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Abstract Introduction The utilization of metal shields in intensity-modulated brachytherapy (IMBT) enables the modulation of the dose, resulting in improved conformance to the tumor while simultaneously reducing the doses to organs at risk (OARs). Utilizing higher-energy sources like 60Co in IMBT for cervical and vaginal cancers has consistently posed challenges. This study evaluates the dosimetric aspects of modified applicators designed for IMBT using 60Co and 192Ir sources. Materials and Methods GATE, a Geant4-based simulation code, was utilized to model and simulate four distinct applicators. The clinical applicators were redesigned to place the structure of the source tube and the shield while keeping the general characteristics unchanged. These shields were evaluated by calculating transmission factors (TFs) and the dose homogeneities were also determined. Result Transmission factors for the IMBT technique in redesigned intrauterine applicators and tungsten shields for iridium and cobalt sources were at least 12.8 and 65.4%, and these values were obtained for the intravaginal applicator at 0.2 and 7.0%, respectively. The dose homogeneities for all combinations of radionuclide-shield were within a 15% range of the non-IMBT applicators. Conclusion This study has quantitatively evaluated the dosimetric effect of tungsten shields in the IMBT technique for cervical and vaginal cancer using cobalt sources. 192Ir compared to 60Co resulted in higher effectiveness for the designed intrauterine and intravaginal shields. while implementing tungsten shields in the redesigned applicators against the 60Co source may not offer complete protection, it does show promising results in reducing the dose to organs at risk.

Abstract Objective This study aimed to establish the dose-response relationship between volume base dose and tumor local control for vaginal cancer, including primary vaginal cancer and recurrent gynecologic malignancies in the vagina. Materials and methods We identified studies that reported volume base dose and local control by searching the PubMed, the Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library Database through August 12, 2023. The regression analyses were performed using probit model between volume based dose versus clinical outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed according to stratification: publication year, country, inclusion time of patients, patients with prior radiotherapy, age, primaries or recurrent, tumor size, concurrent chemoradiotherapy proportion, dose rate, image modality for planning, and interstitial proportion. Results A total of 879 patients with vaginal cancer were identified from 18 studies. Among them, 293 cases were primary vaginal cancer, 573 cases were recurrent cancer in the vagina, and 13 cases were unknown. The probit model showed a significant relationship between the HR-CTV (or CTV) D90 versus the 2-year and 3-year local control, P values were 0.013 and 0.014, respectively. The D90 corresponding to probabilities of 90% 2-year local control were 79.0 GyEQD2,10 (95% CI: 75.3–96.6 GyEQD2,10). Conclusions A significant dependence of 2-year or 3-year local control on HR-CTV (or CTV) D90 was found. Our research findings encourage further validation of the dose-response relationship of radical radiotherapy for vaginal cancer through protocol based multicenter clinical trials.

Hematocolpos is a rare pathological condition of the Female Reproductive System. This process is associated with vaginal obstruction and is characterized by a violation of the normal evacuation of secretions from the uterine cavity. This pathology is more often encountered by pediatric gynecologists who diagnose anomalies in the development of female genital organs. In peri- and postmenopausal women obstructive disorders are extremely rare and are associated with hormonal changes or previous interventions.The article presents a rare clinical case of hematocolpos as a result of vaginal carcinoma in postmenopausal woman.

Abstract Introduction Vaginal metastasis from colorectal cancer is a rare occurrence, typically associated with other metastatic lesions. Isolated metastasis is exceedingly uncommon, with only a few cases documented in the literature. Vaginal involvement in colorectal cancer primarily results from direct contiguous spread from the primary tumor. Case presentation We present the case of a 70-year-old African woman diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the middle rectum. She underwent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and subsequent anterior resection. After 2 months, an isolated metastasis of rectal cancer was identified in the lower third of the left vaginal wall, confirmed by biopsy. Colonoscopy ruled out colorectal recurrence. Thoraco-abdominal computed tomography scan showed no distant metastases. The patient underwent abdominoperineal resection, removing the lateral and posterior vaginal wall with free macroscopic margins and a definitive colostomy. The final histopathological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma of the vagina, measuring 5 × 4.5 cm. The rectal wall was extrinsically invaded by the tumor down to the muscularis propria while respecting the rectal mucosa. Resection margins were negative. The patient was discharged 1 week postoperation with no complications. Adjuvant chemotherapy was indicated, and the patient is currently tolerating the treatment well. Conclusion Vaginal metastases from colorectal cancer are extremely rare. A vigilant gynecological examination is recommended during the follow-up of colorectal cancer patients. Diagnosis can be challenging, especially if the metastatic lesion is small and asymptomatic, even after standard radiological examination. Surgical resection followed by chemotherapy is a valid option for patients with early isolated metastases.

Abstract Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer and other diseases. Dynamic transmission models (DTMs) have been developed to evaluate the health and economic impacts of HPV vaccination. These models typically include many parameters, such as natural history of the disease, transmission, demographic, behavioral, and screening. To ensure the accuracy of DTM projections, it is important to parameterize them with the best available evidence. This study aimed to identify and synthesize data needed to parametrize DTMs on the natural history of HPV infection and related diseases. Parameters describing data of interest were grouped by their anatomical location (genital warts, recurrent respiratory papillomatosis, and cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, head and neck, and penile cancers), and natural history (progression, regression, death, cure, recurrence, detection), and were identified through a systematic literature review (SLR) and complementary targeted literature reviews (TLRs). The extracted data were then synthesized by pooling parameter values across publications, and summarized using the range of values across studies reporting each parameter and the median value from the most relevant study. Data were extracted and synthesized from 223 studies identified in the SLR and TLRs. Parameters frequently reported pertained to cervical cancer outcomes, while data for other anatomical locations were less available. The synthesis of the data provides a large volume of parameter values to inform HPV DTMs, such as annual progression rates from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 to CIN 2+ (median of highest quality estimate 0.0836), CIN 2 to CIN 3+ (0.0418), carcinoma in situ (CIS) 2 to local cancer+ (0.0396), and regional to distant cancer (0.0474). Our findings suggest that while there is a large body of evidence on cervical cancer, parameter values featured substantial heterogeneity across studies, and further studies are needed to better parametrize the non-cervical components of HPV DTMs.

