Gianluca Raffaello Damiani

Dr. Gianluca Raffaello Damiani

Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology, 70124 Bari, Italy
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

16Years (2011-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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23 December 2019
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
GTGiuseppe Trojano
Giuseppe Trojano
COClaudiana Olivieri
Claudiana Olivieri
RTRaffaele Tinelli
Raffaele Tinelli
Gianluca Raffaello DamianiGianluca Raffaello Damiani
Gianluca Raffaello Damiani
APAntonio Pellegrino
Antonio Pellegrino
ECEttore Cicinelli
Ettore Cicinelli
Endometrial Cancer (EC) is the commonest gynecological cancer and its incidence is increasing. The diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma in young women of childbearing age is rare. Indeed, only 4% of patients with endometrial carcinoma are <40 years of age. It's typically diagnosed in postmenopausal women. The standard approach for the management of endometrial cancer in young women of childbearing age is hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with or without lymphadenectomy but is not ideal for women interested in future fertility. We reviewed the published literature to clarify in fertile women who have not yet fulfilled their desire for motherhood, what are the strategies, the risks of a conservative treatment of early stage of Endometrial Cancer and what are the obstetric outcomes in this patients. Recently, several studies have reported encouraging results on fertility-sparing management of EC with high dose of progestins in selected women associated or not with hysteroscopic resection.

1 January 2018 in Gynecology and Minimally Invasive Therapy
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Journal Article
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Gianluca Raffaello DamianiGianluca Raffaello Damiani
Gianluca Raffaello Damiani
GTGiuseppe Trojano
Giuseppe Trojano
VCVita Caroli Casavola
Vita Caroli Casavola
RLRossella Loiacono
Rossella Loiacono
AMAntonio Malvasi
Antonio Malvasi
LBLorella Battini
Lorella Battini
Backgrounds and Aims: This study aims to compare hysteroscopic and histological findings in asymptomatic postmenopausal patients with thickened endometrium. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study involving case records of 295 asymptomatic postmenopausal women with a thickened endometrium >5 mm diagnosed at transvaginal ultrasound (TVS). Patients (women) underwent hysteroscopy with biopsy between 2009 and 2015, and they were followed up at National Cancer Institute of Bari and at University Hospital of Pisa. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of hysteroscopy were evaluated. Results: Inclusion criteria were TVS, hysteroscopy, and endometrial biopsy. When the hysteroscopic findings were normal, a sensitivity of 100%, specificity of 98.6%, PPV of 95.2%, and NPV of 100% were achieved. For polyps and myomas, we found 100%, 98.7%, 99.5%, and 100%, respectively. In case of endometrial hyperplasia, a sensitivity of 66.7%, a specificity of 100%, a PPV of 100%, and a NPV of 98.1% were achieved. For endometrial cancer hysteroscopy, sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV were 100%, 99.6%, 75%, and 100%, respectively. Conclusions: Hysteroscopy allows an accurate diagnosis in benign endometrial pathology and suspect of malignant endometrial pathology in postmenopausal women with thickened endometrium.

1 June 2014 in Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
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Journal Article
Closed access
MTMario V. Tartagni
Mario V. Tartagni
HAHala Alrasheed
Hala Alrasheed
Gianluca Raffaello DamianiGianluca Raffaello Damiani
Gianluca Raffaello Damiani
Monica MontagnaniMonica Montagnani
Monica Montagnani
MSMaria Antonietta De Salvia
Maria Antonietta De Salvia
GLGiuseppe Loverro
Giuseppe Loverro

1 July 2023 in Gynecology and Minimally Invasive Therapy
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Journal Article
Open access
MGMaria Gaetani
Maria Gaetani
DGDaniele Di Gennaro
Daniele Di Gennaro
AVAntonella Vimercati
Antonella Vimercati
AVAmerigo Vitagliano
Amerigo Vitagliano
MDMiriam Dellino
Miriam Dellino
Gianluca Raffaello DamianiGianluca Raffaello Damiani
Gianluca Raffaello Damiani
Cornual pregnancy (CP) is a subtype of ectopic pregnancy that is implanted in the interstitial segment of the fallopian tube which is defined as the tubal section crossing uterine muscular tissue. Widely recognized risk factors for CP are endometriosis, uterine leiomyomata, or pelvic inflammatory disease; all these diseases can cause tubal anatomic changes and consequently alter embryo physiological implant process. Many treatment options are available for this condition each one must be tailored according to patient and operating scenario. The incidence of uterine ruptures in the scarred uterus appears to be low, but the fear of it remains and therefore medical treatment might be favored over cornual wedge resection. The actual risk of uterine rupture after medical treatment is unknown. Multiple testing strategies exist to diagnose CP, but caution needs to be used to avoid a false diagnosis.

