Sentinel Lymph Node Identification in Endometrial Cancer

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the feasibility of intra-operativedetection of sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) in the patient withendometrial cancer (EC).METHODS Thirty-one patients with Stage Ⅰ and Ⅱ endometrialcancer, who underwent a hysterectomy and a lymphadenectomy,were enrolled in the study. At laparotomy, methylene blue dyetracer was injected into the subserosal myometrium of corpusuteri at multiple sites, and dye uptake into the lymphatic channelswas observed. The blue nodes which were identified as SLNs weretraced and excised. The other nodes were then removed. All of theexcised nodes were submitted for pathological hematoxylin andeosin (H&E) staining examination.RESULTS Failure of dye uptake occurred in 4 of the 31 cases(12.9%) because of spillage, and no lymphatic coloration wasobserved there. Lymphatic staining was clearly observable as bluedye diffused to the lymphatic channels of the uterine surface andthe infundibulopelvic ligaments in 27 (87.1%) cases. Concurrentcoloration in the pelvic lymphatic vessels was also observed in 22of the 27 patients. The SLNs were identified in 23 of the 27 (85.2%)cases with a lymphatic staining, with a total number of 90 SLNs,and a mean of 3.9 in each case (range, 1-10). Besides one SLN (1.1%)in the para-aortic area, the other 89 (98.9%) were in the nodes ofthe pelvis. The most dense locations of SLNs included obturator in38 (42.2%) and interiliac in 19 (21.1%) cases. In our group, pelviclymphadenectomy was conducted in 27 (87.1%) patients andpelvic nodal sampling in 4 (12.9%). Of the 31 cases, a concurrentabdominal para-aortic lymph node sampling was conducted in7. A total of 926 nodes were harvested, with an average of 39.8 ineach case (range, 14-55). Nodal metastases occurred in 3 patients(9.7%), 2 of them with SLN involvement and the other withoutSLN involvement. Adverse reactions or injury related to the studywas not found.CONCLUSION Application of methylene blue dye is feasible inan intra-operative SLN identification of endometrial cancer. Thetechnology is convenient, safe, and worth further investigation.

Studies of Differentially-Expressed Genes in Human Endometrial Cancer of Various Differentiated Grades

OBJECTIVE To study the gene expression profiles of human endometrial cancers at various differentia0ted grade levels and to identify the genes related to differentiation of the endometrial cancers. METHODS cDNA microarray technology was used to analyze the differentially-expressed genes among different differentiated grades of 32 cases of endometrial cancer. Hierarchical cluster analysis （HCA） for the gene expression profiles of the cases was employed. RESULTS The tissue samples were grouped based on the various differentiated tumor grades with 33 differentiation-related genes identified out （P〈0.001）. Based on the results from the HCA, the conformity rate was 91% among the 33 differentially-expressed genes, and the analysis of pathological classification.CONCLUSION Genes related to the differentiation of endometrial cancer can be identified by using gene chips to analyze the expression profiles of endometrial cancers at various differentiated grades; HCA of the gene expression profiles can be helpful for distinguishing high-risk endometrial cancers before surgery.

Uterine tumor resembling an ovarian sex cord tumor:A case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND Endometrial stromal tumors originate from the endometrial stroma and account for<2%of all uterine tumors.Uterine tumor resembling an ovarian sex cord tumor(UTROSCT)is a rare histological class of endometrial stromal and related tumors according to the latest World Health Organization classification of female genital tumors.Here,we report a case of UTROSCT in a 51-year-old woman.CASE SUMMARY A 51-year-old woman had irregular menses for 6 mo.The patient visited a local hospital for vaginal bleeding.Pelvic computed tomography(CT)showed a mass in the pelvic cavity.Five days later,she came to our hospital for further diagnosis.The results of contrast-enhanced CT and pelvic ultrasound at our hospital suggested a malignant pelvic tumor.She then underwent total removal of the uterus with bilateral salpingectomy.Postoperative histological examination showed that the tumor cells had abundant cytoplasm,ovoid and spindle-shaped nuclei,fine chromatin,a high nucleoplasm ratio,and a lamellar distribution.The findings were consistent with UTROSCT,and the results of immunohistochemical analysis supported that diagnosis.The tumor was International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB.No adjuvant therapy was administered after radical surgery.The patient was followed up for 58 mo,and no recurrence was found.CONCLUSION We report a case of UTROSCT with abnormal menstruation as a symptom,which is one of the most common symptoms.In patients with vaginal bleeding,ultrasonography can be used as a screening test because of its convenience,speed,and lack of radiation exposure.For patients with long-term tamoxifen use,routine monitoring of the endometrium is recommended.As UTROSCT may have low malignant potential,surgery remains the primary management strategy.Additionally,fertility preservation in patients of childbearing age is a vital consideration.