Introduction: Vaginal cancer is a rare gynecologic malignancy. While in a localized disease, concurrent chemoradiation grants local control and better overall survival, in a metastatic setting, the management options are very limited. Furthermore, recurrent cervical, vulvar, and vaginal carcinomas notoriously develop resistance to treatment, and consequently, their prognosis is still poor. Case Presentation: We herein present the case of a woman with a nodal relapse of vaginal carcinoma, effectively treated with third-line immunotherapy. We will also provide a review of the literature on the new therapeutic strategies for advanced vaginal carcinoma, with a focus on pembrolizumab immunotherapy. Conclusion: Pembrolizumab might represent a promising option for the management of vaginal and vulvar cancer, but data to support its use in this setting are still lacking. This case highlights the need for further investigation and trial designs for this rare disease.

Background. Surgical treatment of locally advanced and recurrent malignant neoplasms of the female reproductive system is a difficult task requiring extensive multivisceral resections and exenteration. Minimally invasive access allows for less traumatic intervention and improved visualization, potentially leading to improved oncologic outcomes and fewer complications. Aim. To evaluate intraoperative and early postoperative results of laparoscopic pelvic exenterations. Materials and methods. 12 laparoscopic pelvic exenteration were performed between December 2022 and September 2023. Strict selection of patients for laparoscopic access was not performed. Local recurrence was noted in 8 patients, in 3 cases there was continued growth after chemoradiotherapy. 8 patients had a history of pelvic irradiation. 9 women had received drug therapy in the past. Results. Total exenteration was performed in 5 patients, anterior exenteration in 5 patients, and posterior exenteration in 2 patients. The average duration of the operation was 420.8±99.2 (300–625) minutes, the average volume of blood loss was 166.7±98.5 (100–400) ml. Significant postoperative complications (Clavien–Dindo grade III) were registered in two cases: pelvic abscess that required relaparoscopy and sanation, as well as intra-abdominal abscess – drained under ultrasound control. In one case on the 18th day after the surgical intervention a fatal outcome (Clavien–Dindo grade V) due to pulmonary embolism was registered. The median postoperative bed-day was 14.5 (8–32) days. Conclusion. Laparoscopic access for pelvic exenteration improves intraoperative and early postoperative results. It is necessary to further improve the techniques of this intervention and to define clear indications for its performance, which will allow to achieve better treatment results.

Introduction: Laparoendoscopic single-site inguinal lymphadenectomy (LESS-IL), a minimally invasive technique, has been reported in patients with vulvar or vaginal cancer regarding its safety and feasibility. However, the long-term outcomes, especially oncologic outcomes, are still lacking. We aimed to evaluate the long-term outcomes of LESS-IL to confirm its safety further. Patients and Methods: Data were prospectively collected from patients with vulvar or vaginal cancer who underwent LESS-IL at our institution between July 2018 and June 2021. The patients were followed up for at least 12 months. All procedures were performed according to treatment standards. Short- and long-term complications and oncologic outcomes were analysed. Results: A total of 16 patients undergoing 28 LESS-IL procedures were identified, amongst whom 4 underwent unilateral LESS-IL. The median numbers of excised groin lymph nodes were 9.0 (6.5–11.8) and 10.5 (8.3–12.0) in each left and right groin, respectively. Short-term complications occurred in 4 (25%) patients, including 18.7% lymphocele and 6.3% wound infection. Long-term complications regarding lower-limb lymphoedema appeared in 6 (37.5%) patients. Most short- and long-term complications were Clavien–Dindo 1 or 2, accounting for 90% of all post-operative issues. After a median follow-up of 27 (21.3–35.8) months, only 1 (6.3%) patient had isolated inguinal recurrence at 13 months postoperatively. No local or distant recurrence occurred. Conclusion: Our results suggest that LESS-IL is associated with little incidence of complications and promising oncologic outcomes, further demonstrating the safety and feasibility of the LESS-IL technique in patients requiring IL.

BackgroundSystemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects multiple systems. Patients with SLE are prone to a variety of malignancies, especially neoplasms of the female reproductive tract. Synchronous tumors, considered to involve multiple sites, are rare in the female reproductive tract. There are hardly any reports of SLE with synchronous reproductive tract tumors.Case presentationWe report the occurrence of two to three reproductive tract tumors in two women with SLE. A 52-year-old woman was diagnosed with vulvar cancer and cervical cancer. Another woman, aged 67, was diagnosed with concurrent vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer, and cervical cancer and also presented with a suspected lung cancer.ConclusionThe presence of synchronous tumors of the reproductive tract in patients with SLE is uncommon and can be easily disregarded. It is crucial to highlight that SLE patients with multiple primary malignancies exhibit notable late-stage presentation at the time of diagnosis, inadequate disease-free survival, poor overall survival, rapid progression rates, and mortality. Consequently, greater awareness must be raised regarding synchronous reproductive tract tumors in patients with SLE. Regular comprehensive cancer screening and management should be implemented for individuals diagnosed with SLE.