Verified
Journal Article
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Vera LoizziVera Loizzi
Vera Loizzi
MDMiriam Dellino
Miriam Dellino
Marco CerboneMarco Cerbone
Marco Cerbone
FAFrancesca Arezzo
Francesca Arezzo
Gerardo CazzatoGerardo Cazzato
Gerardo Cazzato
GCGennaro Cormio
Gennaro Cormio
All cancers develop as a result of mutations in genes. DNA damage induces genomic instability and subsequently increases susceptibility to tumorigenesis. Women who carry mutations of BRCA 1 and BRCA2 genes have an augmented risk of breast and ovarian cancer and a markedly augmented probability of dying because of cancer compared to the general population. As a result, international guidelines recommend that all BRCA1\2 mutation carriers be offered risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy at an early age to reduce the risk of cancer and decrease the mortality rate of this high-risk population. NCCN guidelines recommend risk-reducing bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy in pre-menopausal women, between 35–40 years in BRCA1 mutation carriers and between 40–45 years in BRCA2 mutation carriers. Unfortunately, the well-documented reduction of cancer risk is counterbalanced by early sterility and premature ovarian failure with an early onset of secondary menopausal syndromes such as neuromotor, cardiovascular, cognitive and urogenital deficiency. Hormonal replacement therapy significantly compensates for hormonal deprivation and counteracts menopausal syndrome morbidity and mortality; however, some data suggest a possible correlation between hormonal medications and cancer risk, especially in BRCA1\2 carriers who undergo long-term regimens. Conversely, short-term treatment before the age of natural menopause does not appear to increase the cancer risk in BRCA1 mutation carriers without a personal history of breast cancer after prophylactic surgery. Few data are available on BRCA2 mutation carriers and more well-designed studies are needed. In conclusion, clinicians should propose short-term hormone replacement therapy to BRCA 1 carriers to counteract hormonal deprivation; personalized counselling should be offered to BRCA2 mutation carriers for a balance between the risks and benefits of the treatment.

Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
MDMiriam Dellino
Miriam Dellino
Marco CerboneMarco Cerbone
Marco Cerbone
Antonio Simone LaganàAntonio Simone Laganà
Antonio Simone Laganà
Amerigo VitaglianoAmerigo Vitagliano
Amerigo Vitagliano
Antonella VimercatiAntonella Vimercati
Antonella Vimercati
Eliano CascardiEliano Cascardi
Eliano Cascardi
One emerging problem for onco-gynecologists is the incidence of premenopausal patients under 40 years of age diagnosed with stage I Endometrial Cancer (EC) who want to preserve their fertility. Our review aims to define a primary risk assessment that can help fertility experts and onco-gynecologists tailor personalized treatment and fertility-preserving strategies for fertile patients wishing to have children. We confirm that risk factors such as myometrial invasion and The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging should be integrated into the novel molecular classification provided by The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We also corroborate the influence of classical risk factors such as obesity, Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), and diabetes mellitus to assess fertility outcomes. The fertility preservation options are inadequately discussed with women with a diagnosis of gynecological cancer. A multidisciplinary team of gynecologists, oncologists, and fertility specialists could increase patient satisfaction and improve fertility outcomes. The incidence and death rates of endometrial cancer are rising globally. International guidelines recommend radical hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy as the standard of care for this cancer; however, fertility-sparing alternatives should be tailored to motivated women of reproductive age, establishing an appropriate cost–benefit balance between childbearing desire and cancer risk. New molecular classifications such as that of TCGA provide a robust supplementary risk assessment tool that can tailor the treatment options to the patient’s needs, curtail over- and under-treatment, and contribute to the spread of fertility-preserving strategies.