Diagnostic challenges in colposcopy arise especially in women aged 50 or older, with postmenopausal status and transformation zone type 3 (TZ3). Endocervical curettage (ECC) is a valuable tool for diagnosing intracervical lesions. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to evaluate the use of ECC in colposcopy for detecting cervical intraepithelial lesions. A retrospective study was carried out of colposcopies performed in the certified Dysplasia Unit at Erlangen University Hospital between July 2016 and June 2023. Pap and human papillomavirus (HPV) results were correlated with the histologic findings via ECC, obtained during examinations or surgery. The primary outcome was the rate of accuracy between the colposcopic and histologic findings with regard to cytology, age of patients, and type of transformation zone (TZ). A total of 429 colposcopies in 413 women with histologic samples obtained via ECC were included in the final analysis. In all, 355 women had TZ3. Among patients with TZ3, evidence of high-grade lesions and invasive carcinoma was also found in women with normal or low-grade abnormal cytology. For patients with normal colposcopic findings, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2 and CIN 3/adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) were found in 56 patients (16

Background/Aim: Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III/high-grade squamous lesions (HSIL) remains significant challenge during pregnancy. Current data on the course of disease are contradictory, with cases of progression to cervical cancer (CC) during pregnancy being observed. Evidence suggests that the expression of L1 capsid protein associated with a favorable prognosis in non-pregnant women.

BACKGROUND/AIM:The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in disruptions to healthcare systems throughout the world. The numbers of cytology examinations, human papillomavirus (HPV) tests, and women referred for colposcopy decreased in many countries. There have been no reports on cervical cancer screening in Germany. This study aimed to describe changes in the numbers of colposcopies, cytology examinations, HPV tests, and histological results during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic years in order to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cervical cancer screening.PATIENTS AND METHODS:The numbers of colposcopies, cytology examinations, HPV tests, and histologic results were analyzed retrospectively for the period January 2018 to December 2022. The 2 years period before the pandemic (2018 and 2019) were compared with the 3 years period of the pandemic (2020-2022).RESULTS:In total, 6,518 colposcopies were performed in 5,579 women. The numbers of colposcopies, cytology examinations, and high-risk HPV (hrHPV) tests increased during the pandemic years. The number of biopsies per year taken was stable (range=450-554). The relative numbers of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) III/HSIL findings were stable, while the numbers of cervical cancers identified increased slightly from 15 (6.6%) in 2018 to 22 (7.4%) in 2022.CONCLUSION:Increases in numbers of women examined and colposcopies were observed in the years 2021 and 2022 during the pandemic, in comparison to the preceding years. These also led to increases in the figures for cytology, hrHPV, histology, and operations. The onset of the pandemic occurred in the same year as a newly organized screening program started in Germany. The increases might therefore be due to the newly organized screening system.

Hydrosalpinx is a common condition in women of reproductive age that correlates with infertility. A ureterocele is a dilatation of the terminal ureter within the bladder and/or urethra that occurs seldomly in adults, but can sonographically be mistaken for a hydrosalpinx. We report of a 29-year-old patient (G2/P1) who was referred in our department with secondary infertility and suspicion of hydrosalpinx. Intraoperatively, no hydrosalpinx could be visualized. Postoperatively, an intravesical cystic mass was detected, alongside a second-degree urinary retention. Sonographically, a double kidney on the left side and an accentuated calyx system could be diagnosed. Ureteroceles seem to represent a rare but still possible differential diagnosis in suspected hydrosalpinx, given the similar sonographic presentation of both conditions.

Molecular-based subclassifications of breast cancer are important for identifying treatment options and stratifying the prognosis in breast cancer. This study aimed to assess the prognosis relative to disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and other subtypes, using a biomarker panel including cytokeratin 5 (CK5), cluster of differentiation 117 (CD117), and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). This cohort–case study included histologically confirmed breast carcinomas as cohort arm. From a total of 894 patients, 572 patients with early breast cancer, sufficient clinical data, and archived tumor tissue were included. Using the immunohistochemical markers CK5, CD117, and EGFR, two subgroups were formed: one with all three biomarkers negative (TBN) and one with at least one of those three biomarkers positive (non-TBN). There were significant differences between the two biomarker subgroups (TBN versus non-TBN) in TNBC for DFS (p = 0.04) and OS (p = 0.02), with higher survival rates (DFS and OS) in the non-TBN subgroup. In this study, we found the non-TBN subgroup of TNBC lesions with at least one positive biomarker of CK5, CD117, and/or EGFR, to be associated with longer DFS and OS.

