About this episode
Ninja Nerds! In this episode of the Ninja Nerd Podcast, Zach and Rob guide you through diagnosing, staging, and management of gynecological cancers using five high-yield, case-based discussions. We start with a 58-year-old postmenopausal woman presenting with abdominal bloating, early satiety, and weight loss. The workup, including pelvic exam, transvaginal ultrasound, and CA-125 testing, reveals advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma with omental caking. We walk through the surgical and chemotherapeutic strategies for both confined and advanced disease, plus the role of PARP inhibitors in BRCA-positive patients, and review complications such as ascites, pleural effusion, and small-bowel obstruction. Next, we cover a 65-year-old woman with postmenopausal bleeding and a thickened endometrial stripe on TVUS. Biopsy confirms type I endometrial adenocarcinoma. We discuss treatment pathways based on stage—from TAH-BSO for early disease to adding radiation or chemotherapy when risk increases—and highlight complications like anemia and pyometra. The third case features a 34-year-old woman with postcoital spotting, HPV-16 positivity, and biopsy-proven invasive cervical carcinoma. We break down management options from conization for CIN 2/3 to radical hysterectomy or concurrent chemoradiation for more extensive disease. Key complications, including hydronephrosis and metastatic spread patterns, are also reviewed. Case four presents a 62-year-old woman with vaginal spotting and malodorous discharge, leading to the diagnosis of primary vaginal squamous carcinoma. We focus on the diagnostic sequence—pelvic exam, biopsy, MRI/PET—and the role of cisplatin-based chemoradiation for localized disease. Finally, we discuss a 72-year-old woman with chronic vulvar pruritus and an ulcerated labial lesion, diagnosed as early invasive vulvar carcinoma. We highlight the importance of biopsy for diagnosis and surgical excision for cure. We close by emphasizing a shared approach across all cases: begin with a broad differential, select targeted diagnostics based on presentation, confirm histology, and let stage and patient factors guide treatment—all while anticipating complications. Let’s get into it, Ninja Nerds! Support the show