Erratum to: Prognostic Factors for Survival in Patients with Carcinoma Endometrium

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1735563.].

Prognostic Factors for Survival in Patients with Carcinoma Endometrium

Francis. V. JamesObjective  The study aimed to see the clinical outcome and to identify prognostic factors for survival in patients with carcinoma endometrium. Methods  Patients registered at Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India, with carcinoma endometrium from January 2009 to December 2013 were identified from hospital registry. Data regarding patient demographics, tumor characteristics, treatment schedules, and follow-up were collected using a structured proforma. Survival estimates were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis was done using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. Multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model was performed to determine the impact of prognostic factors on outcome. The statistical analysis was done using SPSS software version 11. Results  The median follow-up of the 686 patients was 95 months (range 3-178 months).There were 432 stage 1 (63%), 100 stage II (14.6%), 108 stage III (15.7%), and 46 stage IV patients (6.7%). The 5-year overall survival was 89.2%. Prognostic factors for survival on univariate analysis were age 60 years or older, nonendometrioid histology, high-grade tumor, cervical stromal involvement, para-aortic node involvement, negative progesterone receptor expression, deep myometrial invasion advanced stage, surgery versus no surgery, serosal involvement, and ovarian and fallopian tube involvement. However, on multivariate analysis, age over 60 years, higher histological grade, advanced stage, and deep myometrial and parametrial invasion were associated with significantly poorer survival. Conclusion  We found that age over 60 years at presentation, higher grade, advanced stage, deep myometrial invasion, and parametrial invasion were associated with poorer survival.

Sarcomatoid (Spindle Cell) Carcinoma Arising in Mature Cystic Teratoma as a Mural Nodule: A Case Report

Mature cystic teratomas are the most common ovarian germ cell tumours.Malignant transformation is rare in mature cystic teratoma. Spindle cell/sarcomatoid carcinoma is an uncommon type of squamous cell carcinoma. A 45-year- old female presented with abdominal distention and discomfort. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) showed multiloculated cystic mass measuring 21×20×14 cm with heterogeneously enhancing solid component measuring 5x3.5 cm in right adnexal region. Excision of the mass done. Macroscopic examination showed irregular cystic mass containing pultaceous material and hair, and a mural nodule measuring 5x5 cm. On histopathological examination, the cyst wall showed mature teratomatous elements. Sections from mural nodule showed sheets of atypical spindle cells with increased mitosis and foci of necrosis. On immunohistochemical examination, the spindle cells showed patchy weak to moderate positivity for cytokeratin, 34 beta E12, CK5/6 and P40. Diagnosis of spindle cell/sarcomatoid carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma was given. Malignant transformation in mature cystic teratoma is rare and should be suspected in large sized tumours in older patients. Sarcomatoid carcinoma is an extremely rare form of secondary malignant neoplasm arising from mature cystic teratoma.

Clinical Profile and Survival Outcome of Endometrial Cancer with p53 Mutation

Clinicopathologic classification of endometrial cancer imperfectly reflects the tumor biology. Pathologic categorization - especially in high-grade tumors - results in an imprecise estimation of the risk of disease, recurrence, and death. Molecular subtyping is emerging as the standard of care in diagnosis and treatment of endometrial cancers. Molecular markers are important prognostic factors in tumor dissemination and early recurrence of endometrial cancers. TP53 mutation is an important prognostic factor for both serous and endometrioid cancers. The study aims to compare the clinical profile and overall survival of endometrial cancers with and without p53 mutation. Sixty-three patients who underwent surgical staging for carcinoma endometrium were included in the study.TP53 mutation status was determined based on p53 expression by immunohistochemistry (IHC) as a p53 wild or p53 mutant type. Data were analyzed for the clinical profile, p53 mutation status on IHC, histological pattern, tumor grade, stage of the disease, lymph node spread, recurrence pattern, treatment received, 2-year disease-free survival, and overall survival. Recurrence was noted in 12.7% patients after 2-year follow-up, of which 75% patients had p53 mutation. Significant association was seen between p53 expression and high-grade tumors, stage, cervical involvement, and adnexal involvement. The 2-year overall survival of the p53 wild type was 97.2% and the p53 mutant type was 91.7%. The 2-year disease-free survival for the p53 wild type was 94.3% and the disease-free survival of the p53 mutant variety was 83.5%. The 2-year disease-free survival for endometrioid carcinoma with p53 wild type was 100% and p53 mutant variety was 86.2% (p value 0.033). About 15.9% (10) patients were reassigned to the high-risk group needing chemotherapy and radiation according to the ESGO ESTRO 2021 consensus classification, due to their p53 mutation status. IHC to assess somatic p53 mutation may be done in endometrial biopsies irrespective of their histology. This may help to identify that the aggressive tumors thereby help in tailoring surgery, planning adjuvant treatment, and follow-up.

Extra Mammary Paget's Disease of Vulva-a Case Report

Extra mammary Paget's disease (EMPD) is a rare condition involving the vulva, anogenital region, and axilla. Vulvar disease usually presents as a slow growing well-defined itchy plaque with crustations or ulcerations over the affected area in postmenopausal women. Well-established guidelines for diagnosis and management are not available for this rare condition. Our patient is a 64-year-old postmenopausal woman with a history of similar complaints of 2 years duration, not responding to multiple topical treatments. She was diagnosed with EMPD on incisional biopsy and treated with surgery at our centre.

Role of frozen section in intraoperative assessment of ovarian masses: a tertiary oncology center experience

Surgical management of ovarian lesions vary considerably depending on the nature of the lesion. As the preoperative imaging and serum tumor marker levels are of limited value in the proper categorization of ovarian lesions, intraoperative pathological assessment is commonly requested for a primary diagnosis. Aim of the study is to assess the accuracy of the frozen section in the diagnosis of ovarian masses in our center and to analyze the causes of diagnostic discrepancies. In this retrospective study, frozen section diagnosis of 233 cases of ovarian masses was compared with the permanent section diagnosis. The overall accuracy of frozen section was 91.85 %. The sensitivity of frozen section diagnosis for benign, borderline and malignant tumors was 99.2, 88.46 and 82.95 % respectively. The corresponding specificity was 96.5, 93.23 and 99.3 %. There were 19 discordant cases including 18 false negative cases and one false positive case. Frozen section is an important diagnostic tool to determine the nature of ovarian masses. Careful macroscopic examination, evaluation of multiple sections along with clinical and radiological findings helps to reduce false positive and false negative results. Frozen section examination has limitations especially in cases of borderline tumors. This modality is most effective when the pathologist and surgeon are aware of the advantages and limitations.

Surfaces of Semi-Fluorinated Block Copolymers Studied Using Nexafs

The molecular orientation within a surface liquid crystalline layer made up of semifluorinated side-groups [-CO-(CH2)x−x-(CF2)yF] (SF groups) attached to the isoprene block of a styrene-isoprene diblock copolymer was determined by analyzing the partial electron yield Cedge NEXAFS signal. The results show that in contrast to the bulk, where the SF groups lie parallel to the diblock copolymer lamellae and thus parallel to the surface, the surface SF groups make an average angle with the surface normal of between 29 and 46° depending on x and y.