Gynecology
Our Gynecology Department provides high standard medical services to women of all ages. The department deals with the whole range of gynecological diseases and applies both micro and macro surgery methods, even in cases that extend beyond the reproductive system. It is designed to meet the unique needs of women from puberty to menopause.
The specialists of the department work in multidisciplinary teams and according to the latest diagnostic technology, competing with corresponding nursing centers of international reputation. Each team includes health professionals of many specialties, such as clinicians, surgeons, certified midwives and specialist nurses and neonatologists. Specialists in the department continue to innovate in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological diseases, as well as in the evolution of obstetrics, with the aim of the best possible experience for both the mother and the fetus.
Services we offer
Gynecological Check Ups and Screenings
Gynecological check-up, depending on age, includes the following possibilities and aims at the prevention and early diagnosis of gynecological diseases and especially gynecological malignancies, such as cervical and breast cancer:
Basic Gynecological Check Up:
- Papanicolaou test (Pap smear)
- Ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries
Simple Gynecological Check Up (for women under 40):
- Papanicolaou test
- Ultrasound of the uterus and ovaries
- Breast palpation
- Breast ultrasound
Complete Gynecological Check Up (for women over 40):
- Simple gynecological check up
- Digital mammography
Annual breast check up (for women over 40):
- Digital mammography
- Breast ultrasound
- Full breast check up
- Digital mammography
- Breast MRI
- Breast ultrasound
Surgery for the entire spectrum of gynecology
The department covers the entire spectrum of gynecological surgery, such as:
- Reproductive Gynecological Surgery
- Minimal Access Surgery (Hysteroscopy, Laparoscopy and Da Vinci Robotic Surgery)
- Gynecologic Oncology Surgery
Gynecological surgery involves any part of a woman’s reproductive system, including the vagina, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. Gynecological surgeons also often perform operations on the female urinary system, including the bladder. In addition to therapeutic gynecological surgery, there is also one aimed at women who need surgical intervention during childbirth.
Da Vinci Gynecological Surgery
The department offers the possibility of Da Vinci surgery, one of the most well-known robotically assisted surgical practices recommended for various diseases of the gynecological spectrum. The installation took place in May 2020 and is a pioneering move aimed at the optimal therapeutic approach to benign and malignant gynecological diseases.
A pioneer in the field of gynecology
The Gynecology Department of the Hospital is one of the first to implement laparoscopic and hysteroscopic access. Initially, laparoscopies and hysteroscopies were only diagnostic in nature, but very soon laparoscopic surgeries also began to be applied, which today constitute the great majority of the department’s surgeries. Over 400 such operations take place at St Luke’s annually.
Experienced human resources
Acclaimed health professionals with years of experience in Greece and abroad work in the department. The medical and nursing staff possess top-level scientific knowledge and expertise, offering excellent medical and nursing care services and the best possible care.
The Gynecological Oncology and Laparoscopic Surgery Unit has been operating since 2011 at St Luke’s Hospital. The Unit aims at the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of patients with benign and malignant neoplasms of the female genital system, as well as patients with recurrence-relapse of previously treated gynecological cancer.
What is gynecologic oncology?
One of the most important problems for the modern woman is the possibility of developing a malignant disease (cancer) in the genitals, such as:
- On the breast
- In the ovaries
- In the fallopian tubes
- In the uterus
- In the cervix
- In the vagina
- On the vulva
Gynecological Oncology has been established as the medical specialization of Obstetrics-Gynecology, which has as its object the pathology of the female reproductive system and the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancer. The goal of gynecologic oncology is also to improve the quality of care provided to cancer patients.
Cervical cancer
Incidence and mortality rates
Incidence and mortality rates
As an example, it is reported that cervical cancer continues to lead to the death of around 30,000 women in Europe and 250,000 women around the world every year, while in our country it affects 500-600 women every year, mainly young women who have not given birth, out of which 200 to 250 die every year.
