Diagnosis of vulvar cancer in Marienhaus Hospital St. Elisabeth Neuwied

About the department

The Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Mammology at the Marienhaus Hospital St. Elisabeth Neuwied offers all the possibilities of modern medicine for the diagnostics and treatment of diseases of the female reproductive system and breast. Special attention is paid to the medical care of patients with gynecologic and breast cancers. The department also treats all benign diseases of the female genitalia. Surgical interventions on the female reproductive system are most often performed using endoscopic and minimally invasive techniques, which ensure not only effectiveness but also the safest possible treatment. Breast cancer is diagnosed and treated in the specialized Breast Center, which has been certified since 2007 in accordance with the requirements of the German Cancer Society (DKG) and the German Society of Senology (DGS). A team of obstetricians and perinatal medicine specialists takes care of the safe course of pregnancy as well as successful childbirth and the health of both mother and baby. Childbirth takes place in comfortable delivery rooms. There is a possibility of water birth. More than 2,000 babies are born here every year. Highly qualified doctors, who have in their arsenal state-of-the-art medical equipment and effective diagnostic and treatment methods, treat patients in the department. The department is headed by Prof. Dr. med. Richard Berger.

The department's gynecologists are deservedly proud of their rich and successful experience in the treatment of female reproductive cancers. Treatment takes place in a specialized center that is certified by the German Cancer Society (DKG). The most common diagnoses include uterine, ovarian, fallopian tube, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. All these pathologies require a comprehensive approach, so gynecologists, surgeons, radiation therapists, radiologists, nuclear medicine specialists, and other experts are engaged in the therapeutic process. The work of psycho-oncologists plays an equally important role in achieving a successful treatment outcome because many women find it difficult to accept their diagnosis and cope with depressive states. Treatment tactics for each patient are determined on an individual basis during weekly tumor boards. Treatment regimens comply with current national and international recommendations. As a rule, the first-line treatment is surgical resection of the malignant tumor. If the cancer process has spread, it may be necessary to remove the affected organ (for example, the uterus or ovaries), lymph nodes, and other adjacent anatomical structures. Doctors carry out conservative treatment to completely eliminate malignant cells, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, antibody therapy, and immunotherapy.

The department admits patients with benign gynecologic diseases, the most common of which are uterine myomas, endometriosis, cervical dysplasia, ovarian cysts, and infectious diseases of the female reproductive system. In the early stages of benign gynecologic diseases, the department's doctors often manage to carry out conservative treatment, but in more complicated cases, surgical intervention is often required. Surgery for the above-mentioned diseases is usually performed using minimally traumatic endoscopic or laparoscopic techniques.

The department houses a highly specialized Breast Center, which is responsible for the diagnostics and treatment of breast diseases. The center focuses on patients with breast cancer. The Breast Center is certified in compliance with the requirements of the German Cancer Society (DKG) and the German Society of Senology (DGS), which guarantees top-class medical care for patients. The department's surgeons use the very latest and most sparing surgical techniques, which allow them to preserve breasts in 75% of patients. After complete breast removal surgery, doctors use advanced reconstructive techniques to restore a woman's attractive appearance. Depending on the stage and type of cancer, the patient is prescribed conservative treatment. As a rule, a treatment regimen includes chemotherapy. If hormone-dependent breast cancer is detected, the department's specialists also prescribe hormone therapy. If clinically indicated, doctors also perform irradiation, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy.

An integral part of the department's clinical practice is perinatal medicine and obstetrics. The department has the status of a Level I Perinatal Center. More than 2,000 babies are born here every year, making it the largest Obstetric Center in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate. Competent obstetricians have successful experience managing multiple pregnancies and high-risk pregnancies. Newborns weighing less than 1,500 grams also receive medical care here. Modern delivery rooms are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable and safe childbirth. Women may have pain management with acupuncture or epidural anesthesia, if required. Water births are also available here. The department also performs C-sections using sparing surgical techniques.

Since the beginning of 2010, the department has been actively cooperating with the Clinic for Prenatal Medicine and Clinical Genetics in Meckenheim-Bonn-Neuwied. The clinic's doctors regularly hold outpatient consultations. They use the very latest methods of prenatal diagnostics, including ultrasound scans and fetal echocardiography. In most cases, this allows for the optimal planning of postnatal treatment for the child.

The department's range of medical services includes:

• Gynecology
  • Gynecologic oncology
    • Diagnostic options
      • Imaging diagnostics: high-resolution ultrasound, computed tomography, including CT-guided biopsy, magnetic resonance imaging, and scintigraphy
      • Sentinel lymph node biopsy
    • Therapeutic options
      • Cancer surgery with a focus on minimally invasive surgical techniques (extended hysterectomy and lymph node removal)
      • Multivisceral resections for extensive abdominal lesions caused by gynecologic cancer, followed by reconstruction of several organs, plastic reconstructive surgery of the vulva and vagina, and removal of sentinel lymph nodes
      • Radiation therapy (modern techniques with personalized 3D planning)
      • Systemic therapy: chemotherapy, targeted therapy, hormone therapy, antibody therapy, and immunotherapy
      • Inpatient and outpatient palliative care
  • General gynecology
    • Hysteroscopy
      • Endometrial ablation
      • Endometrial polyp removal surgery
      • Uterine fibroid removal surgery
    • Laparoscopy
      • Ovarian surgery
      • Laparoscopic adhesion division (adhesiolysis)
      • Uterine fibroid enucleation
      • Pathological endometrial foci resection
      • Total laparoscopic hysterectomy
      • Laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy
• Mammology
  • Diagnostic options
    • Preoperative diagnostics, including mammography, sonography, magnetic resonance imaging, and preoperative image-guided biopsy
    • Mammography screening
    • Genetic diagnostics in collaboration with external partners
  • Therapeutic options
    • Surgical resection of breast tumors (focus on breast-conserving surgery)
    • Adjuvant and neoadjuvant hormone therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy
    • Radiation therapy
    • Inpatient and outpatient palliative care
• Obstetrics
  • Comprehensive management of pregnancy
  • Childbirth (natural births, including water births, and C-section)
  • Pain management during childbirth
  • Postnatal care for mother and baby
• Other diagnostic and therapeutic options