Aim This official guideline was coordinated and published by the German Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (DGGG), the German Society for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (DGPRÄC), the Austrian Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (OEGGG), and the Swiss Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics (SGGG). The guideline aims to provide a consensus-based overview of reconstructive and aesthetic surgeries on female genitalia based on an evaluation of the relevant literature. Methods This S2k-guideline was developed by representative members from different medical professions on behalf of the guidelines commission of the DGGG, DGPRÄC, OEGGG and SGGG using a structured consensus process. Recommendations Statements and recommendations on the epidemiology, aetiology, classification, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of acquired changes of the external genitalia are presented and special situations are discussed.

Zielsetzung Unterteilungen des Mammakarzinoms auf molekularer Ebene können helfen, genauere Behandlungsoptionen basierend auf der Prognose zu identifizieren. Ziel dieser Studie ist es, über die immunhistochemische Auswertung der Expression der Biomarker Zytokeratin 5 (CK5), CD117 (Kit) und epidermaler Wachstumsfaktorrezeptor (EGFR) in Mammakarzinomen der unterschiedlichen molekularen Subgruppen die Prognose für krankheitsfreies Überleben (DFS) und Gesamtüberleben (OS) darzustellen.

Background: To improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of care, cancer patients can obtain a second medical opinion on their treatment. Validation of the diagnostic procedure (e.g., imaging), diagnosis, and treatment recommendation allows oncological therapy to be applied in a more targeted way, optimizing interdisciplinary care. This study describes patients who received second opinions at the Comprehensive Cancer Center for Erlangen–Nuremberg metropolitan area in Germany over a 6-year period, as well as the amount of time spent on second-opinion counseling. Methods: This prospective, descriptive, single-center observational study included 584 male and female cancer patients undergoing gynecological, urologic, or general surgery who sought a second medical opinion. The extent to which the first opinion complied with standard guidelines was assessed solely descriptively. Results: The first opinion was in accordance with the guidelines and complete in 54.5% of the patients, and guideline compliant but incomplete in 13.2%. The median time taken to form a second opinion was 225 min, and the cancer information service was contacted by patients an average of eight times. Conclusions: The initial opinion was guideline compliant and complete in every second case. Without a second opinion, the remaining patients would have been denied a guideline-compliant treatment recommendation. Obtaining a second opinion gives patients an opportunity to receive a guideline-compliant treatment recommendation and enables them to benefit from newer, individualized therapeutic approaches in clinical trials. Establishing patient-initiated second opinions via central contact points appears to be a feasible option for improving guideline compliance.

Introduction Gynecologic dysplasia units and dysplasia consultations are obliged to offer diagnosis and treatment in accordance with the guidelines. The organization of the consultation process, management of patient appointments, diagnosis, and treatment algorithms are heterogeneous. The legislation arising from the new Federal Joint Committee decision, dated 22 November 2018, concerning the organized cervical cancer screening program has been in force since 1 January 2020. In this article we provide an overview of the existing structures and interdisciplinary cooperation of specialized dysplasia units incorporated in certified gynecologic cancer center. Materials and Methods We carried out a retrospective database search of data collected prospectively from 1 July 2014 to 31 December 2019 at the dysplasia unit at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Erlangen University Hospital, which was the first dysplasia unit to be certified in 2014. Results A total of 5594 patients presented at the unit, and 16061 colposcopic, vulvoscopic, and anoscopic examinations were performed. Approximately 4100 examinations of the cervix, vagina, vulva, and anus are carried out each year, 1600 of these were exclusively cervix colposcopies. A total of 12197 cytology results were assessed, as well as 4850 histology results, and 8193 high-risk HPV tests. The quality indicators required by the dysplasia unit for annual recertification were met each year. Conclusion Certified dysplasia units and consultations form the central component in the algorithm for further investigating abnormal screening results; but they are also the first point of contact for a large number of patients with acute or chronic complaints in the genital region.

