Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis)

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    Neoangiogenesis in early cervical cancer: Correlation between color Doppler findings and risk factors. A prospective observational study
    (BioMed Central, 2008) Mazaira, J. (Jesús); Martinez-Monge, R. (Rafael); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Galvan, R. (R.); Jurado, M. (Matías)
    Background: The aim of the present article was to evaluate whether angiogenic parameters as assessed by transvaginal color Doppler ultrasound (TVCD) may predict those prognostic factors related to recurrence. Methods: A total of 27 patients (mean age: 51.3 years, range: 29 to 85) with histologically proven early stage invasive cervical cancer were evaluated by TVCD prior to surgery. Subjective assessment of the amount of vessels within the tumor (scanty-moderate or abundant) and pulsatility index (PI) were recorded. All patients underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. Postoperative treatment (RT or chemoradiotherapy) was given according to risk factors (positive lymph nodes, parametrial and vaginal margin involvement, depth stromal invasion, lymph-vascular space involvement) Results: Tumors with "abundant" vascularization were significantly associated with pelvic lymph node metastases, depth stromal invasion > 10 mm, lymph-vascular space involvement, tumor diameter > 17.5 mm, and parametrial involvement. Postoperative treatment was significantly more frequent in patients with "abundant" vascularization (OR: 20.8, 95% CIs: 2 to 211). The presence of scanty-moderate vascularization with a PI < 0.82 or abundant vascularization with either PI > 0.82 or PI < 0.82 was associated with high-risk group in 94.4% of the cases (OR: 21.2, 95% CI: 1.9 to 236.0) Conclusion: The results are consistent with a relationship between tumor angiogenesis and prognostic factors for recurrence in early cervical cancer. "Abundant" vascularization and PI < 0.82 may be related to postoperative treatment due to risk factors.
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    Ultrasound for assessing tumor spread in ovarian cancer. A systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis
    (Elsevier, 2024) Tameish, S. (Sara); Chacón, E. (Enrique); Minguez, J.A. (José Ángel); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Pérez-Vidal, J.R. (Juan Ramón); Manzour, N. (Nabil)
    In this review, we aimed to assess the diagnostic performance of ultrasound for assessing the tumor spread in the abdomen in women with ovarian cancer. A search for studies evaluating the role of ultrasound for assessing intrabdominal tumor spread in women with ovarian cancer compared to surgery from January 2011 to March 2023 was performed in PubMed/MEDLINE, Web of Science, and Scopus databases. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 evaluated the quality of the studies (QUADAS-2). All analyses were performed using MIDAS and METANDI commands in STATA 12.0 software. We identified 1552 citations. After exclusions, five studies comprising 822 women were included. Quality of studies were considered as good, except for patient selection as all studies were considered as having high risk of bias. The pooled sensitivity and specificity could be calculated for three anatomical areas (recto-sigma, major omentum and root of mesentery) and the presence of ascites. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting disease in the recto-sigma, major omentum and root of mesentery were 0.83 and 0.95, 0.87 and 0.87, and 0.29 and 0.99, respectively. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting ascites was 0.95 and 0.91, respectively. There is evidence that ultrasound offers good diagnostic performance for evaluating the intra-abdominal extent of disease in women with suspected ovarian cancer.
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    Superficial endometriosis at ultrasound examination - a diagnostic criteria proposal
    (2023) Vieira-de-Oliveira, Y. (Ygor); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Guerriero, S. (Stefano); Graupera, B. (Betlem); Podgaec, S. (Sergio); Pagliuca, M. (Mariachiara); Chesa-Pascual, M.A. (María Ángeles); Camargos, E. (Esdras); Pedrassani, M. (Marcelo); Ajossa, S. (Silvia)
    The actual prevalence of superficial endometriosis is not known. However, it is considered the most common subtype of endometriosis. The diagnosis of superficial endometriosis remains difficult. In fact, little is known about the ultrasound features of superficial endometriotic lesions. In this study, we aimed to describe the appearance of superficial endometriosis lesions at ultrasound examination, with laparoscopic and/or histologic correlation. This is a prospective study on a series of 52 women with clinical suspicion of pelvic endometriosis who underwent preoperative transvaginal ultrasound and received a confirmed diagnosis of superficial endometriosis via laparoscopy. Women with ultrasound or laparoscopic findings of deep endometriosis were not included. We observed that superficial endometriotic lesions may appear as a solitary lesions, multiple separate lesions, and cluster lesions. The lesions may exhibit the presence of hypoechogenic associated tissue, hyperechoic foci, and/or velamentous (filmy) adhesions. The lesion may be convex, protruding from the peritoneal surface, or it may appear as a concave defect in the peritoneum. Most lesions exhibited several features. We conclude that transvaginal ultrasound may be useful for diagnosing superficial endometriosis, as these lesions may exhibit different ultrasound features.
