Gynecologic oncology
-
Gynecologic oncology · Nov 2011
The effect of sleep disturbance on quality of life in women with ovarian cancer.
To estimate the prevalence of sleep disturbances, and to determine if there is an association between sleep disturbances with quality of life (QOL), depression or clinical demographic variables. ⋯ Sleep disturbances reduce QOL, a prognostic indicator for survival, in ovarian cancer patients. These patients should undergo routine screening and would benefit from interventions that aim to promote restful sleep.
-
Gynecologic oncology · Nov 2011
It's not just for laparoscopy anymore: use of insufflation under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance by Interventional Radiologists for percutaneous placement of intraperitoneal chemotherapy catheters.
While intraperitoneal (IP) chemotherapy has shown significant survival benefits, the ability to successfully deliver IP chemotherapy has been limited. In GOG 172, surgically-placed IP catheters had a reported complication rate of 34%. In addition, IP catheters have to be placed surgically. We have developed a novel percutaneous placement technique for IP catheters in patients without ascites. ⋯ Thus far, our experience with percutaneous placement of IP catheters is associated with a low risk of catheter-related complications and high technical success rates. CO(2) insufflation may make peritoneal puncture easier and potentially safer. This procedure offers an alternative to surgical placement, even in patients without clinically significant ascites.
-
Gynecologic oncology · Oct 2011
Plasma microparticles are not elevated in fresh plasma from patients with gynaecological malignancy--an observational study.
Gynaecological cancer is common. It is highly amenable to effective treatment, but thrombosis remains a common complication. There is controversy about whether microparticles (MPs), particularly tissue factor (TF) positive MPs, are increased in patients with malignancy and/or thrombosis. We therefore set out to investigate the relationship between MPs of different cellular origins, in patients with gynaecological malignancy. We hypothesised that patients with gynaecological malignancy have increased numbers of MPs. We measured MPs released by different cell types in these patients, and correlated the results with measures of haemostatic activation. ⋯ Using fresh samples, MPs were not significantly increased in patients with gynaecological malignancy. There was, however, evidence of haemostatic activation in the patients with malignancy, but no correlation between the number of MPs and haemostatic activation.
-
Gynecologic oncology · Oct 2011
Incidence of mechanical malfunction in low-profile subcutaneous implantable venous access devices in patients receiving chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies.
The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of mechanical complications associated with low-profile subcutaneous implantable venous access devices in gynecologic oncology patients. ⋯ The rates of catheter fracture and embolization have previously been reported to be low in patients with subcutaneous Port-a-Caths, and have not been studied in patients receiving low-profile subcutaneous Port-a-Caths. This study suggests that catheter fracture may be more common (8.7%) and must be considered in patients with malfunctioning low-profile Port-a-Caths. Embolized catheters can be removed by interventional radiology without significant adverse affects.
-
Gynecologic oncology · Oct 2011
Accuracy of diffusion-weighted echo-planar MR imaging and ADC mapping in the evaluation of residual cervical carcinoma after radiation therapy.
The impact of diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of MR imaging on the evaluation of residual Uterine Cervical Carcinoma after Radiation Therapy, in addition to conventional MR images. ⋯ Although our results were not statistically significant, ADC values could potentially be used to predict and monitor the response of uterine cervical cancer.