Objective: Abdominal wall endometriosis (AWE) is a rare form of extragenital endometriosis that usually develops in association with a prior surgical scar. The purpose of the study was to review the clinical characteristics, diagnostic methods, treatment modalities, and outcomes of patients with AWE. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in a Gynecology Department of a Portuguese tertiary hospital, concerning patients with histologic-proven AWE, between January 2012 and December 2020 (n = 22). Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics Version 27.00, with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: The most common locations of extrapelvic endometrial ectopic implants were cesarean delivery scar (n = 13, 59.1%) and the umbilicus (n = 5, 22.7%). The median (range) age was 36 (30-42) years old, and all patients had a history of previous surgery but one. Nineteen patients had undergone a previous cesarean section, and the mean (range) time from surgery to the onset of symptoms was 100 (32-168) months. All patients were symptomatic and presented with a palpable mass at physical examination. The majority complained of a painful abdominal mass (n = 20, 90.9%) which was associated with cyclic pain in thirteen patients (65%). Ultrasound scan was performed in all patients and the nodules had a median size of 20.5 mm (5-93 mm). One patient received hormonal therapy and surgical resection was performed in the remaining patients. The nodule’s median (range) size was 31 (12-50) mm on gross examination. Conclusion: AWE should be considered in the presence of a previous pelvic surgery history associated with abdominal scar cyclic pain and swelling. A careful history and clinical examination are essential for diagnosis to avoid unnecessary delay before surgical intervention.
Introdução: A contraceção na adolescência tem um papel fundamental na sociedade por prevenir gravidezes indesejadas e infeções sexualmente transmissíveis. O uso de métodos contracetivos reversíveis de longa duração (LARCs) tem vindo a ser recomendado pela sua eficácia e perfil de segurança nesta faixa etária. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a utilização de LARCs na população de uma consulta de Ginecologia da Infância e Adolescência e descrever as características sociodemográficas das adolescentes assim como a prática contracetiva prévia. Material e Métodos: Análise retrospetiva que incluiu as adolescentes utilizadoras de LARCs, acompanhadas na consulta de Ginecologia da Infância e Adolescência de um hospital pediátrico terciário português, no período entre junho de 2012 e junho de 2021. Resultados: Foram incluídas 122 adolescentes, cuja mediana de idades foi 16 (11 – 18) anos. Destas, 62,3% (n = 76) eram sexualmente ativas. O método preferencial foi o implante subcutâneo, colocado em 82,3% (n = 101), seguido do sistema intrauterino de Levonorgestrel (SIU-LNG) em 16,4% (n = 20) e o dispositivo intrauterino de cobre em 1,3% (n = 1). As principais indicações para a escolha de LARCs foram desejo contracetivo em 90,2% (n = 110), hemorragia uterina anormal da puberdade em 14,8% (n = 18), dismenorreia em 10,7% (n = 13) e necessidade de amenorreia em 0,8% (n = 1). O tempo mediano de utilização do implante foi 20 (1 – 48) meses e do SIU-LNG 20 (1 – 36) meses. A taxa de continuidade aos 12 meses para ambos foi de 76,2% (n = 93). A taxa de remoção antes do tempo padronizado foi de 9,8% (n = 12) nas adolescentes que colocaram implante, sendo que não foram removidos SIU-LNG ou dispositivo intrauterino de cobre. Não se registaram gravidezes após a colocação de LARCs. Conclusão: O desejo contracetivo foi o primeiro motivo para a escolha de um LARC seguido do controlo da hemorragia uterina anormal e da dismenorreia. Todos estes fatores poderão contribuir para a elevada taxa de satisfação e continuidade destes métodos.
Objectives. This study aimed to explore the practical organisational aspects and difficulties in the implemen-tation of the molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma (EC), and to demonstrate its potential impact in prognostic risk group classification. Methods. We conducted a multicentre, retrospective cohort study of 230 patients with EC diagnosed between 2019 and 2022. Sample processing, clinicopathological, treatment and follow-up data were collected. Molecular classification was obtained by p53 and mismatch repair proteins immunohistochemistry, and POLE next -generation sequencing.Results. Implementation was achieved through centralization of molecular analysis. In practice, it was possible to optimise turnaround times of complete integrative reports for hysterectomy specimens to a median time of 18 workdays. If genetic study was started in endometrial biopsies before surgery, 82.0% were available at the time of multidisciplinary tumour board, compared to 8.4% if performed in hysterectomy. ECs were classified as follows: 37.8% no specific molecular profile, 31.7% p53 abnormal, 24.3% mismatch repair deficient, and 6.1% POLE mutant. Integration of these results with traditional clinicopathologic factors led to a change in prognostic risk group in 15 (6.5%) patients, most being initially allocated to high-intermediate (n = 8) and low (n = 5) risk groups. Eight patients changed to a higher risk, and 7 to a lower risk group, whereas 2 remained in the same group. Conclusions. Centralization of EC molecular classification is a feasible option for countries with limited resources. Optimization of workflows may be achieved by earlier analysis in biopsies and prioritisation of patients whose results imply changes in risk group classification. & COPY; 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.