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    Postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis after cesarean delivery: a case report
    (BioMed Central, 2008) Garcia-Manero, M. (Manuel); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Royo, P. (Pedro); Lecumberri, R. (Ramón); Alonso-Burgos, A. (Alberto)
    Introduction: Postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis is an uncommon complication; incidence varies between 0.002% and 0.05%. It most often occurs during the 2–15 days following delivery. Case presentation: A 22-year-old pregnant woman at term presented to hospital with uterine contractions, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting. After delivery an ovarian vein thrombosis was diagnosed. Conclusion: Low-molecular weight heparin with broad-spectrum antibiotics are the accepted therapy in non-complicated cases of postpartum ovarian vein thrombosis.
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    Comparative study of transvaginal ultrasonography and CA 125 in the preoperative evaluation of myometrial invasion in endometrial carcinoma
    (Wiley-Blackwell, 1999) Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Lopez-Garcia, G. (Guillermo); Jurado, M. (Matías)
    To compare the ability of transvaginal sonography and serum CA 125 levels to predict myometrial invasion in patients with endometrial carcinoma. DESIGN AND METHODS: Prospective study in 50 consecutive patients (mean age 60 years, SD 10.5, range 29-77 years) diagnosed as having endometrial cancer and scheduled for surgical staging. All patients were evaluated by transvaginal ultrasonography. Endometrial thickness was measured in all cases and myometrial invasion was estimated as < 50% or > or = 50%. Serum CA 125 level was determined in each patient. A cut-off level of > or = 35 IU/ml was considered to predict myometrial invasion of > or = 50%. All patients underwent surgical staging, and definitive histopathological findings regarding myometrial invasion were used as the 'gold standard'. Sensitivity, specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated for transvaginal ultrasonography and CA 125 and compared. RESULTS: On histopathological analysis, myometrial invasion was found to be < 50% in 35 (70%) cases and > or = 50% in 15 cases (30%). Mean endometrial thickness in patients with superficial invasion was significantly lower than in those with deep invasion (13.4 mm (95% CI 11.2-15.7) vs. 18.7 mm (95% CI 15.0-22.3), respectively; p = 0.014). Median CA 125 was significantly higher in patients with deep invasion than in those with superficial invasion (30 IU/ml, interquartile range (IQR) 46.0 vs. 16.9 IU/ml, IQR 13.9, respectively; p = 0.002). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for transvaginal ultrasonography were 86.7% (95% CI 59.5-98.3), 94.3% (95% CI 80.8-99.3), 86.7% (95% CI 59.5-98.3) and 94.3% (95% CI 80.8-99.3), respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV for CA 125 were 40% (95% CI 16.3-67.7), 91.4% (95% CI 76.9-98.2), 66.7% (95% CI 29.9-92.5) and 78% (95% CI 63.4-89.5), respectively. The sensitivity of transvaginal ultrasonography was significantly higher than that of CA 125 (p = 0.008). No differences were found in terms of specificity, PPV or NPV. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that transvaginal ultrasonography is more sensitive than CA 125 in predicting myometrial invasion in endometrial cancer.
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    The value of minilaparotomy for total hysterectomy for benign uterine disease: A comparative study with conventional Pfannenstiel and laparoscopic approaches
    (BioMed Central, 2009) Garcia-Manero, M. (Manuel); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Lopez-Garcia, G. (Guillermo); Royo, P. (Pedro); Olartecoechea, B. (Begoña)
    Background: The aim of this paper is to review and compare the results obtained using the Pfannenstiel, laparoscopy and minilaparotomy approaches for total hysterectomy procedure in relation to benign uterine diseases. Methods: A retrospective data analysis was performed on 165 patients who underwent hysterectomy for benign uterine diseases at our centre during the period 2004 to 2006. Findings: The minilaparotomy procedure was the fastest procedure with a mean time of 73.4 minutes (range: 67.85 to 78.94 minutes, p < 0.001). Hospital stay was shortest for laparosopic procedure (mean time: 3.24 days, range: 2.86 to 3.61 days) (p < 0.001). The rate of intraoperative and postoperative complications were not statistical different among three procedures. Conclusion: The minilaparotomy procedure offers a minimally invasive option for total hysterectomy due to benign uterine disease.
