Acta Clinica Croatica

HPV Typing as a Screening Program for Prevention and Early Detection of Cervical Cancer in Different Montenegro Regions

The objective of our research was to compare the results of human papillomavirus (HPV) typing and occurrence of the most important risk factors for cervical cancer obtained in the towns of northern, central and southern regions of Montenegro, in subjects between 30 and 35 years of age, in accordance with the new screening program introduced by the Ministry of Health of Montenegro in 2018. The study included 400 patients aged 30-35 years from Rožaje, Berane, Budva and Podgorica, 100 from each town, who underwent HPV typing in accordance with the latest screening program for early detection and prevention of cervical cancer, approved by the Ministry of Health of Montenegro in 2018. The material was obtained and sampled at the Health Clinics in Rožaje, Berane, Podgorica and Budva. Specially designed brushes were used to take swabs from the cervices, which were then sampled in separate collection tubes that contained a liquid transport medium. The samples were then sent for further analysis to the Institute of Public Health of Montenegro where HPV typing was performed using the real-time polymerase chain reaction method. The results were encrypted and obtained electronically. The data obtained from the questionnaires each subject filled out in accordance with this program were analyzed and the subjects willingly agreed to partake in the screening program. Nearly one-quarter of subjects had a positive HPV finding. The group of HPV positive women included significantly more women from Podgorica (χ

Histopathologic Parameters of Positive Lymph Node Predictability in Endometrial Cancer

Endometrial cancer is the most common malignancy of the female reproductive tract. Lymph node metastases are an important prognostic factor in endometrial cancer. Several prognostic factors have been shown to correlate with lymph node metastasis, including depth of myometrial invasion, cervical infiltration, histologic grade of the tumor, tumor diameter, histology type, lymphovascular invasion, and positive peritoneal cytology. The aim of the study was to identify the histopathologic parameters that would indicate with greater certainty the possibility of metastases into lymph nodes, which would serve as a basis to assess whether patients should undergo lymphadenectomy or not. This retrospective study included patients with endometrial cancer having undergone surgery at the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina during the 2012-2018 period. The study included 120 patients having undergone hysterectomy with bilateral adnexectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Among patients who had lymph node metastases, there were statistically significantly more patients (p2 cm), as well as histologic grade did not correlate with a higher incidence of lymph node metastases. In this study, both parametrial infiltration and the number of lymph nodes removed were found to have clinical relevance but not statistical significance.

Comparison of TVUS, MRI, and Frozen Section Methods in Preoperative Detection of Myometrial Invasion in Patients with Endometrial Cancer

We aimed to evaluate the depth of myometrial invasion preoperatively with transvaginal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, and frozen section examination techniques in patients diagnosed with endometrial cancer. Our study included 65 patients. Transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging were performed in study patients in the preoperative period. Frozen section examination was performed in all hysterectomy samples obtained from all study patients. Data were analyzed with SPSS Statistics 22.0 program. The sensitivity of transvaginal ultrasound in determining the depth of myometrial invasion was 88.64%, specificity 90.48%, positive predictive value 95.12%, and negative predictive value 79.17%. For magnetic resonance imaging, the sensitivity was 63.64%, specificity 95.24%, positive predictive value 96.55%, and negative predictive value 55.56%. In addition to the frozen section examination, which is the gold standard in determining the myometrial invasion depth, transvaginal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging have become commonly used methods for this purpose in recent years. Ultrasound examination performed by an experienced specialist is superior to magnetic resonance imaging as it is fast, inexpensive, and associated with higher sensitivity.

Positive cone margins – a disadvantage of the large loop excision of transformation zone technique?

The aim was to compare the efficiency of large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) and cold-knife conization according to the incidence of positive cone margins in histopathologic analysis of the cervical cone. In the study, data obtained from 568 female patients with cone biopsy due to cervical changes during a four-year period (2012-2015) were retrospectively analyzed. Group 1 included patients who were operated on using LLETZ technique and group 2 consisted of patients with cold-knife cone biopsy. LLETZ was a method of choice in 334 (59%) patients, whereas 234 (41%) patients underwent cold-knife cone biopsy. The percentage of positive cone margins was much higher with LLETZ technique, even 39% (131 patients), as compared to 20% with cold-knife cone biopsy. In conclusion, the technique and cone configuration should be individualized, depending on the specifics of the lesion. The transformation zone is not always removed during one LLETZ procedure. High percentage of positive cone margins is not a disadvantage of LLETZ technique because of differences in indications, approach and multiple cutting. The real success of conization can be measured only by the relapse frequency over a long period of time with a high number of patients.