e17615 Background: Management of endometrial carcinoma (EC) relies on prognostic risk group classification to help to determine the individual risk of recurrence and the need for adjuvant treatment after surgery. A molecular classification with four distinct prognostic EC subtypes based on genomic abnormalities - DNA polymerase epsilon ( POLE) mutated ( POLEmut), mismatch repair deficient (MMRd), p53 abnormal (p53abn) and no specific molecular profile (NSMP) - has emerged, that raises the possibility of a more precise tailoring of adjuvant therapy. This study aimed to describe the clinicopathological and molecular characteristics of an EC Portuguese cohort, assess its potential impact in patient management and evaluate its prognostic value. Methods: Multicentre, retrospective cohort study of 230 patients with EC diagnosed between 2019 and 2022. Sample processing, clinicopathological, treatment and follow-up data was collected. Molecular classification was obtained by p53 and mismatch repair proteins immunohistochemistry, and POLE next-generation sequencing. Results: Overall, 230 patients from two institutions were included. Median age at diagnosis was 68 years. The most frequent histology was endometrioid (n=163; 70.9%) and most were low-grade (n=129, 56.1%).At diagnosis, disease was confined to the uterus in the majority of patients (FIGO stage I/II, n=153, 66.5%). Most had surgery upfront (n=196, 85.2%) and, of those, 120 (52.2%) received adjuvant treatment. 26 (11.3%) had metastatic disease. Median follow-up time was 15.4 months. Regarding molecular subgroups, the majority were classified as NSMP (n=87, 37.8%), followed by p53abn (n=73, 31.7%), MMRd (n=56, 24.3%), and POLEmut (n=14, 6.1%); 11 (4.8%) were multiple-classifier. Integration of these results led to a change in adjuvant treatment in 3 patients. Median disease-specific survival (DSS) was 108 months. Factors that significantly influenced survival included age (p=0.030), histological type (p<0.001), grade (p<0.001) and FIGO stage (p=0.006). Overall, 35 (15.2%) patients developed recurrences. Median recurrence-free survival (RFS) was 46.7 months. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis showed that molecular alterations were significantly associated both with DSS and RFS (p=0.0092 and p=0.0139, respectively). Tumours with p53abn had the worst prognosis, and patients with POLEmut tumours experienced an excellent prognosis. Comparative measures (BIC, C-index, log-likelihood) showed that considering the molecular classification in establishing risk groups for adjuvant treatment had prognostic significance. Conclusions: The molecular classification has prognostic value and should be considered in adjuvant treatment decisions. It allows for a more personalised approach, helps to reduce under and overtreatment, and therefore reduce patient morbidity associated with treatment toxicities, and healthcare related costs.
INTRODUCTION Contraception in adolescence is essential to prevent unwanted pregnancies, abortion and sexually transmitted diseases. The use of longacting reversible contraceptive methods (LARCs) has been highly recommended due to their efficacy since they are user independent methods. The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of LARCs in adolescence in the population of a Childhood and Adolescence Gynecology clinic, and to describe the sociodemographic characteristics of the adolescents as well as previous contraceptive practices. MATERIAL AND METHODS Retrospective analysis that included adolescents using LARCs, monitored in a Childhood and Adolescence Gynecology clinic of a Portuguese tertiary pediatric hospital, between June 2012 and June 2021. RESULTS A total of 122 adolescents were included, with a median age of 16 (11 - 18) years and 62.3% (n = 76) were sexually active. The preferred method was the subcutaneous implant, placed in 82.3% (n = 101), followed by the Levonorgestrel-Intrauterine System in 16.4% (n = 20) and the copper intrauterine device in 1.3% (n = 1). The main indications for LARCs were contraceptive needs 90.2% (n = 110), abnormal uterine bleeding during puberty in 14.8% (n = 18), dysmenorrhea in 10.7% (n = 13) and need for amenorrhea in 0.8% (n = 1). The median time of implant use was 20 (1 - 48) months and of the LNG-IUS it was 20 (1 - 36) months. The 12-month adherence rate for both was 76.2% (n = 93). The removal rate for reasons besides the expiration date was 9.8% (n = 12) in adolescents who had implants, and no LNG-IUS or copper intrauterine devices were removed. There were no pregnancies after insertion of LARCs. CONCLUSION Contraceptive needs were the main reason for choosing LARCs, followed by abnormal uterine bleeding during puberty management and dysmenorrhea. All these factors may contribute to the high rate of satisfaction and continuity of these methods.