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Biomedical subjects

D P J Barton

Publications and source records attributed to D P J Barton.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

The sentinel lymph node: relevance in gynaecological cancers.

AIMS: Sentinel lymph node (SLN) detection is widely practiced in the management of patients with malignant melanoma and beast cancer. Large studies on SLN detection and determination of nodal status have led to changes in the surgical management of the regional lymph nodes in these diseases. More recently attention has focused on other solid cancers, including gynaecological cancers. METHODS: An extensive literature review of published reports on the SLN in gynaecological cancers was undertaken and the reports were categorised according to the level of evidence provided. RESULTS: Vulva cancer is the most frequently investigated gynaecological cancer with regard to SLN detection because of its anatomical location and easily accessible nodal basin. Although there are no randomised controlled trials, some data suggest SLN detection in vulval cancer may alter clinical practice and reduce the number of groin lymphadenectomies. The lymphatic drainage of the other gynaecological organs is less predictable, the nodal basin less accessible or less well defined, the techniques not standardised and the evidence for the applicability of SLN detection in the management of these cancers is weak. CONCLUSION: Sentinel lymph node detection in vulval cancer may reduce the need for radical groin lymphadenectomy and thereby reduce morbidity. SLN detection for other gynaecological cancers has little potential to alter clinical practice.

Female↗

Early enteral feeding following major abdominal surgery for recurrent gynaecological cancer.

We studied the safety of early postoperative enteral feeding in 22 patients with recurrent gynaecological cancer who underwent major abdominal surgery including extensive adhesiolysis, bowel resection and bowel anastomosis. A total of 19 patients (86.4%) had been treated by both radical surgery and radiation therapy with curative intent. In 18 cases (81.8%), the indication for surgery was bowel obstruction. Preoperative total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was not used. Enteral feeding was given through a gastrostomy tube or a jejunal feeding tube and was commenced within 72 h of completion of surgery. The age range was 30-78 years with a median of 52.8 years. A total of 13 patients (59.1%) had a bowel resection and 17 patients (77.3%) had a bowel anastomosis, all stapled. The median maximum tolerated full strength feeding was 50 ml/h for 18-20 h in a 24 h period and maintained for a median of 9 days. In six patients the feeding was interrupted but was re-commenced in five, in four of whom there was no further interruption of feeding. There were no anastomotic leaks and no cases of aspiration. Postoperative enteral feeding was safe in patients with recurrent gynaecological cancer who had undergone major abdominal surgery and should be considered as an alternative to TPN.

Abdomen↗

The role of ultrasound-guided cytology of groin lymph nodes in the management of squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva: 5-year experience in 44 patients.

AIM: To assess the accuracy of ultrasound combined with fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) in the detection of lymph node metastasis in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The groin nodes of 44 consecutive patients with primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva undergoing groin node dissection were assessed with ultrasound and FNAC. The results were compared with histology from subsequent inguinofemoral lymph node dissection. Twenty-nine patients underwent bilateral groin node dissections and 15 unilateral providing comparable data for 73 groins. RESULTS: Histology demonstrated metastatic disease in 28 groins and no evidence of metastatic disease in 45. Ultrasound agreed with the histology in 67 of the 73 groins (92%), with two false-positives, four false-negatives and two indeterminate appearances. Cytology agreed with the histology in 65 of 72 FNAC samples obtained (90%), with six false-negatives, and one indeterminate result. No false-positive cytology results were seen. Ultrasound and FNAC together failed to detect metastatic disease in four groins, one with an indeterminate ultrasound appearance, another with indeterminate cytology, the two others each having a single positive inguinal node despite a negative ultrasound and FNAC. CONCLUSION: The combination of ultrasound and FNAC provides a sensitive and specific tool for pre-operative assessment and may prevent unnecessary groin dissection and the attendant morbidity in selected patients with vulval cancer.

Biopsy, Needle↗

Normal and SV40 transfected human peritoneal mesothelial cells produce IL-6 and IL-8: implication for gynaecological disease.

High levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) have been demonstrated in the peritoneal fluid of benign and malignant gynaecological disease. Peritoneal monocytes and macrophages, endometrial cells, endometrial and peritoneal stromal cells and tumour cells produce these cytokines in vitro. To investigate whether normal human peritoneal mesothelial cells (HPMC) produce IL-6 and IL-8, HPMC were isolated from omental biopsies. Primary HPMC (P-HPMC) were transfected with pSV3-neo encoding SV40 large T antigen (T-HPMC) to generate sufficient cells. T-HPMC preserved the characteristics of P-HPMC as assessed by phase contrast microscopy, electron microscopy, immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry (FACS) analysis. T-HPMC retained a stable phenotype up to passage 14-19, whereas P-HPMC proliferated poorly and became senescent by passage 4-6. T-HPMC and P-HPMC constitutively expressed IL-6 and IL-8 at both protein and mRNA level. IL-6 and IL-8 production was stimulated by recombinant human interleukin-1beta (hIL-1beta) or human tumour necrosis factor-alpha (hTNF-alpha) alone in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, hIL-1beta or hTNF-alpha up-regulated IL-6 and IL-8 gene expression as determined by competitive PCR. In contrast, human interferon-gamma (hIFN-gamma) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) showed no effect. These data indicate that (1) T-HPMC lines mimic the morphological and functional features of P-HPMC, (2) P-HPMC and T-HPMC constituitively produce IL-6 and IL-8, which is enhanced by hIL-1beta and hTNF-alpha and (3) HPMC in vivo may participate in the pathogenesis of benign and malignant gynaecological disease.