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    Ultrasound and clinical preoperative characteristics for discrimination between ovarian metastatic colorectal cancer and primary ovarian cancer: A case-control study
    (MDPI AG, 2019) Epstein, E. (Elizabeth); Fischerova, D. (Daniela); Pietrzak-Stukan, M. (Malgorzata); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Guerriero, S. (Stefano); Szubert, S. (Sebastian); Braicu, E.I. (Elena Ioana); Szajewski, M. (Mariusz); Stukan, M. (Maciej); Sufliarska, A. (Alexandra); Gebicki, J. (Jacek); Liro, M. (Marcin)
    The aim of this study was to describe the clinical and sonographic features of ovarian metastases originating from colorectal cancer (mCRC), and to discriminate mCRC from primary ovarian cancer (OC). We conducted a multi-institutional, retrospective study of consecutive patients with ovarian mCRC who had undergone ultrasound examination using the International Ovarian Tumor Analysis (IOTA) terminology, with the addition of evaluating signs of necrosis and abdominal staging. A control group included patients with primary OC. Clinical and ultrasound data, subjective assessment (SA), and an assessment of different neoplasias in the adnexa (ADNEX) model were evaluated. Fisher’s exact and Student’s t-tests, the area under the receiver–operating characteristic curve (AUC), and classification and regression trees (CART) were used to conduct statistical analyses. In total, 162 patients (81 with OC and 81 with ovarian mCRC) were included. None of the patients with OC had undergone chemotherapy for CRC in the past, compared with 40% of patients with ovarian mCRC (p < 0.001). The ovarian mCRC tumors were significantly larger, a necrosis sign was more frequently present, and tumors had an irregular wall or were fixed less frequently; ascites, omental cake, and carcinomatosis were less common in mCRC than in primary OC. In a subgroup of patients with ovarian mCRC who had not undergone treatment for CRC in anamnesis, tumors were larger, and had fewer papillations and more locules compared with primary OC. The highest AUC for the discrimination of ovarian mCRC from primary OC was for CART (0.768), followed by SA (0.735) and ADNEX calculated with CA-125 (0.680). Ovarian mCRC and primary OC can be distinguished based on patient anamnesis, ultrasound pattern recognition, a proposed decision tree model, and an ADNEX model with CA-125 levels.
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    Diagnosis and management of isthmocele: a SWOT analysis
    (Wiley, 2023) Moratalla, E. (E.); Carugno, J.A. (J.A); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Perez-Milan, F. (F.); Carrera, M. (M.); Caballero, M. (M.); Alonso-Pacheco, L. (L.); Domínguez, J.A. (J.A.)