BackgroundPrimary vaginal cancer is a rare condition. Some studies have revealed an increased risk of vaginal cancer among patients who have undergone hysterectomy for premalignant and malignant cervical disease. However, there is limited literature available on primary vaginal cancer following hysterectomy for benign conditions.ObjectivesThis review aimed to investigate available evidence on clinical characteristics, treatments, and outcomes of primary vaginal cancer following hysterectomy for benign diseases. Additionally, we provide a case of a patient who developed primary vaginal cancer 10 years after undergoing hysterectomy for abnormal uterine bleeding.Search strategyWe conducted a comprehensive literature search on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science using a combination of title and abstract represented by “hysterectomy”, and “vaginal cancer”; “vaginal neoplasm”; and “cancer of vagina”. No article type restrictions were applied.Main resultsEight studies with a total of 56 cases were included in this review. The main symptom observed was vaginal bleeding. Squamous cancer was found to be the most common type, followed by adenocarcinoma. The majority of vaginal cancer cases occurred approximately 10 years after undergoing hysterectomy. The most common location of the tumor was in the vaginal apex. The management approaches varied and details were available in 25 cases. Among these, 7 cases were treated with radiotherapy alone, 1 case received concurrent chemoradiation therapy, and the of rest of the cases underwent surgery as the primary treatment, with or without additional adjuvant therapy. Data of follow-up was available for 15 cases, with 2 cases resulting in death and 2 cases experiencing recurrence. The other cases were alive and well at the time of considered follow up.ConclusionPrimary vaginal cancer after hysterectomy for benign conditions is an extremely rare condition. It is essential to have high-level evidence to guide the screening and treatment strategy for this rare condition. A part of women who have undergone hysterectomy for benign disorders can benefit from vaginal cytology evaluation. It is reasonable to postpone the initial screening after surgery and to extend the interval between subsequent screenings. Further retrospective case-control trials are expected to determine which specific subgroups of patients mentioned above might most potentially benefit from screening. The treatment decision for vaginal cancer after hysterectomy is more favorable to radiotherapy-based management rather than surgery. Vaginal endometrioid adenocarcinoma may arise from the malignant transformation of endometriosis. More studies are expected to investigate the correlation between these two diseases.

Introduction: Primary vaginal cancer is infrequent, corresponding to 1–2% of all female genital tract cancer diagnoses.Treatment for vaginal cancer varies depending on tumor histology, size, location and staging, and may include one or more of the following: surgical excision, radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. All treatments negatively affect fertility/pregnancy outcomes.Pelvic radiation therapy, even in doses

Vaginal melanomas are extremely rare gynaecological malignancy with aggressive behavior resulting in poor outcome. The aetiology is not well understood so far. There is no standardized treatment owing to the extreme rarity of the disease, however surgical excision with adjuvant radiotherapy has been the widely practiced treatment. The role of lymphadenectomy is controversial. The six cases reported between November 2015 to November 2021 at the National cancer institute Sri Lanka were treated primarily by surgical excision including hysterocolpectomy, colpectomy, and wide local excision. Pelvic lymphadenectomy was not done in most cases. Only one patient has received adjuvant radiotherapy. Only one patient died during the follow-up and 2 had recurrences.

Abstract Background and purpose Chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by a brachytherapy (BT) boost is the standard of care for patients with locally advanced or recurrent gynecological cancer (LARGC). However, not every patient is suitable for BT. Therefore, we investigated the feasibility of an MR-guided SBRT boost (MRg-SBRT boost) following CRT of the pelvis. Material and methods Ten patients with LARGC were analyzed retrospectively. The patients were not suitable for BT due to extensive infiltration of the pelvic wall (10%), other adjacent organs (30%), or both (50%), or ineligibility for anesthesia (10%). Online-adaptive treatment planning was performed to control for interfractional anatomical changes. Treatment parameters and toxicity were evaluated to assess the feasibility of MRg-SBRT boost. Results MRg-SBRT boost was delivered to a median total dose of 21.0 Gy in 4 fractions. The median optimized PTV (PTVopt) size was 43.5ccm. The median cumulative dose of 73.6Gy10 was delivered to PTVopt. The cumulative median D2ccm of the rectum was 63.7 Gy; bladder 72.2 Gy; sigmoid 65.8 Gy; bowel 59.9 Gy (EQD23). The median overall treatment time/fraction was 77 min, including the adaptive workflow in 100% of fractions. The median duration of the entire treatment was 50 days. After a median follow-up of 9 months, we observed no CTCAE ≥ °II toxicities. Conclusion These early results report the feasibility of an MRg-SBRT boost approach in patients with LARGC, who were not candidates for BT. When classical BT-OAR constraints are followed, the therapy was well tolerated. Long-term follow-up is needed to validate the results.

Lu Zhang, Qing Wang, Hongwei Zhang, Yu Xie, Long Sui, Qing Cong Medical Center of Diagnosis and Treatment for Cervical Diseases, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Qing Cong; Long SuiMedical Center of Diagnosis and Treatment for Cervical Diseases, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86 15900798278; +86 13801788118Fax +86 21 33189900Email 151468770@qq.com; suilong@fudan.edu.cnPurpose: To examine the screening history of vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia (VaIN) and vaginal cancer.Patients and Methods: We included women with histologically confirmed VaIN or vaginal cancer by colposcopy-directed biopsy between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. The results of cytology, hrHPV, colposcopic examination and history of hysterectomy were retrospectively analysed.Results: A total of 26,432 colposcopies were performed during the study period, among which 2131 women (1835 [86.1%] with VaIN 1; 268 [12.6%] with VaIN 2/3; and 28 [1.3%] with vaginal cancer) were retrospectively studied. hrHPV test positivity was significantly higher than that of cytology for VaIN 1 (84.4% vs 67.3%; P < 0.001) and VaIN 2/3 (92.0% vs 79.9%; P < 0.001) but not for vaginal cancer (84.6% vs 78.6%; P = 0.73). Additionally, the concordance rates for colposcopic impression were 79.5%, 54.5%, and 92.8% for VaIN1, VaIN2/3, and vaginal cancer, respectively. All 372 patients had a history of hysterectomy, and 81.0% (282/348) of indications were related to cervical precancer and cancer. Although cytology test positivity was significantly higher in patients with hysterectomy than in patients without hysterectomy (76.2% vs 67.5%; P < 0.001), cytology combined with hrHPV can help to detect more than 95% of VaIN and vaginal cancer cases in both groups (96.2% for patients with hysterectomy and 96.5% for patients without hysterectomy).Conclusion: VaIN and vaginal cancer are not rare diseases. Although cytology was sensitive (67.5%– 76.2%) for detecting vaginal lesions regardless of hysterectomy, cytology combined with hrHPV improves detection accuracy up to 95% in both groups.Keywords: cytology, human papilloma virus, colposcopy, vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia, vaginal cancer

