Uterine cervical neoplasms Archives - Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(6):248-253
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012000600002
PURPOSE: To verify whether women with atypias of undetermined significance and precursor lesions or invasive cervical outcomes were referred to Medium Complexity Units (MCU) following the guidelines recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. METHODS: Retrospective study based on the cytopathological outcomes of users of the Unified Health System, seen at Basic Health Assistance Units (BHAU) and referred to MCUs in the municipality of Goiânia, state of Goiás, from 2005 to 2006. We assessed 832 records according to the recommendations of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, as established by the Brazilian Nomenclature for Cervical Cytopathologic Outcomes and Recommended Clinical Practice. To check the distribution of variables such as reasons for referral, results of colposcopy and histopathology and clinical procedures we calculated absolute and relative frequencies, mean, minimum and maximum values. RESULTS: We understood 72.7% of the referrals were not in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. There were 605 women with test results classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, possibly non-neoplasms, and squamous intraepithelial lesion of low level which were sent to MCU, and of these 71.8% were submitted to colposcopy, and 64.7% had histopathological examination which results were classified as 31.0% with non-neoplasms and 44.6% as NIC I. Out of 211 women with results classified as more severe squamous lesions, 86.3% were submitted to colposcopy and 68.7% of these had histopathological examinations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed high rates of inappropriate referrals to MCU, which required a high percentage of unnecessary procedures. The recommendations of the Ministry of Health were followed by BHAU and the majority of women received counseling/treatment as recommended.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2012;34(6):248-253
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032012000600002
PURPOSE: To verify whether women with atypias of undetermined significance and precursor lesions or invasive cervical outcomes were referred to Medium Complexity Units (MCU) following the guidelines recommended by the Brazilian Ministry of Health. METHODS: Retrospective study based on the cytopathological outcomes of users of the Unified Health System, seen at Basic Health Assistance Units (BHAU) and referred to MCUs in the municipality of Goiânia, state of Goiás, from 2005 to 2006. We assessed 832 records according to the recommendations of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, as established by the Brazilian Nomenclature for Cervical Cytopathologic Outcomes and Recommended Clinical Practice. To check the distribution of variables such as reasons for referral, results of colposcopy and histopathology and clinical procedures we calculated absolute and relative frequencies, mean, minimum and maximum values. RESULTS: We understood 72.7% of the referrals were not in accordance with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. There were 605 women with test results classified as atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, possibly non-neoplasms, and squamous intraepithelial lesion of low level which were sent to MCU, and of these 71.8% were submitted to colposcopy, and 64.7% had histopathological examination which results were classified as 31.0% with non-neoplasms and 44.6% as NIC I. Out of 211 women with results classified as more severe squamous lesions, 86.3% were submitted to colposcopy and 68.7% of these had histopathological examinations. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study revealed high rates of inappropriate referrals to MCU, which required a high percentage of unnecessary procedures. The recommendations of the Ministry of Health were followed by BHAU and the majority of women received counseling/treatment as recommended.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(10):305-309
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011001000006
PURPOSE: to investigate the micronucleation (MN) of exfoliated cells from the uterine cervix of HIV+ women according to immunocompetence status. We investigated the clinical conditions of immunocompetence by analyzing the levels of CD4+ lymphocytes and viral count for HIV (VC). METHODS: biological material was collected from 23 HIV+ patients whose cervical oncologic cytology results were negative. They were patients from the STD/AIDS-FCMS-PUCSP who underwent a cytobrush collection in the squamous columnar junction. Similar material was obtained from 19 healthy control women. The material, about 2000 cells per patient, was processed for cytology using light microscopy and an immersion objective. To analyze the immunological status of HIV+ patients we used CD4+ count and VC. Statistical analysis was performed using the Χ2 and Kolmorogov-Smirnov tests. RESULTS: twenty-three pacients composed the group of HIV+ women and 19 composed the control group. We found micronuclei (MN) in all HIV+ patients and in 84.2% of the control group. In 17 73.9% of the HIV+ patients and in 5.2% of the control group we found more than 7 MN cells. MN tended to occur more among women with poorer immunological status in the HIV+ group. CONCLUSIONS: HIV+ patients in the AIDS phase have a higher prevalence of micronucleated cells, as opposed to a control group. Also, the frequency of MN was associated with worse conditions of immunosuppression.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(10):305-309