    The purpose of this State-of-the-Art Review was to provide a strategic analysis, in terms of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT analysis), of the current evidence regarding the management of uterine isthmocele (Cesarean scar defect). Strengths include the fact that isthmocele can be diagnosed on two-dimensional transvaginal ultrasound, and that surgical repair may restore natural fertility potential and prevent secondary infertility, as well as reduce the risk of miscarriage and other obstetric complications. However, there is a lack of high-quality evidence regarding the best diagnostic method and criteria, as well as the potential benefits of surgical repair with respect to fertility. There is a need for experienced surgeons skilled in the various isthmocele repair techniques. Isthmocele repair does not prevent the need for Cesarean delivery in subsequent pregnancies. There is increasing awareness regarding the accuracy of transvaginal ultrasound in diagnosing isthmocele. This may lead to surgical correction and prevention of obstetric and perinatal complications in subsequent pregnancies, including Cesarean scar pregnancy. Regarding threats, the existence of different surgical techniques means that there is a risk of selecting an inadequate approach if the type of isthmocele and the patient's characteristics are not considered. There is a risk of overtreatment when asymptomatic defects are repaired surgically. Finally, there is an absence of cost-effectiveness analyses to justify routine repair. Thus, while there are many data suggesting that isthmocele has an adverse effect on both natural fertility and the outcome of assisted reproduction techniques, high-quality evidence to support surgical isthmocele repair in all asymptomatic patients desiring future fertility are lacking. There is increasing agreement to recommend hysteroscopic repair of isthmocele as a first-line approach as long as the residual myometrial thickness is at least 2.5-3.0 mm. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
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    Transvaginal ultrasound versus magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative assessment of myometrial infiltration in patients with low-grade endometrioid endometrial cancer: A systematic review and head-to-head meta-analysis
    (Wiley, 2023) Tameish, S. (Sara); Vara, J. (J.); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Florez, N. (Natalia); Chen, H. (Hui); Pérez-Vidal, J.R. (Juan Ramón)
    Purpose: We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transvaginal ultrasound (TVS) for detecting myometrial invasion (MI) in patients with low-grade endometrioid endometrial carcinoma. Methods: A comprehensive search of MEDLINE (Pubmed), Web of Science, Embase and Scopus (from January 1990 to December 2022) was performed for articles comparing TVS and MRI in the evaluation of myometrial infiltration in low-grade (grade 1 or 2) endometrioid endometrial carcinoma in the same group of patients. We used QUADAS-2 tool for assessing the risk of bias of studies. Results: We found 104 citations in our extensive research. Four articles were ultimately included in the meta-analysis, after excluding 100 reports. All articles were considered low risk of bias in most of the domains assessed in QUADAS-2. We observed that pooled sensitivity and specificity for detecting deep MI were 65% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 54%-75%) and 85% (95% CI = 79%-89%) for MRI, and 71% (95% CI = 63%-78%) and 76% (95% CI = 67%-83%) for TVS, respectively. No statistical differences were found between both imaging techniques (p > 0.05). We observed low heterogeneity for sensitivity and high for specificity regarding TVS; and moderate for both sensitivity and specificity in case of MRI. Conclusions: The diagnostic performance of TVS and MRI for the evaluation of deep MI in women with low-grade endometrioid endometrial cancer is similar. However, further research is needed as the number of studies is scanty.
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    Pattern of relapse in patients with stage IB1 cervical cancer after radical hysterectomy as primary treatment. Minimally invasive surgery vs. open approach. Systematic review and meta-analysis.
    (Elsevier, 2022) Chacón, E. (Enrique); Minguez, J.A. (José Ángel); Alcazar, J.L. (Juan Luis); Boria, F. (Félix); Chiva, L. (Luis); Rodriguez-Velandia, Y.P. (Yessica P.); Vara-García, J. (Julio); Manzour, N. (Nabil); Nuñez-Cordoba, J.M. (Jorge M.)
    Background. After the LACC trial, the SUCCOR study, and other studies, we know that patients who have un- dergone minimally invasive surgery for cervical cancer have worse outcomes, but today, we do not know if the surgical approach can be a reason to change the pattern of relapses on these patients. We evaluated the relapse pattern in patients with stage IB1 cervical cancer (FIGO, 2009) who underwent radical hysterectomy with differ- ent surgical approaches. Methods. A systematic review of literature was performed in PubMed, Cochrane Library, Clinicaltrials.gov, and Web of science. Inclusion criteria were prospective or retrospective comparative studies of different surgical approaches that described patterns or locations of relapse in patients with stage IB1 cervical cancer. Heterogeneity was assessed by calculating I2. Results. The research resulted in 782 eligible citations from January 2010 to October 2020. After filtering, nine articles that met all inclusion criteria were analyzed, comprising data from 1663 patients who underwent radical hysterectomy for IB1 cervical cancer, and the incidence of relapse was 10.6%. When we compared the pattern of relapse (local, distant, and both) of each group (open surgery and minimally invasive surgery), we did not see statistically significant differences, (OR 0.963; 95% CI, 0.602–1.541; p = 0.898), (OR 0.788; 95% CI, 0.467–1.330; p = 0.542), and (OR 0.683; 95% CI, 0.331–1.407; p = 0.630), respectively. Conclusion. There are no differences in patterns of relapse across surgical approaches in patients with stage IB1 cervical cancer undergoing radical hysterectomy as primary treatment.