The efficacy of hyaluronic acid instillations as therapy for patients with Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome (IC/BPS) has been demonstrated in some clinical studies, with response rates up to 70%. The aim of the study is to investigate the change in symptoms and quality of life in female patients with IC/BPS after intravesical instillations of hyaluronic acid used as first-line treatment. A retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted. Female patients, whose symptoms were compatible with the diagnosis of IC/BPS as defined by the International Continence Society, were treated with a variable number of intravesical instillations of a hyaluronic acid-based drug. Three validated questionnaires were administered by telephone to all patients, before the beginning of the treatment and 6 months after the last administration of the drug. A total of 50 patients with symptoms compatible with the diagnosis of IC/BPS were included in the study. The median number of instillations performed is 4. For all questionnaires, the median value was significantly reduced following treatment with intravesical instillations (p = 0.000). The present study has shown that intravesical hyaluronic acid treatment results in both statistically and clinically significant symptomatic improvement, thereby improving the quality of life of patients with IC/BPS.

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) significantly impacts women’s quality of life, especially in postmenopausal patients. Although laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC) is the gold standard for advanced apical prolapse, its complexity and risk of complications have led to alternative approaches like laparoscopic lateral suspension (LLS), a minimally invasive technique with promising results. Methods: A comprehensive search using PubMed databases was performed. The search was conducted from June 2024 to September 2024. The search string used was as follows: (pelvic organ prolapse) AND (lateral suspension) OR (laparoscopic lateral suspension). We included randomized controlled trials, prospective cohort studies, prospective observational studies, and case studies. We excluded retrospective studies, small case series, case reports, and articles not published in English. All selected articles were screened based on the titles and abstracts. Relevant data were extracted and tabulated. Results: An overall number of 12 studies were included in our analysis. LLS demonstrated high anatomical success rates: 91.15% for the anterior, 94.95% for the central, and 86.55% for the posterior compartments. The randomized controlled studies exhibit comparable effectiveness between both methods (LLS vs. LSC) and LLS appears to be the best option for anterior repair or anterior–apical repair. Patient satisfaction rates exceeded 90%, with reduced operative times (123 ± 33 min and 193 ± 55.6 min for ALS and ASC, respectively). According to the Claiven–Dindo scale, 0.17% of postoperative complications were graded more than III. The rate of mesh erosion was 0% to 10%. The technique showed particular benefit for uterine preservation and in obese patients but was less effective for severe posterior prolapse. Conclusions: Laparoscopic lateral suspension offers a safe, effective alternative for POP management, with significant anatomical and functional benefits. Its minimally invasive nature, shorter surgery time, and high satisfaction rates make it suitable for tailored patient care. Further studies should standardize evaluation metrics and assess long-term outcomes. The review was not registered. No funding was received. The authors declare no competing interests.

Endometrial cancer represents an ideal target to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 being the most frequent gynecological malignancy in Italy, generally detected at early stages and correlated with favorable oncological outcomes. The present comparative retrospective study carried out at Campus Bio-medico University Foundation in Rome aims to evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the presentation, diagnosis and treatment of EC. All women with a histological diagnosis of non-endometrioid and endometrioid endometrial cancer between 1 March 2018 and 31 October 2022 were included. The number of cases was higher in period 2 (95 vs. 64 cases). Time to diagnosis did not show statistically significant differences but in period 2, 92.06% of the diagnoses were made following abnormal uterine bleeding, while in period 1, only 67.02% were. The waiting time for the intervention was significantly shorter in period 2. Definitive histology, FIGO staging, surgical technique and adjuvant therapy did not show significant differences between the two periods. The study demonstrates that the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic did not have a direct effect on the diagnostic delay, tumor staging and type of therapy but rather on the presentation pattern of endometrial cancer.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition characterized by the presence of abnormal endometrial tissue outside the uterus. These misplaced cells are responsible for inflammation, symptoms, scar tissue and adhesions. Endometriosis manifests mainly in three patterns: superficial peritoneal lesions (SUP), ovarian endometriomas (OMA) and deep infiltrating endometriosis (DIE). It also exhibits atypical and extremely rare localization. The updated 2022 guidelines of the ESHRE recommend using both ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as first-line diagnostic tests. Currently, MRI provides a more complete view of the pelvis anatomy. The aim of our review is to provide radiologists with a “map” that can help them in reporting pelvic MRI scans in patients with endometriosis. We will illustrate the usual and unusual localizations of endometriosis (categorized into compartments) using post-operative imaging, and we will focus on the role of MRI, the main sequences and the use of contrast agents.

Background: Serum biomarkers such as Carcinoma Antigen 125 (CA125) and Human Epididymis Protein 4 (HE4) are widely used in the diagnosis and prognosis of gynecological malignancies. Serum biomarkers such as CA125 and HE4 represent essential tools in improving early detection, risk stratification, and therapeutic decision-making for gynecological malignancies. However, their role in identifying uterine sarcomas remains debated. This systematic review and case series aims to examine the diagnostic and prognostic significance of CA125 and HE4 in uterine sarcomas. Methods: A systematic review was performed on studies investigating serum CA125 and HE4 levels in uterine sarcomas. A case series of all uterine sarcomas treated at the Campus Bio-Medico Gynecology Unit of Rome from 2010 to 2020 was analyzed. Results: The analysis of the 11 selected studies allowed us to investigate the role of CA125 in uterine sarcomas. No studies analyzing the role of HE4 in monitoring the disease were found. A total of 16 patients with confirmed uterine leiomyosarcoma were included in our case series. Conclusions: Neither CA125 nor HE4 can currently be considered definitive biomarkers for the diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcomas. However, they may serve as useful adjuncts in the differential diagnosis between leiomyomas and leiomyosarcomas, particularly in reproductive-age patients.

Background: This multicentric prospective study was carried out at Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio Medico and Ospedale di Stato of St. Marino Republic. Between 1 January 2019, and 31 December 2022, all pre- and post-menopausal women diagnosed with recurrent, post-coital, and interstitial cystitis at both centers were included in the study. The main aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of vaginal CO₂ laser treatment, alone or combined with intravesical hyaluronic acid instillations, in managing cystitis symptoms, such as dysuria, pollakiuria, and urgency, across the entire patient cohort. The secondary objective was to investigate the reduction in number of annual cystitis episodes post-treatment. Methods: Each woman underwent three to four sessions of micro-ablative CO₂ vaginal laser treatment. A follow-up examination was conducted 12 months after the final laser session (up to December 2023), during which a post-treatment VAS assessment evaluated dysuria, daily pollakiuria, and urgency. The enrolled patients recorded the number of cystitis episodes experienced during the 12-month pre- and post-treatment period. Results: Results indicated the laser’s efficacy in reducing the total number of cystitis episodes per year and an improvement in symptoms up to one year post-treatment. Greater efficacy of the CO₂ laser treatment, particularly when combined with intravesical hyaluronic acid instillation, was observed in both pre- and post- menopausal women. Conclusions: Fractional CO₂ laser therapy represents a safe and efficacious, non-hormonal approach for pre- and post-menopausal women diagnosed with recurrent, post-coital, and interstitial cystitis.