Michal Mleko,1 Kazimierz Pitynski,1 Elzbieta Pluta,2 Aleksandra Czerw,3,4 Katarzyna Sygit,5 Beata Karakiewicz,6 Tomasz Banas1 1Department of Gynecology and Oncology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland; 2Department of Radiotherapy, Maria Sklodowska–Curie Institute - Oncology Centre, Krakow, Poland; 3Department of Health Economics and Medical Law, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland; 4Department of Economic and System Analyses, National Institute of Public Health – NIH, Warsaw, Poland; 5Calisia University, Kalisz, Poland; 6Subdepartment of Social Medicine and Public Health, Department of Social Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, PolandCorrespondence: Tomasz BanasDepartment of Gynecology and Oncology, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 2nd Jakubowskiego Street, Krakow, PolandTel +48 12 424 8584Fax +48 12 424 8560Email tomasz.1.banas@uj.edu.plAbstract: Systemic inflammatory reaction (SIR) is an unfavorable prognostic factor in many malignancies and has a role in all stages of the neoplastic process: initiation, promotion, and disease progression. Analysis of SIR can be performed by assessing indicators (eg, lymphocyte-to-neutrophil, platelet-to-lymphocyte, and monocyte-to-neutrophil ratios) and products of neutrophils and lymphocytes (ie, the systemic immune-in&fllig;ammation index), or by examining the relationship between levels of C-reactive protein and albumin (based on the Glasgow Prognostic Score, modified Glasgow Prognostic Score, and C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio). Risk stratification is essential in the clinical management of cancer; hence, the evaluation of these factors has potential applications in the clinical management of patients with cancer and in the development of new therapeutic targets. This review summarizes the current knowledge on SIR indicators and presents their clinical utility in malignancies of the female genital organs.Keywords: breast cancer, cervical cancer, corpus uteri cancers, C-reactive protein, monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio, systemic inflammatory reaction, vulvar cancer, vaginal cancer

Objectives: The race, age, and region-stratified incidence of vulvar (VUC) and vaginal (VAC) cancers with different histology were unclear.Methods: Data was retrieved from the United States Cancer Statistics database. Average annual percent change (AAPC) and incidence rate ratio (IRR) were calculated.Results: Overall, VUC incidence increased from 18.3 (per 1,000,000 woman-years) to 19.6, but VAC incidence decreased from 5.6 to 4.4. VUC squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) incidence increased (AAPC, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.66–1.25), VUC adenocarcinoma (ADE) incidence stabilized (AAPC, −0.24; 95% CI, −1.44 to 0.98), and VUC other malignancies (OM) incidence decreased (AAPC, −1.31; 95% CI, −2.58 to −0.02). While VAC incidence decreased for any histology (AAPC, -0.63; 95% CI, −1.03 to −0.22; AAPC, −1.60; 95% CI, −2.80 to −0.39; and AAPC, −1.57; 95% CI, −2.24 to −0.89 for SCC, ADE, and OM). Similar trends were observed in most of the stratifications.Conclusion: VUC and VAC incidences varied by histology overall and within stratifications by race, age, and region. The incidence decreased for VUC and VAC with all histologies, except for the increasing VUC SCC incidence.

Vaginal cancer is a rare and uncommon disease that is rarely discussed. Although vaginal cancer traditionally occurs in older postmenopausal women, the incidence of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV)-induced cancers is increasing in younger women. Cervical cancer cells contain high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 and E7 proteins and inhibiting HPV gene expression leads the cells to stop proliferating and enter senescence. As E6, and E7 protein promoted the carcinogenesis mechanism, and here not only regulate the cellular degradation of P53, and pRb but also enhances the cell proliferation along with E6 protein targets the p53 for breakdown and subsequently promote the apoptotic cell death, and DNA repair inhibition, that is indispensable to the continue the lifecycle of the HPV. As a synchronous or metachronous tumor, vaginal cancer is frequently found in combination with cervical cancer. It is uncertain what causes invasive female vaginal organ cancer. HPV type 16 is the most often isolated HPV type in female vaginal organ cancers. Due to cancer’s rarity, case studies have provided the majority of etiologic findings. Many findings demonstrate that ring pessaries, chronic vaginitis, sexual behavior, birth trauma, obesity, vaginal chemical exposure, and viruses are all risk factors. Because of insufficient understanding and disease findings, we are trying to find the disease’s mechanism with the available data. We also address different risk factors, therapy at various stages, diagnosis, and management of vaginal cancer in this review.

HPV, or Human Papilloma Virus, has been the primary causative agent of genital warts and cervical cancer worldwide. It is a sexually transmitted infection mainly affecting women of reproductive age group, also infecting men and high-risk group individuals globally, resulting in high mortality. In recent years, HPV has also been found to be the major culprit behind anogenital cancers in both gender and oropharyngeal and colorectal cancers. Few studies have reported the incidence of HPV in breast cancers as well. For a few decades, the burden of HPV-associated malignancies has been increasing at an alarming rate due to a lack of adequate awareness, famine vaccine coverage and hesitancy. The effectiveness of currently available vaccines has been limited to prophylactic efficacy and does not prevent malignancies associated with post-exposure persistent infection. This review focuses on the current burden of HPV-associated malignancies, their causes and strategies to combat the growing prevalence of the cancers. With the advent of new technologies associated with treatment pertaining to therapeutic interventions and employing effective vaccine coverage, the burden of this disease may be reduced in the population.

Abstract Background The aim was to estimate the risk of subsequent extra-cervical Human Papillomavirus (HPV) related cancer in patients surgically treated for high grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN 2–3). This is the first study in Italy investigating the occurrence of extra-cervical tumors in this cohort of patients. Methods 3184 patients surgically treated for CIN2–3 since 1992 at the Department of Surgical Sciences of University of Torino were considered. The risk of HPV-related cancer was calculated as Standardized Incidence Ratio (SIR), using as expected values tumour age specific incidence of resident population. Results 173 second primary cancer (SCPs) were identified. SIR to develop cancer after treatment for CIN2–3 was 2.2 (CI 95% 1.89–2.50). Among these occurrences, 10 are in HPV related sites: 1 anus (SIR = 1.8; 0.04–10.0), 3 vagina (SIR = 12.4; 2.56–36.3), 1 vulva (SIR = 1.7; 0.04–9.59), 5 oropharynx (SIR = 8.5; 2.76–19.8). Significant risk has been also recorded for pulmonary (SIR = 3.1; 0.70–5.27) and bladder (SIR = 4.05; 1.10–10.56), with smoking as possible cofactor. We also found increased risk for breast (SIR = 2.4; 2.07–2.84) and ovarian cancers (SIR = 2.1; 1.13–3.49), probably due to an higher adherence to spontaneous and programmed screening programs. Conclusions Our study supports the hypothesis of an increased risk of HPV-related tumours for CIN treated patients, mostly for CIN3. It is conceivable the need of early diagnosis for these cancers in this higher-risk populations.