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011001000006
PURPOSE: to investigate the micronucleation (MN) of exfoliated cells from the uterine cervix of HIV+ women according to immunocompetence status. We investigated the clinical conditions of immunocompetence by analyzing the levels of CD4+ lymphocytes and viral count for HIV (VC). METHODS: biological material was collected from 23 HIV+ patients whose cervical oncologic cytology results were negative. They were patients from the STD/AIDS-FCMS-PUCSP who underwent a cytobrush collection in the squamous columnar junction. Similar material was obtained from 19 healthy control women. The material, about 2000 cells per patient, was processed for cytology using light microscopy and an immersion objective. To analyze the immunological status of HIV+ patients we used CD4+ count and VC. Statistical analysis was performed using the Χ2 and Kolmorogov-Smirnov tests. RESULTS: twenty-three pacients composed the group of HIV+ women and 19 composed the control group. We found micronuclei (MN) in all HIV+ patients and in 84.2% of the control group. In 17 73.9% of the HIV+ patients and in 5.2% of the control group we found more than 7 MN cells. MN tended to occur more among women with poorer immunological status in the HIV+ group. CONCLUSIONS: HIV+ patients in the AIDS phase have a higher prevalence of micronucleated cells, as opposed to a control group. Also, the frequency of MN was associated with worse conditions of immunosuppression.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):238-245
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500006
PURPOSE: to compare the coverage of conventional Papanicolaou cytology in women aged 15 to 59 years between two home surveys, related to some personal attributes and to the tendency to die from cervical cancer. METHODS: we analyzed data collected in two home surveys, with complex sampling, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, over the years from 1987 to 2001 and 2002. The self-reported answers of 968 women in the first inquiry and of 1,125 women in the second inquiry were compared regarding the reply to the question about the execution of the Papanicolaou test "sometimes in a lifetime" in relation to age distribution, black skin, marital status, years of education and tendency to die because cervical cancer during the period from 1980 to 2007. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the sample regarding each item, with the level of significance set at p value >5%. RESULTS: from the first to the second inquiry there was a 24% increase in the execution of conventional Papanicolaou cytology (from 68.8% to 85%). The greatest variations in the increased coverage related to the personal attributes of the women were detected in black skin color, among single women and among women of lower schooling. Regarding the tendency to mortality rates due to cervical cancer, no clear ascending or declining tendency was observed along the 28 years studied (1980 to 2007). CONCLUSION: there was an increase in access to the cytological Papanicolaou test among the most vulnerable women. Since 2001 and 2002, the 85% coverage already reached WHO recommendation, although without a clear trend of decline in mortality due to cervical cancer in the following years, indicating that screening is only part of an effective and organized program for the control of cervical cancer, whose model must guarantee full women's health care.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(5):238-245
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000500006
PURPOSE: to compare the coverage of conventional Papanicolaou cytology in women aged 15 to 59 years between two home surveys, related to some personal attributes and to the tendency to die from cervical cancer. METHODS: we analyzed data collected in two home surveys, with complex sampling, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, over the years from 1987 to 2001 and 2002. The self-reported answers of 968 women in the first inquiry and of 1,125 women in the second inquiry were compared regarding the reply to the question about the execution of the Papanicolaou test "sometimes in a lifetime" in relation to age distribution, black skin, marital status, years of education and tendency to die because cervical cancer during the period from 1980 to 2007. The Fisher exact test was used to compare the sample regarding each item, with the level of significance set at p value >5%. RESULTS: from the first to the second inquiry there was a 24% increase in the execution of conventional Papanicolaou cytology (from 68.8% to 85%). The greatest variations in the increased coverage related to the personal attributes of the women were detected in black skin color, among single women and among women of lower schooling. Regarding the tendency to mortality rates due to cervical cancer, no clear ascending or declining tendency was observed along the 28 years studied (1980 to 2007). CONCLUSION: there was an increase in access to the cytological Papanicolaou test among the most vulnerable women. Since 2001 and 2002, the 85% coverage already reached WHO recommendation, although without a clear trend of decline in mortality due to cervical cancer in the following years, indicating that screening is only part of an effective and organized program for the control of cervical cancer, whose model must guarantee full women's health care.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(1):43-48