The Effect of Age on Cervical Cancer Screening in Women Aged 20-29

No definite consensus exists currently regarding the appropriate age at which to start cervical cancer screening. We analyzed the effectiveness of age in abnormal histology outcomes in women aged 20-29. Data on women aged 20-29 having undergone opportunistic cervical cancer screening with cytology during the 2014-2019 period were retrospectively reviewed. Based on cytology outcomes, human papillomavirus test results (if present), age and clinical decision, patients underwent either colposcopy or observation. The effects of age and other epidemiologic factors on histologic diagnoses of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or cancer [CIN (+)] were analyzed in univariate and binomial logistic regression analyses. Among 1649 women, CIN (+) lesions were observed in 61 (3.7%) women. The occurrence of CIN (+) lesions increased 1.149 times each year; thus, women aged 25-29 were more likely to have CIN (+) than those aged 20-24 (4.4%

The Role of Salivary and Serum Ca125 and Routine Blood Tests in Patients with Ovarian Malignancies

The use of routine blood tests has recently been shown to be promising in determining disease-free and overall survival in patients with various malignancies, and also in gynecologic malignancies. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether salivary and serum CA125 levels correlate and whether salivary and serum CA125, C-reactive protein and routine blood tests might serve as a prognostic factor in malignant ovarian tumors, and whether they might differentiate between benign and malignant ovarian tumors. A total of 98 women were included (48 with benign ovarian tumors and 50 with malignant ovarian tumors), in whom routine blood tests were made and salivary and serum CA125 levels were determined by use of ELISA. Increase in serum CA125 and amylase decreased overall survival, whereas increase in salivary CA125, potassium levels and hemoglobin increased overall survival. Significant correlation of serum CA125 and C-reactive protein was found in the group with malignant tumors. In conclusion, significant increase in the levels of serum CA125 and amylase correlated with decreased survival, whereas increased salivary CA125, hemoglobin and potassium levels significantly correlated with increased survival.

A Man with Uterine Leiomyoma as Part of Persistent Müllerian Duct Syndrome – a Case Report and Review of the Literature

We present a clinical case of a 59-year-old man, father of two children, who complained of irritative voiding of the bladder. An unknown retrovesical structure was detected by ultrasound and computed tomography, and was surgically removed later. Histopathologic analysis reported uterine tissue with a leiomyoma, thus the diagnosis of persistent müllerian duct syndrome (PMDS) was established. It is a rare disorder characterized by the appearance of müllerian derivatives (fallopian tubes, uterus, and upper two-thirds of vagina) in males with normally developed external and internal genitalia. Patients usually present with cryptorchidism and inguinal hernia. Irritative voiding has not yet been described as the main symptom of PMDS. The major complications of the disorder are infertility, testicular tumorigenesis, and malignant transformation of müllerian structures. To the best of our knowledge, in addition to our case, only one case of PMDS with uterine leiomyoma has been described in the literature so far.

Prognostic Factors for Vulvar Cancer

The aim of this retrospective study was to show the effect of clinical, pathologic, cytologic and therapeutic prognostic factors on treatment outcome and survival of patients suffering from vulvar cancer and to determine prognostic significance of each of the individual factors, their mutual significance and impact on survival. The study included patients treated for vulvar cancer at Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Osijek University Hospital Centre during the 2000-2011 period. Retrospective analysis included data from patient medical files, along with their pathologic and cytologic findings, and oncologist findings. The study included 59 patients aged 45 to 88 years. Diagnosis was based on pathologic and cytologic status and staging. Univariate analysis showed the lymph node status, adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy and clinical staging of the disease to be statistically significant prognostic factors for overall survival and prognosis of vulvar cancer patients. Multivariate analysis of independent prognostic factors for survival of vulvar cancer patients yielded lymph node status, adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy as positive prognostic factors.