Use of radioguided surgery in abdominal wall endometriosis: An innovative approach

Research progress of indocyanine green fluorescence technology in gynecological applications

Indocyanine green is a near-infrared fluorescent dye which is widely used in various fields of surgery and gynecology. It is currently mainly used to detect various malignant tumors, sentinel lymph nodes, endometriosis lesions, ureter or intestinal occlusion, vaginal perfusion, uterine arterial blood perfusion, pelvic nerve, uterine niche, lymphatic edema, metastatic lesion shadow, and so on, providing new methods for decision-making during surgery. This article elaborates the application progress of indocyanine green fluorescence technology in gynecology.

Savi Scout Localization for Extrapelvic Endometriosis Resection

BACKGROUND Endometriosis is a common cause of chronic pelvic pain among women globally. Pharmacological therapy for endometriosis includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormonal contraceptives, while surgical therapy often involves either laparoscopic excision and ablation of endometriosis implants or open surgery. Surgical therapy is one of the mainstays of treatment especially for extrapelvic endometriomas. However, little guidance exists for the treatment of non-palpable or intermittently palpable lesions of this nature. CASE REPORT A 33-year-old woman with a previous cesarean section presented with complaints of intermittent discomfort in the area between her umbilicus and the surgical incision, for the previous 7 years, that worsened during her menstrual cycle. A 3×3-cm area of fullness was only intermittently palpable during various clinic visits, but was visualizable on computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. Given the lesion's varying palpability, a Savi Scout radar localization device was placed into the lesion pre-operatively to aid with surgical resection. The mass was excised, pathologic examination revealed endometrial tissue, and the patient had an uncomplicated postoperative course with resolution of her symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Surgical removal of extrapelvic endometrioma lesions can be made difficult by varying levels of palpability or localizability due to a patient's menstrual cycle. The Savi Scout, most commonly used in breast mass localization, is a useful tool in guiding surgical excision of non-palpable or intermittently palpable extrapelvic endometrioma lesions.

Rectus Abdominis Endometriosis Following Cesarean Section: A Case Report

Endometriosis involves the growth of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, with its manifestation in the rectus abdominis muscle being exceptionally rare and primarily observed in women with a history of abdominal surgeries. In this report, we present the case of a 42-year-old female with a medical history of two cesarean sections who presented with cyclical abdominal pain and a palpable mass in the right lower quadrant. An MRI scan of the pelvis revealed a lesion on the right lower quadrant of the abdominal wall, proximate to the previous Pfannenstiel incision. A percutaneous US-guided biopsy of the abdominal lesion was performed, and histopathology demonstrated the presence of endometrial glands and stroma, confirming the diagnosis of rectus abdominis endometriosis. She was submitted to a local wide excision with adequate margins of normal surrounding tissue and has remained free of recurrence for two years.

Radioguided Occult Lesion Localization for Gynecologic Tumor Relapses: Development of a Technique

PURPOSE OF THE REPORT

Excision of peritoneal or nodal isolated recurrences frequently involves performing a surgery on a previously operated area, which is more difficult to achieve with minimally invasive approaches. Our aim was to describe the technical aspects, feasibility, and complications derived from the application of the radioguided occult lesions localization (ROLL) in gynecologic oncology recurrence excision.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All consecutive patients bearing localized relapses of a gynecologic tumor that were considered candidates for surgical excision were assessed to undergo a ROLL procedure. Radiotracer (99mTc-albumin macroaggregate) injection of the lesions was performed by ultrasonography or CT guidance. Relapses were localized using a gamma probe by minimally invasive surgery when located in the abdomen, or percutaneously when located in the groin. Intraoperative and early (up to postoperative day 30) complications were prospectively recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 8 patients underwent the procedure. The median age was 59 years (range, 35-87 years). Four patients had abdominal relapses, whereas 4 patients presented groin relapses. The mean operative time was 120 minutes (range, 30-190 minutes), whereas the median estimated blood loss was 5 mL (range, 0-150 mL). All the targeted lesions were successfully removed. No intraoperative complications were reported. One postoperative complication (inguinal lymphocele) was recorded.

CONCLUSIONS

ROLL surgery constitutes a new approach for isolated recurrences in gynecological tumors.

Interventional nuclear medicine: a focus on radioguided intervention and surgery

Within interventional nuclear medicine (iNM) a prominent role is allocated for the sub-discipline of radioguided surgery. Unique for this discipline is the fact that an increasing number of clinical indications (e.g. lymphatic mapping, local tumor demarcation and/or tumor receptor targeted applications) have been adopted into routine care. The clinical integration is further strengthened by technical innovations in chemistry and engineering that enhance the translational potential of radioguided procedures in iNM. Together, these features not only ensure ongoing expansion of iNM but also warrant a lasting clinical impact for the sub-discipline of radioguided surgery.

