Objective To assess and compare the health-related quality of life of women undergoing robotic gynecologic surgery, laparoscopic gynecologic surgery or laparotomy for benign and cancerous conditions. Methods Cross-sectional study design was used. The present study was carried out with 240 women, who underwent gynecologic surgery (robotic 48, laparoscopic 96, and laparotomy 96) in a tertiary care hospital. Instruments included a participant description questionnaire and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36. The data were collected 4 weeks after surgery, at the first postoperative visit of women to the clinic. Pearson chi(2) test, one-way analysis of variance, and regression analysis were used to assess the data. Results Over half of the women in each group had surgery because of gynecologic cancer. All the subscale scores of Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 were significantly higher in the robotic group than the other surgical groups (P < 0.05). Women in the robotic group had better quality of life in terms of both the physical component and the mental component after surgery. Conclusions Knowledge of health-related quality of life in the recovery period after surgery is important for healthcare providers to provide adequate preventive measures, information, and follow up.

Objectives: To compare the use of Electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing LigaSureTM small jaw instrument (LSJI) with conventional suture ligation in total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). Methods: In this retrospective study 80 patients who underwent hysterectomy in the Gynecology and Obstetrics Department of Gulhane Education and Research Hospital between April 2017 and August 2018 were included. Two different groups that underwent Electrosurgical bipolar vessel sealing LigaSureTM small jaw instrument (LSJI) and conventional suture ligation in hysterectomy operation were analyzed retrospectively. The parameters evaluated and compared between the two groups include operation time, intraoperative blood loss, duration of hospitalization and incision length. Results: Among the parameters we compared between the two groups, there was no statistically significant difference between the amount of intraoperative blood loss (p:0.68) and the incision length (p:0.65). Among the parameters we compared between the two groups, a statistically significant difference was observed between the operation time (p:0.016) and the duration of hospitalization (p:0.01). Conclusion: Our comparison of LSJI vs. conventional ligation in hysterectomy revealed a significant difference only in operative time, where surgeries involving conventional ligation were shorter. On the other hand, incision length was evaluated in our study which has not been addressed in previous studies. There is also a need for multi-center studies that include more patients and evaluate cost-effectiveness.

