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Introduction: Primary sarcoma of the vulva is an extremely rare entity, representing only 1%–3% of all vulvar malignant neoplasms. Among sarcomas, leiomyosarcoma (LMS) is the most prevalent histologic variant. Due to the rarity of LMS, guidelines are lacking and phase III trials have not been carried out, so clinical management is based on local clinical practice and physician experience. Case presentation: Here, we described a case of primary LMS of the vulva and its successful management, with the adoption of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery. We report a case of a 74-year-old woman with 12.5 cm vulvar LMS. The patient received three cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with a partial response. Radical vulvectomy with vulvar reconstruction with V-F flap was carried out. Surgical margins were negative. Three additional cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy were delivered. Results: One year after treatment, the patient was disease-free. Conclusion: There are no approved therapeutic protocols for this rare neoplasia. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. However, it is not always feasible, so neoadjuvant chemotherapy was delivered for downstaging the vulvar lesion. We suppose that neoadjuvant chemotherapy has optimized the possibilities of radical surgery. Despite the anectodical nature of this case presentation, neoadjuvant chemotherapy seems a valid therapeutic option for managing patients with bulky vulvar sarcoma. Further large collaborative studies are warranted to identify the best therapeutic option for these patients.

Background Fingolimod is an efficacious treatment for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) and there is class I evidence that it is superior to standard care in reducing relapse rate. However, real-world data investigating its effectiveness and potential predictors of response are still scarce. Objective To estimate (i) the proportion of fingolimod-treated patients who achieved the no evidence of disease activity (NEDA-3) status; and (ii) to determine which baseline (i.e. at treatment start) clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) variables were associated with better outcomes. Methods We collected clinical and MRI data of RRMS patients treated with fingolimod and followed-up for 24 months. The proportion of patients who had NEDA-3 - i.e. absence of relapses, sustained Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) worsening and radiological activity on MRI - was estimated. A Cox proportional hazard model was carried out to investigate which baseline characteristics were associated with the NEDA status at follow-up. Results We collected data of 201 patients who started fingolimod. Of them, 24 (12%) were treatment-naïve, 115 (58%) were switched after failing a self-injectable drug, and 60 (30%) switching from natalizumab. Five patients who discontinued fingolimod early (within 3 months) (bradycardia, n = 2; leukopaenia, n = 2; macular oedema, n = 1) were removed from the analysis. At follow-up, 118 (60%) patients achieved the NEDA-3 status, while 78 experienced clinical and/or MRI activity. The risk of not achieving the NEDA-3 status was associated with higher baseline EDSS score (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.18, p = 0.024) and more relapses in the 12 months prior to fingolimod start (HR = 1.61, p = 0.014). Conclusion Our findings suggest that fingolimod may lead to a better control of the disease if started in patients with a less aggressive disease (i.e. fewer pre-treatment relapses and milder disability level), thus supporting its possible role as an early treatment for MS.

Introduction Tubal patency is one of the mandatory and necessary conditions to be granted in order to guarantee a good pregnancy rate. Numerous studies have been conducted to compare the various testing techniques for tubal evaluation in order to optimize the diagnostic-therapeutic process. Aim of this review is to clarify if hysterosalpingo-foam sonography could be considered as a useful tool not only in the diagnostic procedure, but also in treatment of infertility. Evidence acquisition We performed a comprehensive search of relevant studies from January 2010 to December 2019 to ensure all possible studies were captured. A systematic search of PubMed databases was conducted. Evidence synthesis Over the years, increasingly less invasive approaches have been used to test tubal patency. For many years Laparoscopic with chromopertubation (DLS) has been considered the reference standard, then less invasive procedures have been introduced, such as hysterosalpingography (HSG). Sonohysterosalpingography (HyCoSy) represents a non-invasive procedure with accuracy comparable to HSG. Several studies have been made on different contrast agents that could be used on this procedure and recent studies considered hysterosalpingo-foam sonography (HyFoSy) procedure as a new technique used for the study of tubal function performed on unfertile women. Nowadays, HyFoSy is largely used in the study of tubal patency, but it is not completely clear the role of this technique as treatment of imperviousness of Fallopian tubes, leading to an increase in pregnancy rate after its use. Conclusions As described in the literature for other procedures, similarly with HyFoSy, the tubal flushing improves the chance of an embryo implanting and establishing a spontaneous pregnancy. More prospective studies should be taken to better analyze the singular maternal risk fators, hoping to offer more complete indications to recommend HyFoSy.