Unit and human resources
Patients are always treated in the framework of cooperation (in the sense of an oncology board) with colleagues from other medical specialties, such as:
- Pathologists
- Biopathologists
- Molecular Biologists
- General Surgeons
- Radiodiagnostics
- Radiation therapists
- Pathologists-Oncologists
- With the interdisciplinary cooperation of the above, the various cancers are diagnosed early and treated with the corresponding treatment.
Philosophy of the Gynecological Oncology and Laparoscopic Surgery Unit
In the Gynecological Oncology and Laparoscopic Surgery Unit, safety and the best possible oncological outcome for each patient always come first. These are ensured by the laparoscopic approach, combined with minimal post-operative pain and faster mobilization and return to daily activity for each woman.
Main oncological gynecological procedures
The main performed oncological gynecological operations are the following:
- Total laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with the Nerve-sparing method with lymphadenectomy.
- Total laparoscopic hysterectomy with the ICG method with lymphadenectomy.
- Total laparoscopic hysterectomy after appendages.
- Laparoscopically assisted radical vaginal cervicectomy with lymphadenectomy.
- Radical vulvectomy with lymph node cleansing and plastic restorative reconstruction.
- Debulking surgery for ovarian, uterine, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer.
Innovations and pioneering in the Gynecological Oncology Unit
An innovation offered in the Gynecological Oncology Unit concerns the possibility, where indicated, of a laparoscopic approach in cases of surgical treatment of benign, but mainly malignant diseases of the cervix, endometrium and in limited cases of the fallopian tubes and ovaries. This laparoscopic approach is applied either to treat the disease or to stage it, that is to confirm its stage and extent. Also, in its effort to apply the most modern technology, the Gynecological Oncology Unit performed, in March 2020, for the first time in Greece, the removal of a sentinel lymph node using the IMAGE1 S™ RUBINA K.Storz system.
The range of incidents we deal with
All cases of gynecological cancers are treated in the Unit. In fact, endometrial and cervical cancer is treated laparoscopically.
- Endometrial cancer. The pioneering method of sentinel lymph node detection using ICG is performed. It is performed laparoscopically, with minimal post-operative pain and immediate mobilization of the patient in the first twenty-four hours.
- Cervical cancer. In specific cases, Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy is performed with preservation of visceral nerves. This operation is particularly demanding and is performed in very few centers in Europe. In addition, laparoscopic removal of lymph nodes from the pelvis and aorta is performed, where necessary.
- Ovarian cancer. It is treated with open surgery (laparotomy) to achieve complete removal of all foci (debulk reduction). The success of the first operation is a very important factor for the survival of patients and the effectiveness of additional treatments (chemotherapy).
Prevention and early diagnosis of gynecological cancer
The Unit offers and performs the following tests, per organ, for the prevention and early diagnosis of gynecological cancer:
- Vulva and vagina. HPV vaccine, clinical examination, vulvaroscopy, colposcopy, biopsies and diagnostic procedures.
- Cervix. HPV vaccine, clinical examination, Pap test, HPV DNA test, colposcopy, biopsies and diagnostic procedures.
- Endometrium and uterine body. Clinical examination, transvaginal ultrasound, imaging tests, diagnostic curettage, diagnostic hysteroscopy and hysteroscopic procedures.
- Fallopian tubes and ovaries. Clinical examination, transvaginal ultrasound, serial measurements of molecular markers in the blood, imaging tests and diagnostic laparoscopic procedures.
In particular, with regard to diseases related to infection of the external genital organs by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), the following are offered:
- Detection, diagnosis and treatment of lesions caused by HPV.
- Assessment, evaluation and management of an abnormal Pap smear.
- Assessment, evaluation and treatment of a positive HPV DNA test.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection counseling
- Counseling and administration of the HPV vaccine.
In addition to the above, the Unit offers counseling instructions for the prevention of gynecological cancer, especially for groups of patients with a hereditary burden.
Early examination contributes decisively to the detection of the disease in a pre-cancerous or even beginning stage of cancer, so that the treatment is much easier and with much better results in terms of prognosis.