EIN.

Preoperative hemoglobin A1c as a predictor of lymph node metastasis in diabetic women with endometrial cancer

Glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a well-established marker for glycemic control; recent studies suggest its potential role in cancer prognosis. Understanding the relationship between preoperative HbA1c levels and lymph node metastasis (LNM) in diabetic women with endometrial cancer (EC) can enhance prognostic assessments and treatment strategies. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive value of preoperative HbA1c levels for LNM in diabetic women with EC. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 233 diabetic women who underwent surgery for endometrioid-type EC at a tertiary referral hospital between 2010 and 2021. Data collected included demographic information, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c levels, ultrasound findings, and tumor characteristics. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the predictive power of HbA1c levels for LNM. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to identify independent risk factors for LNM. The mean preoperative HbA1c level was 7.03 ±1.37%. A cutoff HbA1c level ≥7.26% demonstrated a sensitivity of 73.7%, a specificity of 72.3% and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.781 for predicting LNM (p < 0.001). Significant correlations were found between HbA1c levels and endometrial thickness (r = 0.231, p < 0.001), primary tumor diameter (PTD) (r = 0.173, p = 0.008) and duration of diabetes (r = 0.203, p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis identified HbA1c level (odds ratio (OR) = 2.621, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.722-3.987, p < 0.001), lymphovascular space involvement (LVSI) (OR = 19.193, 95% CI: 5.805-63.458, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) (OR = 1.095, 95% CI: 1.010-1.188, p = 0.029), and duration of diabetes (OR = 1.019, 95% CI: 1.001-1.301, p = 0.039) as independent risk factors for LNM. Preoperative HbA1c levels serve as a significant predictor for LNM in diabetic women with EC. A cutoff HbA1c level ≥7.26% indicates higher risk of LNM. These findings underscore the importance of glycemic control in reducing cancer progression risks and improving the prognosis of diabetic patients with EC. Integrating HbA1c monitoring into preoperative assessments can help tailor personalized treatment strategies for better outcomes.

The impact of human papillomavirus 16/18 positivity on cyberchondria levels in women undergoing colposcopy

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: The negative consequences of the widespread use of the Internet for health-related information have recently become a topic of research. Recently, the impact of internet information-seeking on anxiety has been defined as cyberchondria, and a standardized scoring system has been developed to document it. However, the significance of this scoring system in gynecologic oncology has not yet been established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of human papillomavirus 16/18 positivity on the level of cyberchondria in women with human papillomavirus positivity undergoing colposcopy. METHODS: The study included 333 women with human papillomavirus 16/18 and other high-risk human papillomavirus positivity who underwent colposcopy in the gynecologic oncology clinic. Participants were divided into two groups: human papillomavirus 16/18 positive (Group 1, n=201) and other high-risk human papillomavirus positive (Group 2, n=132). Both groups were administered the short form of the Cyberchondria Severity Scale (CSS-12). Demographic and clinical findings and cyberchondria scores were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The median ages of the study groups were 36 (26–59) and 40 (25–63) years, respectively (p=0.004). Both groups had similar body mass index, parity, menopausal status, and educational levels (p&gt;0.05). When comparing the four subscales and the total score, the excessiveness (11 [3–15] vs. 9 [3–15], p&lt;0.001, respectively) and the total CSS-12 score (31 [12–55] vs. 28 [12–49], p=0.002, respectively) were statistically significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: In women with human papillomavirus 16/18 positivity undergoing colposcopy, cyberchondria levels were found to be significantly higher. Specifically, excessive information-seeking behavior significantly contributed to this elevated level of cyberchondria.

Spotlight on oncologic outcomes and prognostic factors of pure endometrioid ovarian carcinoma

To determine the prognostic factors related to recurrence and survival, and to evaluate the need for adjuvant chemotherapy in patients with endometrioid type epithelial ovarian cancer (EEOC). This study included 63 EEOC patients who were surgically staged. The FIGO 2014 stage was stage I in 41 (65 %) patients, stage II in 8 (12.5 %) patients, stage III in 14 (22.5 %) patients. 5-year failure-free survival (FFS) was 78 % in the entire cohort. 15 (23.8 %) patients had disease failure. In univariate analysis, advanced stage (II&III), high grade tumor, presence of ascites, bilateral tumor, presence of omental metastasis, positive peritoneal cytology were prognostic factors for poor FFS. Only the stage was determined to be an independent prognostic factor for disease-failure. According to multivariate analysis, stage II&III was related to a statistically significant hazard ratio for a disease failure of 3.49 (95 % confidence interval: 1.029-11.841; p = 0.045). The effectiveness of adjuvant chemotherapy was assessed for 41 patients with stage I. Eleven (26.8 %) patients with stage I did not receive adjuvant chemotherapy. Whereas 5-year FFS was 88 % in patients receiving adjuvant chemotherapy, that was 91 % in patients without adjuvant chemotherapy (p = 0.923). The independent prognostic factor for recurrence in EEOC was stage only. Adjuvant chemotherapy was not related to improvement in FFS in the early stage EEOC that were completely staged.

