Uterine sarcomas are rare, accounting for 3-7% of uterine malignancies. This review aims to summarize advancements in diagnostics and treatment over the last decade, focusing on innovative imaging techniques, molecular diagnostics, and treatment modalities. Recent diagnostic advancements include enhanced imaging techniques such as MRI and AI-driven algorithms, improving accuracy in differentiating between benign and malignant uterine tumors. Biomarkers like lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and microRNAs have shown potential in preoperative identification. Treatment strategies continue to evolve, with surgical resection being the cornerstone. The role of lymphadenectomy and adnexectomy varies by histopathological subtype, emphasizing personalized approaches. Adjuvant therapies remain controversial, tailored to patient risk factors and tumor characteristics. Fertility-sparing options are viable for selected patients, though not recommended for high-grade tumors. Significant progress in diagnostic techniques and personalized treatment approaches has improved the management of uterine sarcomas. Future guidelines from major oncology groups are expected to standardize care. Continued research is essential for refining treatment protocols and enhancing patient outcomes.
24 October 2024 in European Journal of Surgical Oncology
Purpose: Retained products of conception (RPOC) are a common complication following pregnancy. Office hysteroscopy (OH) is increasingly used for diagnostics and management due to its minimally invasive nature. However, incidence of incomplete OH removal and procedures in which no RPOC are identified despite prior suspicion remains a concern. This study aimed to identify factors associated with these outcomes to improve patient selection and procedural success. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients referred for OH for presumed RPOC between August 2015 and April 2023 at the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Slovenia. Inclusion criteria included hemodynamically stable patients with prolonged bleeding and/or suspicious ultrasound (US) findings post-pregnancy. Patients with RPOC thickness of more than 30 mm or strong tissue vascularization on US were excluded. Data on patient demographics, US features, and procedural outcomes were analyzed. Results: Out of the 468 patients, RPOC removal was performed in 333 cases (71.2%), of which 225 (67.6%) were successfully completed, while in 135 cases (28.8%), the procedure was only diagnostic due to the absence of RPOC. Regarding procedural success, neither the pregnancy outcome, i.e., termination of pregnancy (TOP) vs delivery, nor gestational age significantly correlated with it. Longer time from pregnancy end to OH significantly improved procedural success in both groups, after TOP (p = 0.025) and in cases of large RPOC after delivery (p < 0.001). Parity significantly altered procedural success only in the delivery group (p < 0.007). The success rate of the procedure was significantly higher in cases when only small RPOC were observed (p < 0.001). Absence of RPOC occurred more frequently following TOP than after delivery (p < 0.001). Procedures in which no RPOC were confirmed were significantly associated with a longer interval between pregnancy end and OH in both TOP (p = 0.013) and delivery group (p = 0.003). Gestational age significantly correlated with the absence of RPOC only in the delivery group (p = 0.003). The likelihood of not confirming RPOC was higher where US thickness and length were lower (p = 0.007 and p = 0.011, respectively). Conclusion: OH is effective for managing RPOC with a high success rate, but the absence of RPOC in a considerable number of OH-treated patients stresses the need for better diagnostic criteria and patient selection to minimize overtreatments. Further prospective studies are needed to optimize the timing and indications for OH.
14 March 2025 in European Journal of Surgical Oncology