Vascular stent as a treatment for refractory cervical stenosis

Cervical stenosis is a clinical condition involving partial or complete obstruction of the endocervical canal.In 1996,Bauldauf proposed that the definition of cervical stenosis is a cervical canal into which a 2.5# Hegar dilator cannot be inserted.1 Acquired cervical stenosis can be a complication of surgical procedures such as conization,trachelectomy,and curettage.It is a serious complication because of the clinical repercussions,which can include amenorrhea,hematometra,dysmenorrhea,infertility,infection,and endometriosis.Various surgical techniques are used in dilation and cervix reconstruction.However,in some cases,unsuccessful dilation with refractory recurrent stenosis may lead to hysterectomy.A successful case in which a self-expanding nitinol vascular stent was used to treat cervical stenosis was described by Grund et al.2 Here we report two additional cases in which vascular stents were used to treat patients with recurrent cervical stenosis after cervical surgeries.

Influence of developmental cervical stenosis on dural sac space

Background This retrospective study aimed to investigate the difference of the intra-dural reserving space for spinal cord in magnetic resonance imaging （MRI） between patients with and without developmental cervical stenosis and its clinical significance.Methods A total of 264 patients with cervical spondylotic myelopathy who had decompression surgeries were recruited.The average follow-up was 29 months.Based on their lateral radiographs,they were divided into stenosis group and non-stenosis group.On the magnetic resonance images,the ratio of the sagittal diameter of the dural sac to that of the vertebral body was measured and calculated as MRI Pavlov ratio at the mid-vertebral level on T2-weighted sagittal images from C3 to C7.The ratio of the transverse area of the spinal cord to that of the dural sac was measured and calculated as occupation ratio on T2-weighted axial images at the same levels.The MRI Pavlov ratio and occupation ratio were compared between the two groups.The stenosis group was further divided into space-reserving and non-space-reserving subgroups based on the occupation ratios; then clinical parameters were compared between the two subgroups to determine the clinical significance of the reserving space.Results The MRI Pavlov ratio of the stenosis group was significantly smaller than that of the non-stenosis group at C3-C7 （P ＜0.01）,while the occupation ratio was significantly larger only at C7 （P ＜0.05）.For the space-reserving subgroup,the postoperative recovery rate was lower （P ＜0.05）.The postoperative recovery rate was （23±6）％ in anterior approach,larger than （-23±15）％ in posterior approach （P ＜0.05）.Conclusions Developmental cervical stenosis is associated with a smaller sagittal diameter of the dural sac,but does not lead to a significant decrease in intra-dural space available for the cord.For patients with normal intra-dural space,the recovery after anterior decompression surgery was better than posterior approach.

Diagnosis Experience of Patients with Cervical, Thoracic and Lumbar Multi-Segment Spinal Stenosis: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background: The incidence of cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal canal stenosis is low. It is difficult to identify the main focus and responsible segment, and it is also difficult to select the sequence of staging surgery. We report a patient with triple stenosis. Case Presentation: In this paper, we introduced a 61-year-old female patient with cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal canal stenosis who had previously undergone “lumbar discectomy” in the outer hospital. The postoperative effect was not good and the symptoms were poor. The diagnosis was “cervical spinal stenosis and lumbar postoperative surgery”. The staged spinal canal decompression operation and Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJSD) treatment were conducted in our hospital. After three months of follow-up, the functional and imaging results were satisfactory. Conclusions: The main focus and responsible spinal segment should be determined by the comprehensive analysis of medical history, signs, and images. Surgery combined with Chinese herbal medicine DHJSD therapy may be an effective treatment for this kind of disease.

Endometrial squamous cell carcinoma originating from the cervix: A case report

BACKGROUND Cervical squamous cell carcinoma(SCC)is the most common type of cervical carcinoma and is generally derived from a precancerous stage called cervical high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion(HSIL).Usually,the cancer metastasizes through lymphatic or hematogenous dissemination,but rarely spreads upward into the uterus.Here,we report a case of cervical HSIL extending into the endometrium and finally progressing to SCC in the uterine cavity.CASE SUMMARY A 57-year-old postmenopausal woman visited our department and requested a routine cervical check-up.Four years ago,she had undergone a cervical loop electrosurgical excision procedure because of HSIL found during the gynecological examination,and she had not been checked again since.This time,a relapse of the cervical HSIL was diagnosed along with uterine pyometra and endometrial polyps.After 2 wk of antibiotic treatment,a laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed,and the final pathological examination revealed that the cervical HSIL had spread directly upward into the uterine cavity,gradually developing into cervical SCC in the endometrium.CONCLUSION Cervical HSIL/SCC can directly spread upward into the uterus with the most common symptoms of pyometra and cervical stenosis.More attention should be given to the early detection and prevention of this disease.

Induction of total laparoscopic hysterectomy adopted the marionette technique in peri-menopausal and post-menopausal CIN3 patients

Objective:When performing cervical conization in post-menopausal cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 3(CIN3)patients,the positive rate of endocervical cone margin and the incidence of postoperative cervical stenosis increase.This study summarized a 4-year experience of total laparoscopic hysterectomy as a treatment option for peri-menopausal and post-menopausal CIN3 patients at a single institution.Furthermore,it shared the refinement strategies used during the surgery.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the medical records of CIN3 patient aged45 years and who underwent open or laparoscopic hysterectomy at our institution from January 1,2017 to December 31,2020.Totally,30 CIN3 patients were enrolled and divided into abdominal hysterectomy group and laparoscopic hysterectomy based on surgery method,with 5 patients and 25 patients respectively.Results:Compared to the abdominal hysterectomy group,the perioperative blood loss(20 mL vs.220 mL,p=0.004)was less and the duration of in-hospital stay(7 d vs.11 d,p<0.001)were significantly shorter in the laparoscopic hysterectomy group.However,no significant differences in age at hysterectomy(53 y vs.77 y,p=0.054)and operative time(154.4±27.8 min vs.161.0±62.4 min,p=0.826)were observed between them.Diagnostic conization was performed in advance for 12 patients,and among them,10(83.3%)patients had positive endocervical cone margin.Postoperative intestinal obstructionwas noted in one abdominal hysterectomy patient,no other complications were observed in the remaining patients.Conclusion:Compared to conization,hysterectomy is more invasive;however,it is an acceptable treatment option for peri-menopausal and post-menopausal CIN3 patients.In such cases,opting for total laparoscopic hysterectomy adopted the marionette technique might be preferable because the procedure is less invasive.

Imaging Features of Symptomatic Radiation-induced Cervical Artery Stenosis

Recently,the survival rate of head and neck cancer patients has increased with the improvement of radiotherapy （RT） technology and comprehensive treatment.Cancer survivors after RT are at increased risk for cerebrovascular events. Radiation-induced cervical artery stenosis （RICAS） has its own characteristics compared with those lesions without a history of RT.