Abdominal wall endometriosis (a narrative review)

One of the rarest forms of endometriosis is abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE), which includes caesarean scar endometriosis. AWE remains a challenging condition because some issues related to this topic are still under debate. The increasing number of caesarean sections and laparotomies will expect to increase the rate of AWE. The current incidence in obstetrical and gynaecological procedures is still unknown. The disease is probably underestimated. The pathogenic mechanism involves local environment at the implant site including local inflammation and metalloproteinases activation due to local growth factors, estrogen stimulation through estrogen receptors and potential epigenetic changes. However, the underlying mechanisms are not fully explained, and we need more experimental models to understand them. The clinical presentation is heterogeneous; the patient may be seen by a gynaecologist, an endocrinologist, a general surgeon, an imaging specialist, or even an oncologist. No particular constellation of clinical risk factors has been identified, and the histological report is the major diagnostic tool for confirmation. Surgery is the first line of therapy. Further on we need protocols for multidisciplinary investigations and approaches.

Endometriosis de la pared abdominal: estudio descriptivo de una serie de 21 casos

Introducción. La endometriosis de la pared abdominal se define como la presencia de tejido endometrial en cualquiera de las capas que componen la pared abdominal. Su incidencia es baja y se caracteriza por un diagnóstico tardío. Materiales y métodos. Se trata de un estudio descriptivo y ambiespectivo entre 2010 y 2014 en pacientes con endometriosis de la pared abdominal, cuyo análisis patológico fue realizado en un centro de ayudas diagnósticas de Medellín. Se identificaron las variables histopatológicas del reporte, y la información clínica mediante una entrevista telefónica suministrada por la paciente. Se analizaron los datos con medidas descriptivas de resumen. Resultados. Participaron 21 de 65 pacientes con diagnóstico de endometriosis de la pared abdominal. La media de edad al momento del diagnóstico fue de 35,3 años (desviación estándar, DE=8), el 71,4 % tenía el antecedente de cesárea y, el 38,1 %, el de endometriosis pélvica. El 95,2 % de las pacientes manifestaron dolor, de las cuales el 50 % lo percibió como constante con agudización cíclica y, el 40 %, como cíclico; además, el 90,5 % manifestó sensación de masa. La mediana del tiempo desde la aparición de la lesión hasta el diagnóstico, fue de 24 meses (RIQ=6-60). Solo en cuatro pacientes se hizo el diagnóstico prequirúrgico. El tratamiento fue quirúrgico en todas las pacientes y ocho (38,1 %) presentaron recidiva. Conclusiones. La endometriosis de la pared abdominal usualmente se manifiesta como masas dolorosas asociadas con cicatrices quirúrgicas previas, generalmente de origen ginecológico y los síntomas empeoran con la menstruación. Es usual que su diagnóstico sea tardío y pocas veces se hace antes del estudio histopatológico. El tratamiento de elección es la resección quirúrgica, aunque no es despreciable el porcentaje de recidivas.

Use of Radioactive Seed Localization to Guide Removal of a Nonpalpable Endometriotic Lesion: A Case Report

Extrapelvic endometriosis is a rare and usually misdiagnosed entity. Some extrapelvic endometriotic lesions are small and nonpalpable, which makes them difficult to locate and remove. Here, we report the use of radioactive seed localization to locate and guide the excision of a small, nonpalpable endometriotic lesion. A 32-year-old woman presented with disabling pain in the right inguinal area. Magnetic resonance imaging and abdominal ultrasound results showed an 11-mm nodule in the abdominal wall, in the vicinity of the groin, consistent with an endometriotic lesion. The radioactive seed was placed within the lesion with the help of ultrasonography, and excision was guided with a portable gamma camera. Complete excision of the endometriotic nodule was achieved. We propose radioactive seed localization as an accurate and feasible technique for the treatment of nonpalpable endometriotic lesions.

Recent advances in nuclear and hybrid detection modalities for image-guided surgery

Introduction: Radioguided surgery is an ever-evolving part of nuclear medicine. In fact, this nuclear medicine sub-discipline actively bridges non-invasive molecular imaging with surgical care. Next to relying on the availability of radio- and bimodal-tracers, the success of radioguided surgery is for a large part dependent on the imaging modalities and imaging concepts available for the surgical setting. With this review, we have aimed to provide a comprehensive update of the most recent advances in the field. Areas covered: We have made an attempt to cover all aspects of radioguided surgery: 1) the use of radioisotopes that emit γ, β⁺, and/or β^- radiation, 2) hardware developments ranging from probes to 2D cameras and even the use of advanced 3D interventional imaging solutions, and 3) multiplexing solutions such as dual-isotope detection or combined radionuclear and optical detection. Expert opinion: Technical refinements in the field of radioguided surgery should continue to focus on supporting its implementation in the increasingly complex minimally invasive surgical setting, e.g. by accommodating robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. In addition, hybrid concepts that integrate the use of radioisotopes with other image-guided surgery modalities such as fluorescence or ultrasound are likely to expand in the future.