Visualization Methods for Uterine Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Early-Stage Endometrial Carcinoma: A Comparative Analysis

BACKGROUND

Sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy in early-stage endometrial cancer is recommended over systematic lymphadenectomy due to reduced morbidity and comparable detection rates. The main objective of this study was to compare the overall and bilateral detection rates of SLN in early-stage endometrial cancer using three techniques.

METHODS

a prospective cohort study was designed to detect the difference in SLN detection rate in three cohorts: Indocyanine green (ICG), methylene blue (MB), and tracer combination (ICG + MB). Mapping characteristics, detection rate, number of SLNs, and positive SLNs of the three cohorts were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 99 patients were enrolled. A total of 109 SLN sites with 164 lymph nodes were detected. No differences were found between the three cohorts in terms of age, BMI, tumor diameter, or other histologic characteristics. The overall SLN detection rate (DR) was 54.3% in the MB group, 72.7% in ICG, and 80.6% in the ICG-MB group. Bilateral DR was 22.9%, 39.4%, and 54.8% in groups, respectively, with the MB method yielding significantly inferior results.

CONCLUSIONS

The ICG-MB group demonstrated superior overall and bilateral detection rates, but a significant difference was found only in the MB cohort. Combining tracer agents can enhance the accuracy of SLN identification in initial-stage endometrial cancer without additional risk to the patient.

Multiple Rare Primary Malignancies: A Mixed Squamous Neuroendocrine Adenocarcinoma of the Cervix, Metastasized Carcinosarcoma and Extramammary Vulvar Paget's Disease Case Report

The occurrence of more than one primary malignant tumor in a single patient is rare. Multiple primary malignancies can pose difficulties in differential diagnosis between primary tumors and metastasis. Here, we present a case report with multiple primary malignancies. The patient is a 45-year-old female who was diagnosed with cervical mixed squamous neuroendocrine adenocarcinoma, metastasized carcinosarcoma and extramammary vulvar Paget's disease. The patient was first diagnosed with a microinvasive squamous cervical carcinoma in situ. After a few months, the amputation of a small residual tumor and histological evaluation revealed an IA1-stage poorly differentiated (G3) mixed squamous and neuroendocrine cervical adenocarcinoma. After two years, the disease had progressed and biopsies from altered sites were taken. Histological diagnosis from an ulcerated vulvar region revealed extramammary vulvar Paget's disease. A biopsy from vagina polyp revealed an earlier diagnosed mixed squamous and neuroendocrine cervical adenocarcinoma. However, histological diagnosis from an inguinal lymph node biopsy was unexpected and revealed carcinosarcoma. It indicated either the development of another primary malignancy, or an unusual spread of metastasis. Clinical presentation as well as diagnostic and treatment challenges are discussed in this case report. This case report shows that multiple primary malignancy cases are difficult to manage both for clinicians and the patient because the therapeutic options can become limited. This complex case was managed by a multidisciplinary team.

Chemical peritonitis resulting from spontaneous rupture of a mature ovarian cystic teratoma: a case report

Background

Mature cystic teratomas (dermoid cysts) are the most common germ cell tumours with 10-25% incidence of adult and 50% of paediatric ovarian tumours. The aetiology of dermoid cysts is still unclear, although currently the parthenogenic theory is most widely accepted. The tumour is slow-growing and in the majority of cases it is an accidental finding. Presenting symptoms are vague and nonspecific. The main complication of a dermoid cyst is cyst torsion (15%); other reported complications include malignant transformation (1-2%), infection (1%), and rupture (0.3-2%). Prolonged pressure during pregnancy, torsion with infarction, or a direct trauma are the main risk factors for a  spontaneous dermoid rupture that can lead to acute or chronic peritonitis. The diagnosis of mature cystic teratoma is often made in retrospect after surgical resection of an ovarian cyst, because such imaging modalities as ultrasound, computer tomography, or magnetic resonance imaging cannot yet accurately and reliably distinguish between benign and malignant pathology.

Materials and methods

We present a report of a clinical case of a 35-years-old female, who was referred to the hospital due to abdominal pain spreading to her feet for three successive days. She had a history of a normal vaginal delivery one month before. Abdominal examination revealed mild tenderness in the  lower abdomen; no obvious muscle rigidity was noted. Transvaginal ultrasound showed a multiloculated cystic mass measuring 16 × 10 cm in the pelvis. In the absence of urgency, planned surgical treatment was recommended. The next day the patient was referred to the hospital again, with a complaint of stronger abdominal pain (7/10), nausea, and vomiting. This time abdominal examination revealed symptoms of acute peritonitis. The ultrasound scan differed from the previous one. This time, the transvaginal ultrasound scan revealed abnormally changed ovaries bilaterally. There was a large amount of free fluid in the abdominal cavity. The patient was operated on - left laparoscopic cystectomy and right adnexectomy were performed. Postoperative antibacterial treatment, infusion of fluids, painkillers, prophylaxis of the thromboembolism were administered. The patient was discharged from the hospital on the seventh postoperative day and was sent for outpatient observation.

Results and conclusions

Ultrasound is the imaging modality of choice for a dermoid cyst because it is safe, non-invasive, and quick to perform. Leakage or spillage of dermoid cyst contents can cause chemical peritonitis, which is an aseptic inflammatory peritoneal reaction. Once a rupture of an ovarian cystic teratoma is diagnosed, immediate surgical intervention with prompt removal of the spontaneously ruptured ovarian cyst and thorough peritoneal lavage are required.