Objective: The purpose of this case-control study was to investigate the effect of lymphovascular space invasion on recurrence patterns and survival in patients with stage IIIC endometrioid type endometrial cancer.Study Design: A multicenter, retrospective, department database review was performed to identify lymphovascular space invasion-negative and lymphovascular space invasion-positive stage IIIC endometrioid endometrial cancer at five gynecological oncology centers in Turkey. Demographic, clinicopathological and survival data were collected. Cases and controls were matched in terms of age at diagnosis, grade of tumor, depth of myometrial invasion, sub-stage and adjuvant treatment.Results: Forty-one patients in the case group and 82 patients in the control group were eligible for the study. The 5-year OS rates were 94.4% in the lymphovascular space invasion-negative group and 77.2% in the LVSI-positive group (p=0.058). Advanced age (58 years) (HR 3.73; 95% CI: 1.19-11.69, p=0.02), grade 3 tumor (HR 2.57; 95% CI: 1.002-6.62, p=0.048) and cervical involvement (HR 2.62; 95% CI: 1.03-6.67, p= 0.04) appeared to be as independent predictors of decreased overall survival (OS). There was a trend towards statistical significance between the presence of lymphovascular space invasion and OS in regression analysis (HR 3.10; 95% CI 0.90-10.67, p=0.05). Recurrence rates were 17.0% (7/41) and 24.4% (20/82) in lymphovascular space invasion-negative and lymphovascular space invasion-positive groups, respectively (p=0.48). There were 5 cases of retroperitoneal recurrences in the lymphovascular space invasion-positive group and no retroperitoneal recurrence among lymphovascular space invasion-negative women.Conclusion: Lymphovascular space invasion status seems to be of borderline significance for OS in stage IIIC endometrioid endometrial cancer and impacts recurrence patterns as retroperitoneal recurrences are strongly related to positive lymphovascular space invasion status.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this case-control study was to investigate the effect of lymphovascular space invasion on recurrence patterns and survival in patients with stage IIIC endometrioid type endometrial cancer. STUDY DESIGN: A multicenter, retrospective, department database review was performed to identify lymphovascular space invasion-negative and lymphovascular space invasion-positive stage IIIC endometrioid endometrial cancer at five gynecological oncology centers in Turkey. Demographic, clinicopathological and survival data were collected. Cases and controls were matched in terms of age at diagnosis, grade of tumor, depth of myometrial invasion, sub-stage and adjuvant treatment. RESULTS: Forty-one patients in the case group and 82 patients in the control group were eligible for the study. The 5-year OS rates were 94.4% in the lymphovascular space invasion-negative group and 77.2% in the LVSI-positive group (p=0.058). Advanced age (≥58 years) (HR 3.73; 95% CI: 1.19-11.69, p=0.02), grade 3 tumor (HR 2.57; 95% CI: 1.002-6.62, p=0.048) and cervical involvement (HR 2.62; 95% CI: 1.03-6.67, p= 0.04) appeared to be as independent predictors of decreased overall survival (OS). There was a trend towards statistical significance between the presence of lymphovascular space invasion and OS in regression analysis (HR 3.10; 95% CI 0.90-10.67, p=0.05). Recurrence rates were 17.0% (7/41) and 24.4% (20/82) in lymphovascular space invasion-negative and lymphovascular space invasion-positive groups, respectively (p=0.48). There were 5 cases of retroperitoneal recurrences in the lymphovascular space invasion-positive group and no retroperitoneal recurrence among lymphovascular space invasion-negative women. CONCLUSION: Lymphovascular space invasion status seems to be of borderline significance for OS in stage IIIC endometrioid endometrial cancer and impacts recurrence patterns as retroperitoneal recurrences are strongly related to positive lymphovascular space invasion status.

Objective: The aim of this study is to improve the understanding of the experiences of women undergoing gynecologic robotic surgery. Method: A qualitative descriptive phenomenologic approach was used. We conducted phone interviews with women who had undergone a gynecological procedure via robotic surgery in a gynecology clinic of a university hospital (n=19). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with women, and data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s methods. Results: Two major themes were identified. These two themes concerned: (1) Ambivalent Feelings on Robotic Surgery, and (2) Robotic Surgery was a Piece of Cake. Conclusion: Because of the newness of this procedure, the women in this study indicated that they had concerns and lacked information about robotic gynecologic surgery but that their decision was influenced by the confidence they had in their physicians. The women indicated that they had confidence in the robotic technique and recovered quickly physically.

ObjectiveTo identify factors predictive of poor prognosis in women with stage III nonserous epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) who had undergone maximal or optimal primary cytoreductive surgery (CRS) followed by six cycles of intravenous carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy. MethodsA multicenter, retrospective department database review was performed to identify patients with stage III nonserous EOC who had undergone maximal or optimal primary CRS followed by six cycles of carboplatin/paclitaxel chemotherapy at seven gynecological oncology centers in Turkey. Demographic, clinicopathological and survival data were collected. ResultsA total of 218 women met the inclusion criteria. Of these, 64 (29.4%) patients had endometrioid, 61 (28%) had mucinous, 54 (24.8%) had clear-cell and 39 (17.9%) had mixed epithelial tumors. Fifty-five (25.2%) patients underwent maximal CRS, whereas 163 (74.8%) had optimal debulking. With a median follow-up of 31.5 months, the 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 34.8% and 44.2%, respectively. Bilaterality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.44, 95% CI 1.01-2.056; P = 0.04), age (HR 2.25, 95% CI 1.176-4.323; P = 0.014) and maximal cytoreduction (HR 0.34, 95% CI 0.202-0.58; P < 0.001) were found to be independent prognostic factors for PFS. However, age (HR 2.6, 95% CI 1.215-5.591; P = 0.014) and maximal cytoreduction (HR 0.31, 95% CI 0.166-0.615; P < 0.001) were defined as independent prognostic factors for OS. ConclusionThe extent of CRS seems to be the only modifiable prognostic factor associated with stage III nonserous EOC. Complete cytoreduction to no gross residual disease should be the main goal of management in these women.

Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for recurrence in patients with low-risk endometrial cancer (EC). Patients and Methods: This retrospective study was performed using 10 gynecological oncology department databases. Patients who met the following criteria were included in the study: (a) endometrioid-type histology, (b) histological grade 1 or 2, (c) no or < 50% myometrial invasion, (d) no intraoperative evidence of extrauterine spread, and (e) the patient underwent at least a pelvic lymphadenectomy. Recurrence was detected in 56 patients who were histologically diagnosed with low-risk EC, and these patients made up the case group. A total of 224 patients with low-risk EC without recurrence were selected (control group) using a dependent random sampling method. The case and control groups were match-paired in terms of grade, stage, and operative technique. Results: Lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) (odds ratio (OR) 5.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.0-16.9; p = 0.001) and primary tumor diameter (PTD) ≥ 20 mm (OR 6.6, 95% CI 2.7-15.8; p < 0.001) were found to be independent risk factors for recurrence in women with low-risk EC. Conclusion: The presence of LVSI and PTD ≥ 20 mm seem to be significant risk factors for recurrence in women with low-risk EC.

Background: The purpose of this retrospective study was to determine the prognosis of non-serous epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients with exclusively retroperitoneal lymph node (LN) metastases, and to compare the prognosis of these women to that of patients who had abdominal peritoneal involvement. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective department database review was performed to identify patients with stage III non-serous EOC at 7 gynecologic oncology centers in Turkey. Demographic, clinicopathological and survival data were collected. The patients were divided into three groups based on the initial sites of disease: 1) the retroperitoneal (RP) group included patients who had positive pelvic and / or para-aortic LNs only. 2) The intraperitoneal (IP) group included patients with > 2 cm IP dissemination outside of the pelvis. These patients all had a negative LN status, 3) The IP / RP group included patients with > 2 cm IP dissemination outside of the pelvis as well as positive LN status. Survival data were compared with regard to the groups. Results: We identified 179 women with stage III non-serous EOC who were treated at 7 participating centers during the study period. The median age of the patients was 53 years, and the median duration of follow-up was 39 months. There were 35 (19.6%) patients in the RP group, 72 (40.2%) in the IP group and 72 (40.2%) in the IP/RP group. The 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) rates for the RP, the IP, and IP/ RP groups were 66.4%, 37.6%, and 25.5%, respectively (p = 0.002). The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate for the RP group was significantly longer when compared to those of the IP, and the IP/RP groups (74.4% vs. 54%, and 36%, respectively; p = 0.011). However, we were not able to define "RP only disease" as an independent prognostic factor for increased DFS or OS. Conclusions: Primary non-serous EOC patients with node-positive-only disease seem to have better survival when compared to those with extra-pelvic peritoneal involvement.

The purpose of this study was to determine the prognostic factors and patterns of failure in lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI)‐positive women with stage IIIC endometrioid endometrial cancer (EC).