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000100007
The treatment options for pregnant patients with invasive cervical cancer (ICC) depend on gestational age, clinical stage and the patient's wishes. Some authors have reported cases of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery in these patients. The aim of this paper was to revisit this subject and to add a new case and review the literature. We report the case of a 30 year-old woman in the 24th week of gestation. She was diagnosed with ICC (squamous cell carcinoma grade 2), stage IIB (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics - FIGO). Nulliparous, the patient refused to interrupt the pregnancy. After meticulous counseling, the patient accepted treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin 75 mg/m² and vincristine 1 mg/m²) and subsequent evaluation of radical surgery concomitant to a cesarean section. Four complete cycles of chemotherapy were administered without delays or significant adverse effects. A few days before the date scheduled for surgery, the patient was admitted in advanced labor (37th week of gestation). Due to tumor clinical response, the obstetric team decided to monitor the labor, and the patient gave birth to a male newborn (2,450 g) uneventfully. Radical surgery was performed three days after birth, and histopathology analysis revealed carcinoma confined to the cervix without lymphatic involvement. Mother and son are in good general condition 12 months after delivery. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy during the second or third trimester of pregnancy appears to be a safe option for patients who do not wish to interrupt a pregnancy while awaiting fetal maturity. However, additional studies are needed to confirm the prognosis and assure the safety of newborns and patients.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2011;33(1):43-48
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032011000100007
The treatment options for pregnant patients with invasive cervical cancer (ICC) depend on gestational age, clinical stage and the patient's wishes. Some authors have reported cases of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical surgery in these patients. The aim of this paper was to revisit this subject and to add a new case and review the literature. We report the case of a 30 year-old woman in the 24th week of gestation. She was diagnosed with ICC (squamous cell carcinoma grade 2), stage IIB (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics - FIGO). Nulliparous, the patient refused to interrupt the pregnancy. After meticulous counseling, the patient accepted treatment with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (cisplatin 75 mg/m² and vincristine 1 mg/m²) and subsequent evaluation of radical surgery concomitant to a cesarean section. Four complete cycles of chemotherapy were administered without delays or significant adverse effects. A few days before the date scheduled for surgery, the patient was admitted in advanced labor (37th week of gestation). Due to tumor clinical response, the obstetric team decided to monitor the labor, and the patient gave birth to a male newborn (2,450 g) uneventfully. Radical surgery was performed three days after birth, and histopathology analysis revealed carcinoma confined to the cervix without lymphatic involvement. Mother and son are in good general condition 12 months after delivery. Cisplatin-based chemotherapy during the second or third trimester of pregnancy appears to be a safe option for patients who do not wish to interrupt a pregnancy while awaiting fetal maturity. However, additional studies are needed to confirm the prognosis and assure the safety of newborns and patients.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(8):368-373
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000800002
PURPOSE: to evaluate the agreement between conventional cytology using the Papanicolaou test, repeated at the time of colposcopy, with colposcopic and histopathological findings. METHODS: the study was carried out at the central public health laboratory of the state of Pernambuco between January and July, 2008, involving 397 women referred for colposcopic evaluation following an abnormal cervical smear test. Cytology was repeated at the time of colposcopy using conventional method, with particular attention being paid to the presence of abnormal colposcopic findings. The nomenclature used for cytology was the 2001 Bethesda system terminology, while that used for histology was the World Health Organization 1994 classification. Cytology performed at the time of colposcopy was compared with colposcopy and with histopathology obtained by colposcopy-directed biopsy. The Kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the agreement between methods, as well as the χ2 test, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: poor agreement was found between cytology performed at the time of colposcopy and colposcopic findings (K=0.33; 95%CI=0.21-0.45) and between colposcopy and histopathology (K=0.35; 95%CI=0.39-0.51). Cytology performed at the time of colposcopy compared with histopathology revealed a Kappa of 0.41 (95%CI=0.29-0.530), which was considered to reflect moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: agreement was better between cytology and histopathology than between colposcopy and cytology or between colposcopy and histopathology.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(8):368-373
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000800002
