Purpose: Cervical rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an extremely rare disease, and there is no precise criteria related to its treatment. Our aim was to describe the clinical and pathological features of cervical RMS. Methods: Clinicopathological data of cases with cervical RMS were retrieved from the computerized database of Etlik Zubeyde Hanim Women's Health and Research Hospital. Five patients with the diagnosis of cervical RMS who underwent surgical treatment and had adjuvant chemotherapy between 2003 and 2015 were included in the study. Results: Mean age of patients at the time of diagnosis was 15.8 ± 2 years. Abnormal vaginal bleeding and mass were the most common complaints. All patients had embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma (E-RMS) and Group I disease according to the Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study Group clinical classification system. Cone biopsy and polypectomy were performed in four patients, and radical abdominal hysterectomy with pelvic–paraaortic lymphadenectomy was performed in one patient. Chemotherapy consisting vincristine, dactinomycin, and cyclophosphamide was given as an adjuvant therapy. Estimated 5-year overall survival and disease-free survival were 40% and 37.5%, respectively. Conclusions: We report a small series of patients with cervical E-RMS who were treated with surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Although all patients in the present study had good prognostic factors, survival was not as good as indicated in the literature. Diminished survival of our patient group may be associated with underlying molecular and pathophysiologic differences other than stage and histological subtype that have not been discovered yet.

Oktar O, et al. J Gynecol Oncol. 2023 Dec;35:e39. https://doi.org/10.3802/jgo.2024.35.e39

This study was conducted to compare the tocolytic efficacy of glyceryltrinitrate (GTN) with that of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and to investigate serum nitric oxide metabolites before and after tocolysis. In total, 48 women between 27 and 34 weeks' gestation with threatened preterm labor and intact membranes were randomly allocated to receive either GTN or MgSO4 tocolysis. Main outcome measures included tocolytic efficacy and maternal side effect(s) of the tocolytic agent. Obstetric and neonatal outcomes as well as pretreatment and posttreatment nitric oxide (NO) metabolites were assessed. Forty-one patients were included into the final analysis. Uterine contraction cessation times were 3.66±1.28 and 6.83±3.47 hours for GTN and MgSO4 groups, respectively. Similarly, maternal side effects were significantly lower in the GTN group than in the MgSO4 group, and no serious maternal side effects were recorded. Serum NO metabolite levels before treatment were significantly lower in the treatment groups than in the controls. Serum nitrite levels were significantly increased after tocolytic treatment both in MgSO4 and GTN groups. GTN effectively delays preterm delivery and reduces neonatal morbidity and mortality with less maternal side effects and seems to be an effective and safe alternative to MgSO4.

Objectives: Persistent Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection in the cervix and the preinvasive lesions it causes are significant risk factors for cervical cancer. Therefore, a treatment strategy is necessary to facilitate the clearance of HPV and prevent the progression of preinvasive lesions without causing cervical tissue destruction. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a vaginal adsorbent gel composed of a hydroxyethyl cellulose matrix formulation containing dispersed silicon dioxide, antioxidant sodium selenite, deflamin, and citric acid in patients with HPV infection. Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective cohort study and involved 449 women infected with HPV. For the purposes of the study, the patients were divided into two groups: the treatment group (TG) comprised 207 patients who used the vaginal gel daily for a period of three months, while the control group (CG), consisting of 242 patients, received no treatment under an “active surveillance” protocol. The study’s endpoints encompassed the domains of cytology, histology, and HPV clearance. Results: The regression rate of smear pathologies was 24.8% in the control group and 29.0% in the group using the vaginal adsorbent gel. In the first year, the histological regression rate in cervical biopsies was 49.3% in the treatment group and 19.4% in the control group, with a significant difference between groups (p < 0.001). Moreover, the clearance rate of HPV types was found to be significantly higher in the group using the vaginal adsorbent gel. Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that the outpatient treatment approach can effectively prevent the oncogenic progression of cervical dysplasia. This alternative method has been shown to be efficacious in preventing the progression of cervical dysplasia and promoting regression. Furthermore, the efficacy of this gel in eradicating HPV has been demonstrated within a 12-month period.