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BACKGROUND Although parametrectomy is the most difficult step in the surgical treatment of cervical carcinoma and is the main cause of postoperative complications, little attention has been given to the patterns of parametrial spread. METHODS Sixty‐nine patients with previously untreated cervical carcinoma (Fédération Internationale de Gynécologie et d'Obstétrique [FIGO] Stage IB1, 49 patients [71%]; Stage IB2, 8 patients [12%]; and Stage IIA, 12 patients [17%]; squamous, 59 patients [86%]; and adenocarcinoma, 10 patients [14%]) underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic ± aortic lymphadenectomy. Hysterectomy specimens were processed with the giant section technique. To obtain a thorough three‐dimensional assessment of the paracervical tissue, both the superficial and deep layers of the cervicovesical ligament (anterior parametrium) and the uterosacral ligament (posterior parametrium) were separated from the uterus and submitted for pathologic evaluation. After resection of the lateral parametrium with hemoclips, the lympho‐fatty tissue remaining around the pudendal vessels was removed carefully and referred to as “the distal part of the lateral parametrium.” RESULTS When analyzing all the parametria, lymph nodes were present in 64 patients (93%). Clinically undetected parametrial involvement was found by pathologic examination in 15 Stage IB1 patients (31%), 5 Stage IB2 patients (63%), and 7 Stage IIA patients (58%). Metastases were found in the cardinal, cervicovesical, and sacrouterine ligaments and principally were comprised of lymph node and vascular space invasion. Twenty‐five patients (36%) had pelvic lymph node metastases whereas concomitant parametrial involvement was observed in all patients. The overall 5‐year survival was 91%, being higher for parametria and lymph node negative patients (100%) than for those with lymph node and/or parametrial metastases (78%). CONCLUSIONS A three‐dimensional pathologic assessment showed that subclinical parametrial spreading of the so‐called “early” tumors (Stage IB‐IIA) occurred in approximately 30–60% of these patients, and metastasis to the pelvic lymph nodes always was associated with parametrial disease. A better understanding of the patterns of parametrial diffusion will improve knowledge of the natural history of cervical carcinoma and in the future may influence the treatment of these patients. Furthermore, pathologic assessment of cervical carcinoma should be modified to evaluate correctly the parametrial status of each patient. The current routine pathologic evaluation of the parametria makes it very difficult to detect lymph node metastases and tumor emboli. Cancer 2000;88:2267–74. © 2000 American Cancer Society.

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This prospective cohort study aimed to analyze the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and hysteroscopic excisional biopsy (HEB) for predicting the low- and high-risk patients with endometrial carcinoma for nodal involvement at preoperative evaluation. From January 2005 to December 2006, all patients with a diagnosis of endometrial carcinoma were prospectively included in the study and underwent pelvic MRI and HEB. The pelvic MRI (without contrast) was aimed to evaluate the extent of myometrial invasion (MI < 50%, MI ≥ 50%), the possible involvement of cervical stroma, the ovarian, and lymph nodes status. HEB was performed under general anesthesia, retrieving multiple biopsies through a 5-mm, monopolar, loop electrode. According to our data analysis, the integration of MRI and HEB showed an elevated accuracy and high rates of sensitivity (85.0%), specificity (88.5%), negative predictive value (91.9%) and positive predictive value (79.0%) in identifying low-risk patients who do not need comprehensive surgical staging.

Surgery in suspected/confirmed COVID‐19 patients is a high‐risk venture. In infected patients, COVID‐19 is present in the body cavity. During surgery it could be nebulized in the spray generated by surgical instruments and could theoretically infect members of the surgical team. Nevertheless, some surgical gynecologic pathologies cannot be postponed. We present a list of the most frequent gynecologic diseases and recommendations on their surgical management during the COVID‐19 pandemic, based on expert opinion, current available information, and international scientific society recommendations to support the work of gynecologists worldwide. In brief, any kind of surgical treatment should be scrutinized and postponed if possible. Nonoperative conservative treatment including pharmacological therapies for hormone‐sensitive pathologies should be implemented. Health risk assessment by patient history and COVID‐19 test before elective surgery are pivotal to protect both patients and healthcare providers. In confirmed COVID‐19 patients or highly suspected cases, elective surgery should be postponed until full recovery.