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) in women with stage IIIC endometrioid endometrial cancer (EC). Methods: A multicenter, retrospective department database review was performed to identify patients with stage IIIC pure endometrioid EC at 6 gynecologic oncology centers in Turkey. A total of 207 women were included. LNR, defined as the percentage of positive lymph nodes (LNs) to total nodes recovered, was stratified into 2 groups: LNR1 (<= 0.15), and LNR2 (> 0.15). Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate survival data. Factors predictive of outcome were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models. Results: One hundred and one (48.8%) were classified as stage IIIC1 and 106 (51.2%) as stage IIIC2. The median age at diagnosis was 58 (range, 30-82) and the median duration of follow-up was 40 months (range, 1-228 months). There were 167 (80.7%) women with LNR <= 0.15, and 40 (19.3%) women with LNR > 0.15. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rates for LNR <= 0.15 and LNR > 0.15 were 76.1%, and 58.5%, respectively (p= 0.045). An increased LNR was associated with a decrease in 5-year overall survival (OS) from 87.0% for LNR <= 0.15 to 62.3% for LNR > 0.15 (p= 0.005). LNR > 0.15 was found to be an independent prognostic factor for both PFS (hazard ratio [HR]= 2.05; 95% confidence interval [CI]= 1.07-3.93; p= 0.03) and OS (HR= 3.35; 95% CI= 1.57-7.19; p= 0.002). Conclusion: LNR seems to be an independent prognostic factor for decreased PFS and OS in stage IIIC pure endometrioid EC.

Introduction The use of robotics for benign etiology in gynecology has not proven to be more beneficial when compared to traditional laparoscopy. The major concern regarding robotic hysterectomy stems from its high cost. Aim To evaluate the clinical utility and effectiveness of one-arm reduced robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy as a cost-effective surgical option for total robotic hysterectomy. Material and methods A sample population of 54 women who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for benign gynecologic indications was evaluated, and two groups were identified: (1) the two-armed robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery group (n = 38 patients), and (2) the three-armed robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery group (n = 16 patients). Results An increased cost was observed when three-armed robotic surgery was employed for benign gynecologic surgery (p < 0.001). The cost reduction observed in the study group was primarily derived from one robotic arm reduction and vaginal closure of the cuff. This cost reduction was achieved without an increase in complication rates or undesirable postoperative outcomes. An estimated profit between $399.5 and $421.5 was made for each patient depending on the suture material chosen for cuff closure. Two-armed surgery resulted in an 18.6% reduction in procedure-specific costs for robotic hysterectomy. Conclusions Two-armed robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy appears to be a cost-effective solution for robotic gynecologic surgery. This surgical solution can be performed as effectively as classical three-armed robotic hysterectomies for benign indications without the risk of increased surgical-related morbidities. This approach has the potential to be a widely preferred surgical approach in medical communities where cost reduction is one of the primary determinants of surgery type.

OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of lymph node ratio (LNR) in patients with stage III ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC).METHODS:A multicenter, retrospective department database review was performed to identify patients with ovarian HGSC at 6 gynecologic oncology centers in Turkey. A total of 229 node-positive women with stage III ovarian HGSC who had undergone maximal or optimal cytoreductive surgery plus systematic lymphadenectomy followed by paclitaxel plus carboplatin combination chemotherapy were included. LNR, defined as the percentage of positive lymph nodes (LNs) to total nodes recovered, was stratified into 3 groups: LNR1 (<10%), LNR2 (10%≤LNR<50%), and LNR3 (≥50%). Kaplan-Meier method was used to generate survival data. Factors predictive of outcome were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards models.RESULTS:Thirty-one women (13.6%) were classified as stage IIIA1, 15 (6.6%) as stage IIIB, and 183 (79.9%) as stage IIIC. The median age at diagnosis was 56 (range, 18-87), and the median duration of follow-up was 36 months (range, 1-120 months). For the entire cohort, the 5-year overall survival (OS) was 52.8%. An increased LNR was associated with a decrease in 5-year OS from 65.1% for LNR1, 42.5% for LNR2, and 25.6% for LNR3, respectively (p<0.001). In multivariate analysis, women with LNR≥0.50 were 2.7 times more likely to die of their tumors (hazard ratio [HR]=2.7; 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.42-5.18; p<0.001).CONCLUSION:LNR seems to be an independent prognostic factor for decreased OS in stage III ovarian HGSC patients.