PURPOSE: to evaluate the agreement between conventional cytology using the Papanicolaou test, repeated at the time of colposcopy, with colposcopic and histopathological findings. METHODS: the study was carried out at the central public health laboratory of the state of Pernambuco between January and July, 2008, involving 397 women referred for colposcopic evaluation following an abnormal cervical smear test. Cytology was repeated at the time of colposcopy using conventional method, with particular attention being paid to the presence of abnormal colposcopic findings. The nomenclature used for cytology was the 2001 Bethesda system terminology, while that used for histology was the World Health Organization 1994 classification. Cytology performed at the time of colposcopy was compared with colposcopy and with histopathology obtained by colposcopy-directed biopsy. The Kappa coefficient was used to evaluate the agreement between methods, as well as the χ2 test, with the level of significance set at 5%. RESULTS: poor agreement was found between cytology performed at the time of colposcopy and colposcopic findings (K=0.33; 95%CI=0.21-0.45) and between colposcopy and histopathology (K=0.35; 95%CI=0.39-0.51). Cytology performed at the time of colposcopy compared with histopathology revealed a Kappa of 0.41 (95%CI=0.29-0.530), which was considered to reflect moderate agreement. CONCLUSIONS: agreement was better between cytology and histopathology than between colposcopy and cytology or between colposcopy and histopathology.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(8):386-392
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000800005
PURPOSE: to evaluate the incidence and direct economic impact of cervical cancer (CC) in Roraima, in 2009, and to analyze the epidemiological profile of patients with this disease. METHODS: the histopathologic reports issued in Roraima in 2009 were reviewed, as were hospital records of female patients under treatment for cancer. Clinical data and medical procedures related to CC were recorded. CC carriers were treated under expenses of the public Brazilian health system (SUS) in Roraima underwent an interview dealing with socio-economic topics. RESULTS: we registered 90 cases of CC and high grade pre-invasive lesions. Roraima has the highest incidence of CC of Brazil (46.21 cases/100,000 women), which is 3 times higher than that of breast cancer, comparable to low-income developing countries. The epidemiological profile shows patients with economic deprivation, social disadvantage, low education, early first intercourse (mean age is 13.8 years), and high parity (medium of 5.5 gestations). Among the patients included in this report, 71.7% had never been submited to a Pap smear, and ignorance about it was the main reported reason (47.4%). As a public health problem, the management of CC generates direct annual expenditures of more than R$ 600,000, with an average cost per patient of R$ 8,711. CONCLUSIONS: CC is the most common cancer among women from Roraima, and represents a serious public health problem in Roraima. Its high economic impact favors the implementation of preventive strategies from the standpoint of cost-effectiveness. The profile of patients reveals the ineffectiveness of preventive services in reaching patients with a socio-economic exclusion profile at high risk for cervical cancer.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(8):386-392
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000800005
PURPOSE: to evaluate the incidence and direct economic impact of cervical cancer (CC) in Roraima, in 2009, and to analyze the epidemiological profile of patients with this disease. METHODS: the histopathologic reports issued in Roraima in 2009 were reviewed, as were hospital records of female patients under treatment for cancer. Clinical data and medical procedures related to CC were recorded. CC carriers were treated under expenses of the public Brazilian health system (SUS) in Roraima underwent an interview dealing with socio-economic topics. RESULTS: we registered 90 cases of CC and high grade pre-invasive lesions. Roraima has the highest incidence of CC of Brazil (46.21 cases/100,000 women), which is 3 times higher than that of breast cancer, comparable to low-income developing countries. The epidemiological profile shows patients with economic deprivation, social disadvantage, low education, early first intercourse (mean age is 13.8 years), and high parity (medium of 5.5 gestations). Among the patients included in this report, 71.7% had never been submited to a Pap smear, and ignorance about it was the main reported reason (47.4%). As a public health problem, the management of CC generates direct annual expenditures of more than R$ 600,000, with an average cost per patient of R$ 8,711. CONCLUSIONS: CC is the most common cancer among women from Roraima, and represents a serious public health problem in Roraima. Its high economic impact favors the implementation of preventive strategies from the standpoint of cost-effectiveness. The profile of patients reveals the ineffectiveness of preventive services in reaching patients with a socio-economic exclusion profile at high risk for cervical cancer.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(1):39-46
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000100007
