Endocervical glandular involvement, multicentricity, and extent of the disease are features of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

Risk factors for residual lesions after total hysterectomy in patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to predict the risk factors for residual lesions in patients with high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia who underwent total hysterectomy.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 212 patients with histologically confirmed high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN2-3) who underwent hysterectomy within 6 months after loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). Clinical data (e.g., age, menopausal status, HPV type, and Liquid-based cytology test(LCT) type), as well as pathological data affiliated with endocervical curettage (ECC), colposcopy, LEEP and hysterectomy, were retrieved from medical records. A logistic regression model was applied to estimate the relationship between the variables and risk of residual lesions after hysterectomy.

RESULTS

Overall, 75 (35.4%) patients had residual lesions after hysterectomy. Univariate analyses revealed that positive margin (p = 0.003), glandular involvement (p = 0.017), positive ECC (p < 0.01), HPV16/18 infection (p = 0.032) and vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) I-III (p = 0.014) were factors related to the presence of residual lesions after hysterectomy. Conversely, postmenopausal status, age ≥ 50 years, ≤ 30 days from LEEP to hysterectomy, and LCT type were not risk factors for residual lesions. A positive margin (p = 0.025) and positive ECC (HSIL) (p < 0.001) were identified as independent risk factors for residual lesions in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study revealed that positive incisal margins and ECC (≥ CIN2) were risk factors for residual lesions, while glandular involvement and VaIN were protective factors. In later clinical work, colposcopic pathology revealed that glandular involvement was associated with a reduced risk of residual uterine lesions. 60% of the patients with residual uterine lesions were menopausal patients, and all patients with carcinoma in situ in this study were menopausal patients. Therefore, total hysterectomy may be a better choice for treating CIN in menopausal patients with positive margins and positive ECC.

The relationship of immunohistochemical SOX-2 staining with histopathological diagnosis in patients with abnormal colposcopic findings

This study aimed to analyze immunohistochemical staining and pathological data in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and squamous cell cervical carcinoma (SCC) with abnormal colposcopic findings. A histopathological evaluation of 45 low-grade squamous lesions (LSILs), 177 high-grade squamous lesions (HSILs) and 16 SCC biopsy materials from existing slides was obtained from blocks obtained from the archive. In addition, SOX-2 immunohistochemical staining was evaluated. The mean age of the HSIL group was 43.20 ± 8.97 years, younger than the mean age of the LSIL group of 51.62 ± 9.64 years (p = 0.000). There was no difference between the groups regarding the method of biopsy (p > 0.05). Endocervical gland involvement was not observed in the LSIL group, but was observed in 66 (37.3%) biopsy materials in the HSIL group (p = 0.000). There was a difference between the groups in terms of the level of CIN at the surgical margin (p = 0.000). Ki-67, SOX-2 staining percentage and p16INK4a positivity were higher in the HSIL group than in the LSIL group (respectively, 67.57 ± 19.10 vs. 14.62 ± 7.11, p = 0.000; 27.72 ± 31.56 vs. 10.09 ± 15.38, p = 0.003; 66 (82.5%) vs. 8 (44.4%), p = 0.001). While there was no difference in SOX-2 intensity between the HSIL and LSIL groups (p > 0.05), it was statistically significantly higher in the SCC group (p = 0.000), as was the percentage of SOX-2 (p = 0.000). We have shown that p16INK4a and SOX-2 staining is useful, in addition to Ki-67 immunostaining, which is widely used for SCC, which is one of the preventable cancer types. In addition, SOX-2 may provide a glimmer of hope in the development of SCC treatment modalities, especially since it is aggressively elevated in SCC rather than CIN lesions.

Intraepithelial involvement of non-neoplastic glands in papillary preinvasive neoplasms of the biliary tract: a potential diagnostic pitfall

Intracholecystic papillary neoplasms of the gallbladder (ICPN) and intraductal papillary neoplasms of the bile duct (IPNB) show intramural neoplastic growths in addition to intraluminal papillary or polypoid neoplastic growth. Such intramural growths include intraepithelial involvement of non-neoplastic glands by preinvasive neoplastic epithelia (glandular involvement) as well as stromal invasive carcinoma. A total of 29 ICPN cases and 84 IPNB cases were pathologically examined for their glandular involvement. Glandular involvement was characterized by intramural neoplastic glands (1) showing cytological and phenotypical similarities to intraluminal preinvasive papillary neoplasms and (2) showing reminiscent configurations of non-neoplastic glands, such as (i) a mixture of preinvasive neoplastic epithelia and non-neoplastic epithelia within the same glands, (ii) neoplastic glands close to or within clustered non-neoplastic glands, or (iii) continuous growth of intraluminal preinvasive neoplastic glands into the walls. Such glandular involvement was found in 16 of 29 ICPN and 48 of 84 IPNB, and 15 of the former and 28 of the latter were not associated with invasive carcinoma. Non-invasive ICPN and IPNB with glandular involvement showed a favorable postoperative overall survival (OS). Glandular involvement by preinvasive neoplastic epithelia was frequently found in ICPN and IPNB. Such lesions may be diagnostic pitfalls in ICPN and IPNB referring to invasion. Glandular involvement without invasive carcinoma was not associated with an unfavorable postoperative OS in ICPN and IPNB. Recognition of glandular involvement may thus prevent overestimation of invasive carcinoma in ICPN and IPNB.