Objective: To determine factors influencing overall survival following recurrence (OSFR) in women with low-risk endometrial cancer (EC) treated with surgery alone. Methods: A multicenter, retrospective department database review was performed to identify patients with recurrent "low-risk EC" (patients having less than 50% myometrial invasion [MMI] with grade 1 or 2 endometrioid EC) at 10 gynecologic oncology centers in Turkey. Demographic, clinicopathological, and survival data were collected. Results: We identified 67 patients who developed recurrence of their EC after initially being diagnosed and treated for low-risk EC. For the entire study cohort, the median time to recurrence (TTR) was 23 months (95% confidence interval [CI]=11.5-34.5; standard error [SE]=5.8) and the median OSFR was 59 months (95% CI=12.7-105.2; SE=23.5). We observed 32 (47.8%) isolated vaginal recurrences, 6 (9%) nodal failures, 19 (28.4%) peritoneal failures, and 10 (14.9%) hematogenous disseminations. Overall, 45 relapses (67.2%) were loco-regional whereas 22 (32.8%) were extrapelvic. According to the Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) Trial-99, 7 (10.4%) out of 67 women with recurrent low-risk EC were qualified as high-intermediate risk (HIR). The 5-year OSFR rate was significantly higher for patients with TTR >= 36 months compared to those with TTR <36 months (74.3% compared to 33%, p=0.001). On multivariate analysis for OSFR, TTR <36 months (hazard ratio [HR]=8.46; 95% CI=1.65-43.36; p=0.010) and presence of HIR criteria (HR=4.62; 95% CI=1.69-12.58; p=0.003) were significant predictors. Conclusion: Low-risk EC patients recurring earlier than 36 months and those carrying HIR criteria seem more likely to succumb to their tumors after recurrence.

INTRODUCTIONIn gynaecologic practice, LigaSure Precise(TM) is generally used in endoscopic and open surgeries, such as hysterectomy, adnexectomy, and cancer surgery. However, there is no case report or main research article where LigaSure Precise(TM) has been used for myomectomy. We want to compare a technique using a vessel sealing instrument with a conventional technique in abdominal myomectomy.MATERIALS AND METHODSFifty-five women who underwent abdominal myomectomy were divided two groups: (1) a vessel sealing instrument-assisted technique (24 patients); and (2) a conventional technique (31 patients) between January 2011 and December 2014 at the Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey. The data for the operation times, the occurrence of perioperative complications, the hospitalization times, and changes in haemaglobin and haematocrit levels for the two techniques were collected and compared.RESULTSThe mean operation time was 48 minutes for the vessel sealing instrument-assisted technique and 54 minutes for the conventional technique. No statistically significant differences were determined for haemoglobin and haematocrit changes, hospital stay and perioperative complications.CONCLUSIONWe did not find any difference in the occurrence of complications, changes in haemoglobin or haematocrit levels, or hospital stay. The vessel sealing instrument-assisted technique is feasible and effective in reducing operation times.

BACKGROUND:Current cervical cancer screening guidelines recommend a 1-year follow-up period for patients with a postmenopausal low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (LSIL) who are test negative for high-risk human papillomavirus (HrHPV). The aim of this study was to assess whether such patients had an increased immediate risk of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion.METHODS:We assessed 54 HrHPV-negative women with postmenopausal LSIL in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of our hospital between 2012 and 2013. All patients underwent liquid-based cytology and reflex HrHPV testing (for human papillomavirus [HPV] types 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 66, and 68). Colposcopic examination and guided biopsy were performed by the same gynecologist (MO).RESULTS:The average age of the patients was 53.1 ± 3.2 years. There were 33 patients (61%) with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 1 and 21 who were non-dysplastic. None of the patients was positive for CIN 2 or any other lesions.CONCLUSIONS:If the HPV test is negative, repeat cytology after 12 months is recommended by the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology for cases of HrHPV-negative postmenopausal LSIL. We recommend reflex HPV testing as the best choice for patients who test positive for postmenopausal LSIL by Pap smear, in line with the literature. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2016;44:969-974. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.