PURPOSE: to evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection and associated factors among women living in the "Baixada Fluminense", state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 2,056 women aged 25-59 years covered by the Family Health Program in the municipalities of Duque de Caxias and Nova Iguaçu, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. All women were submitted to the Papanicolaou and HPV detection tests in a single session by second-generation hybrid capture from December 2001 to July 2002. The prevalence of HPV was stratified by age, place of residence, schooling, smoking habit, and sexual and reproductive history. The prevalence rates associated with the studied variables were calculated by Multivariate Poisson regression. RESULTS: the prevalence of HPV was 12.3% and 5.0% for high-risk and low-risk HPV types, respectively. A reduction in high-risk HPV prevalence was observed with aging, with an increase in the 55-59 year age range. After adjusting for age, schooling, smoking, early sexual initiation and parity, high-risk HPV infection was associated with not living with a partner (1.4; 95%CI=1.1-1.8) and having more than one sexual partner (an increase of 1.4%; 95%CI=1.1-1.6, for each lifetime sexual partner). CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of HPV was lower than that reported in other Brazilians studies, most likely because our sample was population-based. HPV infection was associated only with factors related to sexual behavior, but the potential association between HPV infection and smoking still needs to be better understood. Further studies are needed to explore these issues, as well as postmenopausal increased infection rates, and to identify the most prevalent HPV types in the Brazilian population.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2010;32(1):39-46
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032010000100007
PURPOSE: to evaluate the prevalence of HPV infection and associated factors among women living in the "Baixada Fluminense", state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. METHODS: a cross-sectional study conducted on a sample of 2,056 women aged 25-59 years covered by the Family Health Program in the municipalities of Duque de Caxias and Nova Iguaçu, state of Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil. All women were submitted to the Papanicolaou and HPV detection tests in a single session by second-generation hybrid capture from December 2001 to July 2002. The prevalence of HPV was stratified by age, place of residence, schooling, smoking habit, and sexual and reproductive history. The prevalence rates associated with the studied variables were calculated by Multivariate Poisson regression. RESULTS: the prevalence of HPV was 12.3% and 5.0% for high-risk and low-risk HPV types, respectively. A reduction in high-risk HPV prevalence was observed with aging, with an increase in the 55-59 year age range. After adjusting for age, schooling, smoking, early sexual initiation and parity, high-risk HPV infection was associated with not living with a partner (1.4; 95%CI=1.1-1.8) and having more than one sexual partner (an increase of 1.4%; 95%CI=1.1-1.6, for each lifetime sexual partner). CONCLUSIONS: the prevalence of HPV was lower than that reported in other Brazilians studies, most likely because our sample was population-based. HPV infection was associated only with factors related to sexual behavior, but the potential association between HPV infection and smoking still needs to be better understood. Further studies are needed to explore these issues, as well as postmenopausal increased infection rates, and to identify the most prevalent HPV types in the Brazilian population.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2009;31(9):468-473
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032009000900008
The uterine cervix invasive carcinoma represents a major public health problem, mainly in the developing countries. Its treatment, based on radical hysterectomy, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy presents a considerable morbidity. Prognostic markers should be taken into consideration in the therapeutic planning, so that the results would be optimized, complications reduced, and patients' survival prolonged. Accepted prognostic markers are: stage, tumoral size, histological type, degree of differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, depth of the stromal invasion, presence of lymph nodal metastases, and surgical margins involvement. This study aims at making a literature review concerning the use of theses markers in the therapeutic planning of women with uterine cervix invasive carcinoma. The treatment based on these markers may present better results, with lower ratio of complications and an improvement in the patients' survival.
Summary
Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia. 2009;31(9):468-473
DOI 10.1590/S0100-72032009000900008
The uterine cervix invasive carcinoma represents a major public health problem, mainly in the developing countries. Its treatment, based on radical hysterectomy, radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy presents a considerable morbidity. Prognostic markers should be taken into consideration in the therapeutic planning, so that the results would be optimized, complications reduced, and patients' survival prolonged. Accepted prognostic markers are: stage, tumoral size, histological type, degree of differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, depth of the stromal invasion, presence of lymph nodal metastases, and surgical margins involvement. This study aims at making a literature review concerning the use of theses markers in the therapeutic planning of women with uterine cervix invasive carcinoma. The treatment based on these markers may present better results, with lower ratio of complications and an improvement in the patients' survival.