Antigens, Polyomavirus Transforming↗

Preoperative predictors of suboptimal primary surgical cytoreduction in women with clinical evidence of advanced primary epithelial ovarian cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Women with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) are conventionally treated with primary cytoreductive surgery. For those with a low probability of optimal primary surgical debulking, an alternative management option is primary chemotherapy with delayed primary surgery. Selection criteria are required to identify women who may benefit from this approach. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patient age, presence of ascites, preoperative serum CA-125 level, surgical procedures performed, postoperative residual disease, FIGO stage, and histology data were collected on 97 women with preoperative clinical evidence of advanced EOC. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to identify which preoperative factors predict disease that will be suboptimally debulked. Receiver-operator curves were constructed for CA-125 level as a predictor for residual disease. RESULTS: The best predictor of disease suboptimally cytoreduced was serum CA-125 level (OR = 22.76, 95% CI = 7.13-72.69). Other predictive factors included age over 60 years (OR = 3.16, 95% CI = 1.04-9.56) and clinical evidence of ascites (OR = 3.30, 95% CI = 1.03-10.62). The optimal cut-off for serum CA-125 as a predictor of suboptimal debulking was 586 IU (sensitivity 80.0%, specificity 88.5%, PPV 85.7%). CONCLUSION: Serum CA-125 level is a reliable component of the preoperative assessment of women with EOC.

Adult↗

Vulvar soft tissue tumors.

OBJECTIVE: To report our incidence of soft tissue tumors at this site and to discuss various prognostic factors. METHODS: All patients with a diagnosis of vulvar soft tissue neoplasms were studied from a prospective database at the Royal Marsden Hospital between January 1985 and July 2001. RESULTS: Seventeen vulvar soft tissue neoplasms (11 malignant and six benign) were treated during this period. Leiomyosarcoma (n = 5) and aggressive angiomyxoma (n = 4) were the most frequent histologic types. According to the grade, there were four G3, three G2, three G1 and could not be assessed in one patient. Local recurrence occurred in six patients with sarcoma (three with high grade and one each with intermediate, low, and undetermined grade). In this group, five patients had negative microscopic margins and one patient had positive microscopic margins on excision. All three women with low-grade sarcomas are alive without evidence of disease. Three patients with aggressive angiomyxoma also had a local recurrence. CONCLUSION: Surgical excision is the primary treatment where possible. The grade of the tumor is an important predictor for local recurrence and outcome. Aggressive angiomyxoma is a local problem. Leiomyosarcoma and aggressive angiomyxoma are the most frequent histologic types.

Adult↗

A study of blood cross-matching requirements for surgery in gynecological oncology: improved efficiency and cost saving.

The objective of this study was to design and implement a maximum surgical blood order schedule (MSBOS) within a specialist gynecological oncology department in a tertiary referral center and evaluate its impact on the cross-match to transfusion ratio (CTR). A retrospective case note audit was undertaken to identify common operations performed within the unit and their transfusion requirements. The efficiency of blood usage was assessed using the CTR, and an MSBOS was devised and implemented. A prospective audit of preoperative blood cross-matching and subsequent blood usage was then performed for consecutive elective operations in the unit, to assess the effect of the MSBOS. The retrospective study of 222 cases demonstrated a CTR of 2.25 equivalent to 44% usage of cross-matched blood. Ninety two percent of operations performed within the unit could be incorporated into an MSBOS. The prospective study of 207 cases demonstrated a significantly reduced CTR of 1.71 or 59% blood usage (chi2 = 12.4, P < 0.001). This equates to a saving of 102 units of blood over the 15 months prospective audit. Protocol adherence was 77%. No patient was adversely affected by the adoption of the MSBOS. We conclude that an MSBOS can be safely introduced into a gynecological oncology department resulting in significant financial savings.

Blood Banks↗

Routine computerized tomography scanning, groin ultrasound with or without fine needle aspiration cytology in the surgical management of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva.

We set out to study whether computerized tomography (CT) scanning of the vulva and the groin and groin ultrasound scanning (USS) alone or with fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) (USS/FNAC) influenced or could influence the surgical management of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva (SCCaV). Forty-four patients underwent surgery for primary SCCaV following radiologic imaging by one or more modalities. Patient details included the clinical assessment of the carcinoma, radiologic findings, the operation performed, and whether the decision regarding the type and extent of surgery for the vulval carcinoma and, in particular, for the groin node dissection was or could be influenced by the radiologic findings. The age range was 38-87 years, with a median of 74 years. A total of 75 groin dissections were performed. Twenty-five of the 44 patients (56.8%) did not have groin node metastasis, 14 had unilateral metastasis (31.8%), and 5 (11.4%) had bilateral metastasis. All cases with histologically proven nodal status were analyzed to compare the preoperative imaging status with the histology. The calculated sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and positive predictive value for CT were 58%, 75%, 75%, and 58%, for USS alone-87%, 69%, 94%, and 48%, and for USS-guided FNAC-80%, 100%, 93%, and 100%, respectively. There was no patient in whom surgical planning for the vulval carcinoma or the groin nodes was or could be altered by the CT findings. The data do not support the routine use of CT scanning in patients with primary SCCaV, either in assessment of the primary vulval carcinoma or in detecting groin nodal metastases. For the groin nodes, USS/FNAC is superior to CT in assessing disease status. In contrast to CT, USS/FNAC may have a useful clinical role in the management of the groin nodes in vulval carcinoma.

Adult↗