Reproductive system cancer is the most common female malignancy, accounting for 36.1 to 37.6 % of all gynecological cancers. The incidence rate of female reproductive system cancer continues to increase. Material and methods. The study was conducted in 2018 by interviewing 391 patients with breast cancer, 273 patients with cervical cancer, 30 patients with cancer of the vulva and 11 patients with vaginal cancer were interviewed. Results. The time period for making diagnosis lasted no longer than a week in 2.0 % of respondents with breast cancer, 5.9 % with vaginal tumor and 11.3 % with cervical cancer. A long period of cancer detection was the cause of advanced cancer (56.5 and 47.0 % of cases of breast and cervical cancer, 40.0 % of vulva and 11.6 % of vaginal cancer). Discussion. The majority of district oncologists and other allied healthcare professionals are not able to identify abnormalities caused by cancer. Physicians of municipal health care facilities are either completely unaware of the procedure for routing patients with suspected malignant neoplasm or simply cannot explain it to patients. Conclusions. Oncologists working in outpatient health care facilities and other allied healthcare professionals need a special methodical literature on cancer screening. It is necessary to optimize the routing scheme of patients with suspected malignant tumors with mandatory training of oncologists and other allied healthcare professionals on the routing of such patients.

Abstract Background Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a pre-requisite for cervical cancer, which represents the third most common cancer among women worldwide. A causal relationship also exists between HPV and cancer in other areas of the female reproductive system including the vagina and vulva. Whilst the incidence of vaginal cancer in the UK has remained relatively stable over the past 25 years, vulval cancer rates are increasing. A body of literature exists on the epidemiology and aetiology of vaginal and vulval cancer, but little is known about the economic burden. The objective of this study was to quantify the costs of treating these cancers on the National Health Service (NHS) in England. Methods Inpatient and outpatient episodes were derived from Hospital Episode Statistics (HES). Health Resource Group (HRG) tariffs and National Reference Costs were used to estimate the cost of treating pre-cancerous and invasive vaginal and vulval lesions in England. Results The study showed that for the 5 years from 2009/2010 to 2014/2015 the total cost associated with pre-cancerous and invasive vaginal and vulval lesions was over £14 million per year on average (95% of which was attributed to inpatient costs). Vulval cancer accounted for the largest proportion; an estimated 60% of the total cost (£8.82 million). On average 4316 patients per year in England were admitted to hospital and 912 patients attended outpatient settings for pre-cancerous and invasive disease of the vagina and vulva. Conclusion The results indicate that vaginal and vulval cancer cost the English health care system over £14 million per year. Given the causal role of HPV in a proportion of these cancers, preventative measures such as the national HPV immunisation programme have the potential to reduce the economic burden. To ensure optimal use of NHS resources, it is important that future economic evaluations of such preventative measures consider the full burden of HPV related disease.

Background: Vaginal cancer is rare, accounting for only about 2% of all cancers of the female reproductive organs, and it is a disease that is rarely encountered in routine clinical practice. Vaginal cancer is mainly treated with radiation therapy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). However, in stage I-II cases, when the lesion is confined to the upper third of the vagina, surgical treatment may include total hysterectomy and vaginal resection with an adequate resection margin. We report a case of stage I vaginal cancer diagnosed at 13 weeks of gestation. There are very few reports on the diagnosis and treatment of vaginal cancer during pregnancy, and it was difficult to decide on a treatment plan; therefore, we report on the course of treatment followed for this patient. Case presentation: The patient was a 38-year-old woman with a history of two pregnancies and zero births. The patient had thrombocytopenia and was diagnosed highly suspicious of myelodysplastic syndrome by bone marrow biopsy, and her platelet count remained at approximately 50,000/μL. At the time of the 11-week gestational checkup, a 4-cm pedunculated tumor was found in the right posterior vaginal fornix. Transvaginal tumor resection was performed at 13 weeks of gestation, and the patient was diagnosed with stage I vaginal cancer (squamous cell carcinoma). Because vaginal cancer was confined to the posterior vaginal wall fornix, radical surgery after abortion was suggested as a treatment plan. However, the patient strongly desired to continue the pregnancy, so the policy was to continue the pregnancy and follow-up. However, at 22 weeks of gestation, a recurrent tumor was found in the posterior fornix of the vagina. The lesion had invaded the paravaginal tissue, making radical surgery impossible. At 26 weeks of gestation, an elective cesarean section was performed because of giving priority to early therapeutic intervention to her recurrent vaginal cancer, and it was decided that CCRT with cisplatin would be administered from postpartum day 1. However, because of thrombocytopenia, chemotherapy could not be co-administered, and the treatment was completed with radiation alone. The therapeutic effect was partial response, but 13 weeks after the end of radiation therapy, we observed regrowth of the recurrent tumor and emergence of pelvic lymph node metastasis. The patient received palliative treatment but died 8 months after delivery due to a generally deteriorating condition, sepsis, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Conclusions: In cases of malignant tumors associated with pregnancy, treatment policies should consider the perinatal prognosis at the same time as treatment for malignant tumors, and gynecologic oncologists, obstetricians, and neonatologists, from the standpoint of their respective specialties, should thoroughly discuss the “curative effect of treatment for malignant tumors” and the “prognosis of the child after birth” and consider the treatment plan for each case.