The effect of local photodynamic therapy with 5-aminolevulinic acid in treating different grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

BACKGROUND

Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) is a precursor lesion of cervical cancer. Traditional treatments for CIN might have negative effects on cervical anatomical structure and physiological function. Topical 5-aminolevulinic acid photodynamic therapy (5-ALA PDT) is a novel, non-invasive targeted therapy for intraepithelial lesions. This study aims to evaluate and compare the efficacy and safety of 5-ALA PDT for different grades of CIN.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 183 patients aged 19-50 with histologically confirmed CIN and receiving ALA-PDT was conducted. ALA-PDT was performed with 20% ALA thermosensitive gel and irradiation at a wavelength of 635 nm and density of 80-100 J/cm². ALA-PDT was conducted every 7-10 days for 4-6 times. Patients were followed up three, six, nine, and twelve months after treatment. The effect was evaluated through HPV genotyping, ThinPrep cytology test (TCT), and colposcopy-directed biopsy.

RESULTS

The HPV clearance rate was 71.0% (130/183) at the six-month follow-up and 84.5% (147/174) at the 12-month follow-up. The complete lesion remission (CR) rate was 90.2% (165/183). No statistically significant differences concerning the CR rate (P>0.05) or HPV clearance rates (P>0.05) were observed in CIN I, CIN II, and CIN III. In women with CIN III, gland involvement was revealed to be associated with a significantly lower HPV clearance rate (63.16% vs. 92.60%, P= 0.036) at the 12-month follow-up. Our study showed that the atypical vessels seemed to be a risk factor for HPV clearance rate in the CIN II group at six-month follow-up, although the difference was not statistically significant (P= 0.089). During the follow-up, 13 cases had persistent lesions (7.1%), four cases recurred (2.3%), and none of the patients progressed. The study also showed that the efficacy of PDT in the treatment of patients with CIN III involving glands was comparable to that of CKC (P>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

ALA-PDT is an effective andsafe treatment for CIN, and responseis unaffected by the grade of lesions. However, for patients with atypical vessels and glandular involvement, the effect of PDT seems to be poorer.

Clinical Outcomes Associated with Endocervical Glandular Involvement in Patients with Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia III

This study aimed to determine whether endocervical glandular involvement (GI) affects the clinical prognosis of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III who underwent the loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP). This retrospective study included 250 patients who underwent LEEP for the treatment of CIN III between August 2005 and May 2020. The medical records of 234 patients were analyzed; 137 (58.5%) patients were GI negative, and 97 (41.5%) were GI positive. Margin involvement of the LEEP specimen was found in 59 (45.4%) patients in the GI-negative group and 54 (58.7%) patients in the GI-positive group (p = 0.051). The additional surgical procedures (repeat conization or hysterectomy) were significantly more performed in GI-positive patients than in GI-negative patients (40.9% vs. 23.1%, p = 0.004). When comparing the LEEP specimens of GI-1 (GI-positive confirmed via cervical biopsy before conization) and GI-2 (GI-positive confirmed via conization), we found that the mean depth was significantly greater in the GI-1 group (10.9 mm) than in the GI-2 group (7.6 mm) (p = 0.024). Surgical margin involvement was more frequently observed in the GI-2 group than in the GI-1 group (p = 0.030). There was no significant difference in the recurrence rates of CIN between the GI-negative and GI-positive groups (p = 0.641). In conclusion, despite no significant differences in residual disease and CIN recurrence between the GI-negative and GI-positive groups, additional surgical treatments were more frequently performed in GI-positive patients. Repeat surgery based on GI positivity should be carefully considered to avoid overtreatment and surgical complications.

The effects of different instruments and suture methods of conization for cervical lesions

This study is to compare the surgical outcomes of patients undergoing cold knife conization (CKC) versus electrosurgical conization (ESC). Among 10,086 patients in a single center admitted between January 2000 and January 2019, CKS or ESC was used for grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN3) or more severe lesions. Modified Sturmdorf or Figure-of-eight sutures were applied after conization. A regression model was used to determine the risk factors for margin involvement and short-term post-operative complications. In total, 7275 (72.1%) and 2811 (27.9%) patients underwent CKC and ESC, respectively. Women who underwent ESC were older and had a higher risk of margin involvement and endocervical glandular involvement than those who underwent CKC in univariate analysis. However, in the multivariate analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.032, 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.025–1.038) and glandular involvement (OR 2.196, 95% CI 1.915–2.517) were the independent risk factors associated with margin involvement, but the incision methods used caused no significant difference. Modified Sturmdorf sutures and Figure-of-eight sutures were applied in 3520 (34.9%) and 6566 (65.1%) patients, respectively. The modified Sturmdorf sutures was the only risk factor associated with wound hemorrhage (OR 1.852, 95% CI 1.111–3.085) after adjusted with other epidemiological and surgical factors. Various incision or suture methods had similar risk of cervical stenosis. Therefore, ESC is an acceptable alternative to CKC for the diagnosis and treatment of cervical lesions regarding the pathologic accuracy and integrity, and short-term safety. Modified Sturmdorf sutures increased the risk of wound hemorrhage compared with Figure-of-eight sutures.