(1) Background: Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) is a rare premalignant disease caused by persistent human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Diagnosing VaIN is challenging; abnormal cytology and positive HPV tests are usually the first signs, but published data on their accuracy for detecting it are rare and contradictory. The aim of this study is to compare the results of hrHPV and cytology co-testing with the histological findings of the vagina. (2) Methods: In the certified Dysplasia Unit at Erlangen University Hospital, cytology and HPV samples from the uterine cervix or vaginal wall after hysterectomy were obtained between 2015 and 2023 and correlated with histological findings in biopsies from the vaginal wall. Women without vaginal biopsy findings or concomitant cervical disease were excluded. (3) Results: In all, 279 colposcopies in 209 women were included. The histological results were: benign (n = 86), VaIN I/vLSIL (n = 116), VaIN II/vHSIL (n = 41), VaIN III/vHSIL (n = 33), and carcinoma (n = 3). Accuracy for detecting VaIN was higher in women with previous hysterectomies. Positive HPV testing during colposcopy increased the likelihood for VaIN II/III/vHSIL threefold. The detection rate for VaIN III/vHSIL was 50% after hysterectomy and 36.4% without hysterectomy. (4) Conclusions: Women with risk factors for VaIN, including HPV-16 infection or prior HPV-related disease, need careful work-up of the entire vaginal wall. Hysterectomy for HPV-related disease and a history of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) also increased the risk for VaIN II/III/vHSIL.

BACKGROUND/AIM:The aims of the present study were to evaluate the accuracy of colposcopic findings, investigate the way in which untreated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3 develops during pregnancy, and identify factors associated with regression, persistence, or progression rates.PATIENTS AND METHODS:In a tertiary gynecology and obstetrics department, 655 pregnant women were seen for colposcopy. The most common reason for referral was abnormal cytology findings. The follow-up findings were analyzed retrospectively on the basis of colposcopic findings and cytological and histological tests.RESULTS:The rate of accuracy for major colposcopic findings was 89.2%. Among the colposcopic findings considered "suspicious for invasion" were invasive carcinoma in 42.9% and CIN 3 in 57.1%. The persistence of CIN 3 postpartum was 80% and the rate of progression 4.1%. The rate of regression for CIN 3 was 21.9%. For CIN 2, the rate of persistence was 37.5%, with a regression rate of 31.3%. The rate of regression was higher after vaginal delivery in comparison with caesarean section.CONCLUSION:The accuracy rate of colposcopy is comparatively high, at 89.2%. This might be because pregnant women are seen by more experienced examiners in our dysplasia unit. The rate of progression is comparable with that in other studies. Vaginal delivery increases the regression rate. The newborns' birth weight or birth week did not affect the rates of regression or persistence.

Background: The purpose of this research is to estimate the rate of concordance, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) of colposcopy for high-grade squamous lesions and carcinomas (HSIL+). Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of colposcopies performed in the certified Dysplasia Unit in Erlangen between January 2015 and May 2022 (7.5 years). The colposcopic findings were correlated with biopsies obtained during examinations or surgery. Cases without histology were excluded. The primary outcome was the rate of concordance between the colposcopic and histological findings in relation to the type of transformation zone (TZ), examiner's level of experience and age of the patients. Results: A total of 4778 colposcopies in 4001 women were analyzed. The rates of concordance for CIN I/LSIL, CIN II/HSIL, CIN III/HSIL, and carcinoma were 43.4%, 59.5%, 78.5%, and 53.9%, respectively. The rate of concordance was lowest for TZ3 and highest for colposcopists with more than 10 years' experience. Conclusions: Colposcopy is an important, feasible, and effective method. Careful work-up needs to be performed for women with TZ3 who are over 35 years old, as they are at the highest risk of being misdiagnosed. The highest concordance for detecting HSIL+ was seen for colposcopists with >10 years' experience.

Onkologische Patient*innen haben die Möglichkeit, eine ärztliche Zweitmeinung bezüglich ihrer weiteren Diagnostik bzw. Therapie einzuholen. Dadurch soll eine Verbesserung der Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit der Versorgung onkologischer Patient*innen erreicht werden. Über die AOK (allgemeine Ortskrankenkasse) Bayern können sich Versicherte eine ärztliche Zweitmeinung bei onkologischen Erkrankungen über ein interdisziplinäres Tumorboard einholen. Hierfür wurde das Modellvorhaben gem. § 63 Abs. 1 SGB V [1] gestartet.

Zielsetzung Die COVID-19-Pandemie hat unsere klinische Tätigkeit einschneidend verändert. Durch die Unwägbarkeiten – insbesondere im Frühstadium der Pandemie – wurden eine Vielzahl an elektiven, operativen Eingriffen und ambulanten Vorstellungen zugunsten von onkologischen, geburtshilflichen und notfallmäßigen Behandlungen zurückgestellt. Ziel dieser Studie war es, den Einfluss der COVID-19-Pandemie auf die Behandlung von urogynäkologischen Patientinnen an einem universitären und zertifizierten Kontinenz- und Beckenbodenzentrum zu untersuchen.

