The Leiden liquid-based cytology method for the preparation of optimal cytological slides is reported. In such slides, the proliferation pattern of cervical cells can be visualized in detail. Cervical smears and suspension preparations of 665 consecutive unselected patients received in 2003 were studied. Of the 665 patients, 26 (10 normal, 10 with cervical atrophy, 5 with mild dysplasia, and 1 carcinoma in situ) were selected. After using the Thermo Shandon Papspin, the wet slides were placed on a hot plate and dried for 30 min. Proliferation of the cervical cells was visualized in brown by staining the cells for MiB-1 antigen, and nuclear DNA in blue by a standardized short staining with hematoxylin. We found excellent high-resolution demonstrability of cell cycle-related MiB-1 distribution in the well-flattened nuclei. The phase of the cell cycle could be deduced from brown-blue staining patterns. There was a significant increase of MiB-1-positive cell yield related to progression in the degree of pathology.

Background: In women with early ovarian cancer (EOC), comprehensive surgical staging is known to enhance ovarian cancer outcomes and requires specific surgical competence. Given that centralization of care remains a topic of continuing debate, a system of ''guest operations'' was introduced in the midwestern part of The Netherlands. During a guest operation a gynecologic oncologist participates in oncology surgery performed in the community hospital. Objective: This study was conducted to examine the effects of the presence of a gynecologic oncologist on the quality of staging, treatment, and survival in patients with EOC. Materials and Methods: All patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of EOC between January 2000 and December 2009 were selected from a regional cancer registry. Surgical accuracy was checked on the basis of each patient's file, operative notes, and pathology report. Results: A total of 130 patients were included, of whom 15 were treated in the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and 115 in eight regional community hospitals. If a gynecologic oncologist attended the operation, surgical staging was more often adequately performed, 81.1% versus 32.1% when a gynecologic oncologist was not present ( p < 0.001). Adherence to protocol was observed in 76.9% of operations when a gynecologic oncologist had been present, compared to 49.5% of patients who were treated by a general gynecologist alone ( p = 0.004). The 5-year disease-free survival was borderline significantly in favor of optimally staged patients, 75.1% in those who were not staged optimally versus 90.9% who were staged optimally ( p = 0.058). Conclusions: Guest operations deserve a distinguished place among the treatment modalities available to patients with EOC, because surgery by the most specialized and experienced surgeons contributes to better care. ( J GYNECOL SURG 30:265)

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