Fanconi anaemia is a rare autosomal recessive disorder associated with bone marrow failure and congenital malformations. The impaired DNA repair pathways in Fanconi anaemia predispose patients to a high risk of cancers of squamous cell origin, particularly in the head and neck region. Cancers of the vagina and vulva are rare in Fanconi anaemia. Here, we report a case of a 44-year-old female with Fanconi anaemia who developed an ulcerated lesion on the clitoris that extended into the labia majora. A biopsy of the lesion showed well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was treated with wide local excision of the vulval lesion. The patient developed neutropenia post-procedure but recovered in one week time. We have followed up the patient regularly since the procedure. No further issues have been detected to date.

Estimates of medical care costs for cervical and other cancers associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) are higher in studies published in recent years than in studies published before 2012. The purpose of this report is (1) to review and summarize the recent cancer cost estimates and (2) to illustrate how the estimated cost-effectiveness of HPV vaccination might change when these recent cost estimates are applied. Our literature search yielded 6 studies that provided updated medical care cost estimates for 5 HPV-associated cancers. We found that applying the current cancer cost estimates had a notable impact on the estimated medical costs averted by HPV vaccination over an extended time frame (100 years), and a moderate impact on the estimated cost per quality-adjusted life year (QALY) gained by HPV vaccination. For example, for catch-up vaccination of teenagers and young adults, applying the more recent cancer costs reduced the estimated cost per QALY gained by about $12,400. The cost studies we identified in our literature review are up-to-date and based on reliable data sources from United States settings, and can inform future studies of HPV vaccination cost-effectiveness in the United States. However, careful consideration is warranted to determine the most appropriate cost values to apply.

Purpose: Due to the rarity of vaginal cancer, surgical treatment results, and postoperative complications have been poorly described in the literature. The aim of this study was to improve current knowledge about the incidence of hydronephrosis following the surgical treatment of vaginal cancer. Materials and methods: 32 patients with vaginal cancer of the middle and upper third were matched with 32 cervical cancer patients (stages I and II) for comparison of long-term urological postoperative complications. All patients underwent radical surgical treatment and all stage II patients underwent neoadjuvant radiotherapy. Results: Hydronephrosis had a significantly higher incidence in the vaginal cancer group (p = 0.04), with 14 patients (43.8%) being diagnosed with this complication compared to only 5 patients (15.6%) in the cervical cancer group. Among patients that received radiotherapy, 40.1% (n = 9) and 22.7% ( = 5) of vaginal, respectively cervical cancer patients were found with postoperative hydronephrosis. Conclusions: In vaginal cancer patients total colpectomy increases the risk of developing postoperative hydronephrosis, especially if neoadjuvant radiotherapy has been applied.

Abstract Background We encountered a woman with vaginal cancer that was associated with complete uterine prolapse and complicated by severe intrauterine adhesions. In this case report, we describe the clinical course and successful treatment of this rare condition. Case presentation A 78-year-old woman (gravida 10, para 2, abortion 8) with a 10-year history of uterine prolapse presented for evaluation of bleeding from an ulceration on the surface of the irreducibly prolapsed uterus. Biopsy of a mass on her vaginal wall led to a diagnosis of keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma. Her history of eight abortion procedures had resulted in severe intrauterine adhesions, preventing tandem insertion and intracavitary brachytherapy. She was also ineligible for surgery under general anesthesia + chemotherapy because of her advanced age and presence of arrhythmia. Therefore, we devised an extensive treatment plan involving high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy. This treatment successfully eliminated the squamous cell carcinoma as confirmed by biopsy with no recurrence or severe late complications. Conclusions We found that high-dose-rate interstitial brachytherapy may be a very effective therapeutic strategy for this condition with few adverse effects.

The role of sentinel lymph node detection was clearly demonstrated in patients diagnosed with gynecologic malignancies such as breast, endometrial, cervical or vulvar cancer. Therefore, the method provides an adequate staging of the disease with minimal postoperative complications when compared to classical extended lymphadenectomy. Recently, the method has been successfully reported in vaginal cancer patients. This is a literature review of the current papers published so far on the issue of sentinel lymph node detection in vaginal cancer patients. Although only few cases have been reported so far, it seems that sentinel lymph node biopsy in vaginal cancer patients represents a safe, effective and feasible method to diminish the rates of unnecessary extended lymph node dissection in vaginal cancer patients. However, due to the rarity of the disease in association with the low number of cases reported so far, the method is not part of the therapeutic standard protocol for this disease, larger studies still being needed.

Anna Louise Russell,1 Ben Haagsma,2 Thumuluru Kavitha Madhuri3,4 1Department of Gynae-Oncology, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, UK; 2Department of Histopathology, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, UK; 3Department of Gynaecological Oncology, Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Guildford, UK; 4Department of Experimental Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK Abstract: The presentation of a new vaginal lesion could represent a variety of diagnoses from benign warts to more sinister primary malignancies. Rarely, a new lesion could represent a metastatic deposit from a malignancy elsewhere in the body. Colonic carcinomas are the third most common malignancy, frequently metastasising to the liver and lung. There have been a small number of cases in the literature reporting vaginal metastases from colonic carcinoma and this is usually indicative of advanced disseminated disease. We present an interesting case of a 65-year-old female with a strong family history of bowel cancer who originally presented with a vaginal skin tag that was biopsied and found to be a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. The immunohistochemistry profile was cytokeratin (CK) 20 positive/CK 7 negative, highly suggestive of a bowel cancer primary. However, subsequent extensive radiological and endoscopic investigations failed to identify a colonic primary tumor. The vaginal lesion was successfully excised, and no systemic treatments were warranted. To date, no primary cancer has been identified; the patient remains asymptomatic with no clinical signs of disease recurrence 5 years following her initial diagnosis. This case represents a diagnostic dilemma between two very rare diagnoses of either a vaginal metastasis from an occult colonic primary tumor or a primary vaginal adenocarcinoma of endometrioid morphology demonstrating intestinal immunophenotype. Organizing colonic screening is recommended in view of the high risk of colonic adenocarcinoma. Keywords: skin tag, vaginal cancer, metastases, occult malignancy, colon cancer, villiform, intestinal villiform, endometrioid