Purpose The aims of the present study were to evaluate the development of untreated cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3 during pregnancy and to assess persistence, progression, and regression rates postpartum to identify factors associated with regression. Methods In a tertiary gynecology and obstetrics department, a total of 154 pregnant women with CIN 3 were treated in the dysplasia unit. The follow-up findings were analyzed retrospectively on the basis of histological, cytological, and human papillomavirus (HPV) testing of 154 pregnant women confirmed as having CIN 3 in colposcopically guided biopsies. Results The rates of persistence, regression, and progression of CIN 3 in these women were 76.1%, 20% and 3.2%, respectively. Data for the delivery mode was available for 126 women. The rate of regression was almost twice as high with vaginal delivery as with cesarean section, at 27.4 vs. 15.2%, whereas the rate of progression was lower with vaginal delivery, at 2.7 vs. 6.5%. Conclusion The rate of persistence of CIN observed in this study is comparable to that reported in other studies. The study provides strong evidence for greater regression among women who have vaginal deliveries. Careful work-up is recommended postpartum for this group of women in order to rule out persistent CIN 3 or invasive disease.

Background A new nationwide screening strategy was implemented in Germany in January 2020. No data are available for women referred to certified dysplasia units for secondary clarification after primary diagnosis by a local physician. We therefore investigated combined testing with Papanicolaou (Pap) smears and high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) and compared the data with the histological findings.

Background: A new nationwide screening strategy was implemented in Germany in January 2020. No data are available for women referred to certified dysplasia units for secondary clarification after primary diagnosis by a local physician. We therefore investigated combined testing with Papanicolaou smears and high-risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) and compared the data with the final histological findings. Methods: Between January 2015 and October 2020, all referred women who underwent colposcopy of the uterine cervix in our certified dysplasia unit were included. Cytology findings were classified using the Munich III nomenclature. Results: A total of 3588 colposcopies were performed in 3118 women, along with Pap smear and hrHPV co-testing, followed by histology. Women with Pap II-p (ASC-US) and a positive hrHPV co-test had a 22.4% risk for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 3/high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (HSIL). The risk of CIN 3/HSIL was 83.8% in women with Pap IVa-p (HSIL) and a positive hrHPV co-test. A positive hrHPV co-test increased the risk for HSIL+ (OR 5.942; 95% CI, 4.617 to 7.649; p < 0.001) as compared to a negative hrHPV co-test. Conclusions: The accuracy of Pap smears is comparable with the screening results. A positive hrHPV test increases the risk for HSIL+ fivefold. Colposcopy is necessary to diagnose HSIL+ correctly.

ZusammenfassungIn dieser Übersichtsarbeit werden relevante Aspekte kürzlich veröffentlichter Studien zur Behandlung von Brustkrebspatientinnen in fortgeschrittenen Stadien sowie zu Biomarkern beim Mammakarzinom zusammenfassend dargestellt und diskutiert. In den letzten Jahren wurde eine Vielzahl von Medikamenten für alle molekularen Subtypen bis zu Phase-III-Studien entwickelt. In Bezug auf die Immuncheckpoint-Inhibitoren wurde in letzter Zeit für die metastasierte Situation der optimale Chemotherapie-Kombinationspartner diskutiert. Mit oralen Taxanen könnte sich eine neue Art von oralen Chemotherapien etablieren. Die Datenlage zu Biomarkern für die Anwendung der CDK4/6-Inhibitoren wächst, was auch eine Weiterentwicklung für andere molekulare Subtypen bedeuten könnte. Beim HER2 +, metastasierten Mammakarzinom wurden neue Substanzen entwickelt, die auch nach massiver Vorbehandlung und/oder zerebraler Metastasierung noch gute Remissionen zeigen. Ebenso wächst das Wissen um zielgerichtete Therapien mit Antikörper-Wirkstoff-Konjugaten (ADC) gegen Trop-2, die bei triple-negativen Mammakarzinomen (TNBC) eine therapeutische Bereicherung bedeuten könnten. Des Weiteren steht das Verständnis des Fertilitätserhaltes nach einer Brustkrebserkrankung im klinischen Fokus. Hier schaffen gepoolte Analysen einen neuen Einblick.