Oncologic outcome in patients with 2018 FIGO stage IB cervical cancer: Is tumor size important?

AbstractBackgroundTo evaluate the prognostic factors and oncologic outcome in patients with 2018 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage IB cervical cancer (CC) after radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy.Materials and MethodsThis study included 290 patients with type II or III radical hysterectomy + pelvic ± para‐aortic lymphadenectomy and 2018 FIGO stage IB1‐3 epithelial CC. Disease‐free survival (DFS) estimates were determinate by using the Kaplan–Meier method. Survival curves were compared using the log‐rank test. Multivariate analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsThe mean age of study cohort was 52 ± 10.25 years. Five‐year DFS was 93% in entire cohort. On univariate analysis, surgical border involvement (p = 0.007), lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) (p = 0.040), uterine involvement (p = 0.040), and depth of cervical stromal invasion (p = 0.007) were found to have statistical significance for DFS. However, none of them were independent prognostic factors for the risk of recurrence. Tumor size according to 2018 FIGO staging criteria was not related with recurrence.ConclusionsSurgical border involvement, LVSI, depth of cervical stromal invasion, and uterine involvement were predictors for DFS on univariate analysis. Tumor size was not predicting to recurrence in patient with 2018 FIGO stage IB1‐3 CC.

Assessment of the differences in oncologic outcomes between patients with high‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma and uterine serous carcinoma

AbstractAimTo evaluate whether the recurrence rates, recurrence patterns, and survival outcomes differed according to the primary site of the tumor in patients with high‐grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and uterine serous carcinoma (USC).MethodsThe population of this multicenter retrospective study consisted of patients who had USC or HGSOC. Progression‐free survival (PFS) and disease‐specific survival (DSS) estimates were determined using the Kaplan–Meier method. Survival curves were compared using the log‐rank test.ResultsThe study cohort consisted of 247 patients with HGSOC and 34 with USC. Recurrence developed in 118 (51.1%) in the HGSOC group and 14 (42.4%) in the USC group (p = 0.352). The median time to recurrence was 23.5 (range, 4–144) and 17 (range, 4–43) months in the HGSOC and USC groups, respectively (p = 0.055). The 3‐year PFS was 52% in the HGSOC group and 47% in the USC group (p = 0.450). Additionally, 3‐year DSS was 92% and 82% in the HGSOC and USC groups, respectively (p = 0.060).ConclusionsHGSOC and USC are aggressive tumors with high recurrence and mortality rates in advanced stages. These two carcinomas, which are similar in molecular features and clinical management, may also have similar recurrence patterns, disease failure, and survival rates.

Association between uterine leiomyoma and fragmented QRS waves: a prospective case-control study

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between uterine leiomyoma and fragmented QRS, a non-invasive indicator of cardiovascular risk and myocardial ischemia, in women with uterine leiomyoma. In this prospective case-control study, a total of 47 patients diagnosed with uterine leiomyoma (case group) and 47 healthy individuals without uterine leiomyoma (control group) who had undergone bilateral tubal ligation surgery were included. Various demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters and the presence of fragmented QRS were recorded. The leiomyoma group showed significantly higher body mass index (27.46±2.18 vs. 25.9±2.87 kg/m2, p=0.005) and waist circumference (91.34±9.30 vs. 84.97±9.3 cm, p=0.001) compared with the control group. Uterine volumes were also significantly higher in the leiomyoma group (235.75±323.48 vs. 53.24±12.81 mm3, p<0.001). The presence of fragmented QRS was detected in 18.1% of the patients. Multiple regression analysis identified age, fasting blood glucose value, and the presence of fragmented QRS as independent risk factors for the presence of leiomyoma. This study provides valuable insights into the relationship between uterine leiomyoma and fragmented QRS. The presence of fragmented QRS was identified as an independent risk factor for the presence of leiomyoma. Further research is needed to better understand the underlying mechanisms connecting uterine leiomyoma and cardiovascular health.