Aim. To estimate the prevalence and trends of the long-term dynamics of morbidity and mortality associated with various manifestations of HPV infection in Russia in recent years. Materials and methods. We analyzed retrospective data with diagnostic codes related to cervical cancer, penile cancer, anal canal cancer, head and neck cancer (including the oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and larynx), anogenital (venereal) warts from the official statistic of cancer register and STIs using incidence and mortality rates in Russia between January 2007 and December 2016 and retrospective data with diagnostic codes related to cancer of the vulva and cancer of the vagina between January 2011 and December 2016. Based on the available data on the involvement of HPV in the occurrence of pathological changes, the annual generalized indices for HPV-associated neoplasms were calculated. Results. The estimated number of HPV-associated lesions in the Russian Federation for 2007-2016 amounted to 5 761 170 cases, of which 224 630 - among men and 5 536 540 - among women. The estimated number of deaths from HPV-associated cancers was 109 510 cases, of which 32 080 - among men and 77 430 - among women. The estimated incidence of HPV-associated cancers neoplasms during this period increased by 10% among the male population and by 22% among the female population, reaching 8.0 cases per 100 000 male population in 2016 and 25.2 cases per 100 thousand female population. The death rate from HPV-associated cancers did not change significantly, and in 2016 it was 4.9 cases per 100 thousand male population and 10.2 cases per 100 thousand female population. Conclusion. There is an increase in morbidity and stabilization of mortality rates from HPV-associated cancers for both female and male populations, and a decrease in the incidence of anogenital (venereal) warts.

We describe an extremely rare case of a 66-year-old woman with a vaginal epithelioid angiosarcoma. She presented with constitutional symptoms, pelvic pain, vaginal bleeding, and a violaceous vaginal lesion. A thorough gynaecological examination, tissue biopsy and imaging were crucial to establish an accurate diagnosis. With only 3 other cases reported in the literature, epithelioid angiosarcoma of the vagina seem to present late due to their nonspecific presentation and secluded location. Once diagnosed, optimal treatment is difficult to determine and together with the overly aggressive behaviour of these tumours, they are associated with a poor prognosis. To our knowledge, our case study and systematic literature review is the first to compare the management outcomes of epithelioid subtype angiosarcomas of the vagina. The rarity of this pathology contributes to diagnostic difficulties and lack of consensus regarding treatment of angiosarcomas of the vagina.

Early stage vaginal carcinomas are typically treated with radical surgical procedures or radiation therapy. Both modalities impair the reproductive ability of the patients. We hereby report a case of menstrual function preservation in a 24-year-old patient with an early-stage primary vaginal clear cell carcinoma. We treated the patient with intravaginal brachytherapy after appropriate laparoscopic surgical staging and separate transposition of the ovaries and tubes.The patient is now 6 years without any evidence of disease. She reports minor.complaints during sexual intercourse, while her menstruation and hormonic profile are normal.

Porphyria Cutanea Tarda (PCT) is a rare paraneoplastic syndrome. The effects of therapeutic ionizing radiation in patients with PCT are not well understood. We report the case of a 55 year-old woman with a past medical history significant for kidney transplant with rejection and removal on hemodialysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, porphyria cutanea tarda, undifferentiated connective tissue disease probably systemic lupus, and hepatitis C, who underwent curative chemoradiation treatment for a recurrent vaginal squamous cell carcinoma. There was no increased acute toxicity and active porphyria cutanea tarda improved over the course of radiation treatment and fully resolved within 1 year. However, there was significant myofibrotic late toxicity within the treated region.

Abstract Vaginal cancer is a rare entity. The evidence on its management resides mostly in clinical cases or small case series. Of the histological types, the most frequent is the squamous cell carcinoma, followed by adenocarcinoma. But what to do when identifying an even more infrequent sarcoma in a premenopausal woman? In this study, we describe the case of a 53-year-old woman presenting with metrorrhagia for two months, who was evaluated after an intense episode. A necrotic and ulcerative vaginal swelling was documented and then submitted to biopsy, which revealed a vaginal sarcoma. The patient was referred to radiation therapy with 50 Gy (aiming to control the symptoms and to cause tumor reduction for posterior pelvic exenteration with intraoperative radiotherapy) and developed an extra-pelvic metastization at the end of the treatment, which caused a fast negative outcome. Despite the initial poor prognosis, a chemo-irradiation or primary surgery regimen might have achieved (although with greater side effects) a better survival. This case-report entails a discussion about the strategies to manage vaginal sarcoma in advanced stage and in premenopausal women.

This case series describes the use of pelvic radiotherapy (RT) and MRI-based intracavitary brachytherapy (ICBT) for patients with small volume, early-stage, primary vaginal cancer. A customized pelvic MRI protocol with a vaginal cylinder in place (MRVC) was used to measure disease extent and tumor thickness (defined as distance from lateral/apical margin of tumor to cylinder surface) at time of diagnosis. Non-bulky tumors with initial (pre-RT) thickness ≤ 2 cm from the cylinder surface received pelvic RT followed by ICBT. Ten patients with FIGO stage I–II primary vaginal cancer treated with pelvic RT +/− cisplatin and ICBT at our institution between 1998 and 2008 were included. Initial tumor thickness measured on MRVC ranged from 0 to 2 cm. Initial tumor volume ranged from 0 to 9.8 cm3. Mean pelvic RT dose was 45 Gy. At the time of ICBT, 60% of patients had a complete response (cR) and 40% had a partial response (pR). No patients with a cR had a recurrence whereas one patient with a pR had a local recurrence following ICBT. For the entire cohort, the median follow-up time was 59.9 months (range: 15–153). The estimated 5-year overall survival, disease-specific survival, and local failure-free survival were 67%, 80%, and 90%, respectively. Among survivors, there were no late grade 3–4 toxicities. In this series of patients with small primary early-stage vaginal tumors, long term clinical outcomes were acceptable following RT and MRI-based ICBT, especially among those with a cR at time of brachytherapy.

