Abdominal specimen retrieval in endometrial cancer patients with large uteri

Research Article

Endometrial cancer surgery has a low risk of specimen fragmentation, but removing large uteri can be challenging. This study aimed to assess whether the use of minilaparotomic incision for specimen retrieval compromises the benefits of minimally invasive surgery in endometrial cancer patients with a large uterus or utero-vaginal discrepancy.
This is a retrospective multi-institutional study, including endometrial cancer patients with FIGO 2009 clinical stage I–II, undergoing minimally invasive staging surgery (laparoscopic or robot-assisted) followed by minilaparotomic specimen retrieval. A propensity-matched algorithm was used to compare outcomes of minimally invasive staging with open surgery.

Two years after the reform of Italian Ethics Committees: Time for reflection

Editorial

The recent reform of Italian Ethics Committees (ECs), formalized between 2022 and 2023, aimed to streamline ethical oversight in clinical research by transitioning from a fragmented local system to a coordinated national framework. The new structure includes 40 Territorial Ethics Committees (CETs) and three National Committees (CENs), under the supervision of the National Coordination Centre (CCNCE). While the reform aligned Italy with European Regulation (EU) No 536/2014, significant implementation gaps remain.