The role of cervical elastography in the differential diagnosis of preinvasive and invasive lesions of the cervix

This study aims to evaluate the role of cervical elastography in the differential diagnosis of preinvasive and invasive lesions of the cervix. A total of 95 women participated in this prospective study and were divided into the following groups: 19 healthy subjects (group 1) with normal cervicovaginal smear (CVS) and negative human papillomavirus test (HPV DNA), 19 women with normal cervical biopsy and normal final pathological result of cervical biopsy (group 2), 19 women with low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) (group 3), 19 women with high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL) (group 4), and 19 women with cervical cancer (group 5). Clinical, demographic, histopathological, and elastographic results were compared between these groups. Comparing groups, age (40.42 ± 8.31 vs. 39.53 ± 8.96 vs. 38.79 ± 9.53 vs. 40.74 ± 7.42 vs. 54.63 ± 12.93, p  0.05) (Table  2. As a result of the applied roc analysis, mean cervical elastographic stiffness degree (ESD) was found to be an influential factor in predicting cervical cancer (p < 0.05). The mean cut-off value was 44.65%, with a sensitivity of 94.7% and a specificity of 96.1% (Table 7). Measurement of ESD by elastography is a low-cost, easily applicable, and non-invasive indicator that can distinguish cervical cancer from normal cervical and preinvasive lesions. However, it is unsuitable for determining preinvasive cervical lesions from normal cervix.

Defining the relationship between ovarian adult granulosa cell tumors and synchronous endometrial pathology: Does ovarian tumor size correlate with endometrial cancer?

Abstract Objective The main feature of adult granulosa cell tumors (AGCT) is their capacity to secrete hormones, with nearly all of them capable of synthesizing oestradiol. The primary goal of this study is to identify synchronized endometrial pathologies, particularly endometrial cancer, in AGCT patients who had undergone a hysterectomy. Materials and Methods The study cohort comprised retrospectively of 316 AGCT patients from 10 tertiary gynecological oncology centers. AGCT surgery consisted of bilateral salpingo‐oophorectomy, hysterectomy, peritoneal cytology, omentectomy, and the excision of any suspicious lesion. The median tumor size value was used to define the relationship between tumor size and endometrial cancer. The relationship between each value and endometrial cancer was evaluated. Results Endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, or hyperplasia with complex atypia, was detected in 7.3% of patients, and endometrial cancer in 3.1% of patients. Age, menopausal status, tumor size, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage, ascites, and CA‐125 level were not statistically significant factors to predict endometrial cancer. There was no endometrial cancer under the age of 40, and 97.8% of women diagnosed with endometrial hyperplasia were over the age of 40. During the menopausal period, the endometrial cancer risk was 4.5%. Developing endometrial cancer increased to 12.1% from 3.2% when the size of the tumor was &gt;150 mm in menopausal patients ( p  = 0.036). Conclusion Endometrial hyperplasia, or cancer, occurs in approximately 30% of AGCT patients. Patients diagnosed with AGCT, especially those older than 40 years, should be evaluated for endometrial pathologies. There may be a relationship between tumor size and endometrial cancer, especially in menopausal patients.

Prognostic factors of adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary: a Turkish retrospective multicenter study

To define the clinical, histopathological features and the prognostic factors affecting survival in patients with adult granulosa cell tumors of the ovary (AGCT). A 322 patients whose final pathologic outcome was AGCT treated at nine tertiary oncology centers between 1988 and 2021 participated in the study. The mean age of the patients was 51.3±11.8 years and ranged from 21 to 82 years. According to the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2014, 250 (77.6%) patients were stage I, 24 (7.5%) patients were stage II, 20 (6.2%) patients were stage III, and 3 (7.8%) were stage IV. Lymphadenectomy was added to the surgical procedure in 210 (65.2%) patients. Lymph node involvement was noted in seven (3.3%) patients. Peritoneal cytology was positive in 19 (5.9%) patients, and 13 (4%) had metastases in the omentum. Of 285 patients who underwent hysterectomy, 19 (6.7%) had complex hyperplasia with atypia/endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia, and 8 (2.8%) had grade 1 endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. It was found that 93 (28.9%) patients in the study group received adjuvant treatment. Bleomycin, etoposide, cisplatin was the most commonly used chemotherapy protocol. The median follow-up time of the study group was 41 months (range, 1-276 months). It was noted that 34 (10.6%) patients relapsed during this period, and 9 (2.8%) patients died because of the disease. The entire cohort had a 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) of 86% and a 5-year disease-specific survival of 98%. Recurrences were observed only in the pelvis in 13 patients and the extra-abdominal region in 7 patients. The recurrence rate increased 6.168-fold in patients with positive peritoneal cytology (95% confidence interval [CI]=1.914-19.878; p=0.002), 3.755-fold in stage II-IV (95% CI=1.275-11.063; p=0.016), and 2.517-fold in postmenopausal women (95% CI=1.017-6.233; p=0.046) increased. In this study, lymph node involvement was detected in 3.3% of patients with AGCT. Therefore, it was concluded that lymphadenectomy can be avoided in primary surgical treatment. Positive peritoneal cytology, stage, and menopausal status were independent prognostic predictors of DFS.