Characteristics of diagnosis and treatment of different types of primary vaginal cancer are highlighted, the role and place of brachytherapy as independent method or combined treatment modality for this pathology is shown in the review. Epidemiological data on incidence of vaginal cancer in Russia are represented, presumptive mechanisms for development of the disease, risk factors, histological types, features of the course, clinical presentation, diagnostic algorithm are described. Treatment methods for primary vaginal cancer according to world standards such as surgery, radiotherapy and systemic drug therapy are covered. Specifics of radiological methods of treatment (low-dose rate and high-dose rate brachytherapy, including the combination with external beam radiotherapy) according to the stage of the disease, are shown in details. The results of several large foreign clinical trials for efficiency of different methods of radiotherapy are discussed. The combination of brachytherapy on primary tumor with external radiation therapy to the lymph nodes was confirmed to be the most effective modality. The conclusion on opportunities of different methods of radiotherapy in treatment of vaginal cancer was made.

Clinical ribonucleotide reductase (RNR) inhibitors have reinvigorated enthusiasm for radiochemotherapy treatment of patients with regionally advanced stage cervical cancers. About two-thirds of patients outlive their cervical cancer (1), even though up to half of their tumors retain residual microscopic disease (2). The National Cancer Institute Cancer Therapy Evaluation Program conducted two prospective trials of triapine–cisplatin–radiation to improve upon this finding by precisely targeting cervical cancer’s overactive RNR. Triapine’s potent inactivation of RNR arrests cells at the G1/S cell cycle restriction checkpoint and enhances cisplatin–radiation cytotoxicity. In this article, we provide perspective on challenges encountered in and future potential of clinical development of a triapine–cisplatin–radiation combination for patients with regionally advanced cervical cancer. New trial results and review presented here suggest that a triapine–cisplatin–radiation combination may offer molecular cell cycle target control to maximize damage in cancers and to minimize injury to normal cells. A randomized trial now accrues patients with regionally advanced stage cervical cancer to evaluate triapine’s contribution to clinical benefit after cisplatin–radiation (clinicaltrials.gov, NCT02466971).

The paper covers the most important topographic-anatomic and histological characteristics of the vagina, gives general information on the epidemiology of primary vaginal cancer (VC), on the rules of its staging, describes the frequently encountered morphological types of this tumor, and indicates the properties and features of the course of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), including the most common manifestations of carcinoid syndrome and the symptoms of tumor hypersecretion of a number of biologically active substances. It also indicates the most common sites of NETs, the rules of their classification according to the grade and mitotic activity of tumor cells, as well as major methods for biochemical and radiological diagnosis. The immunohistochemical NET markers that can diagnose VC, their physiological role, sensitivity, and specificity, as well as the possibility of determining them in the body’s biological environments in order to increase physicians’ awareness are described in detail and the main aspects of tumor immunohistochemical staining are denoted. The role of circulating tumor cells as a promising method to specify the extent of NETs is defined. The paper gives epidemiological information on the development of vaginal NET and summarizes the available data by their clinical course and treatment results. It provides current guidelines on the required treatment volume and specifies the role of surgical intervention and the necessary volume if the intervention is expedient. It sets forth the up-to-date guidelines for chemotherapy for small cell tumors, as well as VC, which includes the specific features of managing patients with tumor recurrences depending on the time of their development.

Primary cancers of the vagina are rare, and so vaginal tumours are likely to represent metastasis from another site. Although breast cancer is a common malignancy, it rarely gives rise to vaginal metastases. In this study, we report a case of vaginal cancer diagnosed in a 65-year-old woman. Clinical examination showed the presence of a breast tumour, and ductal breast carcinoma was diagnosed by biopsy. Analysis of the vaginal tumour suggested that it was a metastasis. It was through the detection of the secondary tumour, complete gynaecologic examination, and complementary examinations that the primary site was correctly identified.

Advances in treatment have not recently been reported in rare primary vaginal adenocarcinomas. A 56-year-old woman with a chronic vaginal cyst and possible in utero diethylstilbestrol exposure presented with postmenopausal bleeding. Biopsy of the vagina revealed high-grade papillary serous adenocarcinoma. MRI showed a 6-cm vaginal tumor and 3-cm left inguinal lymph node with metastasis. The patient initially received concurrent cisplatin and radiation. She then received high-dose-rate brachytherapy for further local control. Brachytherapy following external beam radiation with concurrent cisplatin led to clinically undetectable cancer at 24 months with minimal side effects.

With the advances in the treatment of cancer, the chances of survival have increased today. The five-year relative survival rate is about 66%. With the increasing survival rate, it is important to identify the late effects of cancer and its therapy. One of the most serious events experienced by cancer survivors is the diagnosis of a new cancer. Case: A 32-year-old unmarried female diagnosed as ovarian cancer in the year 2010. She was treated with three cycles of chemotherapy followed by surgery. Histopathology was well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. She received three more cycles of chemotherapy after surgery. She was under follow-up and developed vaginal vault carcinoma after a disease-free interval of 2 years. The biopsy was suggestive of squamous cell carcinoma. She was treated with radiation for vaginal cancer successfully. This case indicates that female gynecological cancers with different histology may occur in minimum period of interval even in the absence of any predisposing factors like human papilloma virus infection.

O adenocarcinoma de células claras de colo e vagina em adolescentes é uma doença rara e na maioria das vezes associada com o uso do dietilestilbestrol (DES) durante a gestação. A queixa mais freqüente é o sangramento vaginal irregular que pode ser incorretamente interpretado como vaginite nas crianças e como alterações do eixo hipotálamo-hipófise nas adolescentes. Relatamos o caso de adenocarcinoma de células claras de endocérvice em uma menina de 7 anos de idade atendida no Ambulatório de Ginecologia da Infância e Adolescência, e chamamos a atenção para o diagnóstico de câncer genital que, embora raro nesta faixa etária, deve ser cogitado quando deparamos com sangramento genital em crianças.Clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix is a rare disease associated commonly with the use of diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy. The most commom complaint is irregular vaginal bleeding, which could be confused with vaginitis in children and abnormalities in the hypothalamic-pituitary axis in adolescents. We report a case of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the endocervix in a 7-year-old child who was attended at the Children and Adolescent Gynecology Sector, and we call attention to the diagnosis of genital cancer which, in spite of its rarity at this age, must be considered in children with genital bleeding.