Fertility outcome after radical vaginal trachelectomy: A prospective study of 212 patients

Objective: For treatment in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) as a fertility-preserving surgery can be put on a par with radical hysterectomy as to oncologic safety. Our aim was to investigate the fertility concerns and outcome. Methods: Prospective collection of fertility data of patients treated with RVT. The data were collected on personal communication, by telephone, or e-mail correspondence. Descriptive statistical analysis was performed. Results: Between March 2005 and April 2010, 212 patients were followed up after RVT. Only 76 patients (35.9%) were seeking parenthood currently. Sixty pregnancies occurred in 50 women. Five patients (8.3%) had first-trimester miscarriage, 3 had second-trimester miscarriage (5.0%), 2 patients decided for pregnancy termination (3.3%), and 1 patient (1.7%) had an ectopic pregnancy. Three women (5.0%) delivered prematurely before 28th weeks of gestation, 15 (25.0%) delivered between 28 and 36 weeks, and 27 women (45.0%) reached full term. Four pregnancies are ongoing. Conclusions: Preservation of childbearing function is a great advantage for patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Many patients do not seek parenthood immediately. We see no impairment of fertility and have solid data on pregnancy outcome. Premature labor is the main problem in pregnancy after RVT. Copyright copy; 2011 by IGCS and ESGO

Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in 32 pregnant patients with cervical cancer: Rationale, description of the technique, and outcome

Objective: Individualized treatment of pregnant patients with cervical cancer is mandatory; hence, information on nodal status is pivotal to allow awaiting strategy in early-stage disease. We aimed to verify the oncological safety and surgical reproducibility of a standardized laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in pregnant patients with cervical cancer. Methods: We standardized laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy during the first and second term of gestation in 32 patients with cervical cancer since 1999. According to gestational week (GW) of less than 16 GWs or more than 16 GWs, 2 different techniques were used. Results: The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages were IA in 10 patients, IB1 in 17 patients, IB2 in 4 patients, and IIA in 1 patient. Mean (SD) GW was 17.5 (5.1) weeks. Mean (SD) operative time was 105.4 (29) minutes. Mean (SD) blood loss was 5.3 (10.2) mL. There were no conversion to laparotomy and no intraoperative complications. A median number of 14 pelvic lymph nodes (range, 8-57) were harvested. Median hospital stay was 6 days. Median follow-up is 42.5 months (range, 17-164). Four patients had lymph node metastases. Five patients interrupted their pregnancy. Fourteen patients were given neoadjuvant platin-based systemic therapy. All patients are alive and disease free. All children born through cesarean delivery at a mean (SD) 34 (1.9) GWs are well and show normal clinical neurological development. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest series so far reported on laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy during pregnancy. This procedure is safe and associated with good oncological and obstetrical outcomes. Copyright \ua9 2014 by IGCS and ESGO

Implication of the examining pathologist to meet the oncologic standard of lymph node count after laparoscopic lymphadenectomy

Objective: The lymph node number as benchmark in oncologic operations depends on the patient's anatomy, surgeon's skill and pathologist's accuracy. The influence of the pathologist is barely evaluated. Methods: A retrospective analysis of lymph node numbers after 700 laparoscopic lymphadenectomies in correlation to the examining pathologists was done. Three surgeons from the same department performed all operations at 2 campi, where 2 separate pathology institutions exist. Lymph node specimens were assigned randomly to any of the 62 involved pathologists. Results: The mean number of lymph nodes was equal for all surgeons. Lymph node specimens were analyzed in the pathology institute of campus I and II in 416 and 284 cases, respectively. The mean number of lymph nodes following pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy was 36 at campus II and 30 at campus I (p < 0.0001). There was also a significant difference for pelvic (19.9 vs. 17.7; p < 0.0001) and para-aortic lymph node counts (16.2 vs. 14.1; p < 0.01) between both pathology institutes. At campus II, 22.6% of lymph node counts did not meet the oncologic standard for pelvic and 16.7% did not meet the standard for para-aortic lymph nodes. Moreover, at campus I, 35.5 and 20.8% of pathologists described less than the oncologic limit of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes, respectively. Conclusion: The number of removed lymph nodes is not an absolute parameter for surgical radicality. Interdisciplinary cooperation with pathologists is mandatory to meet oncologic standards. \ua9 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel

Radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) combined with laparoscopic lymphadenectomy: Prospective study of 225 patients with early-stage cervical cancer

Objective: The aim of the study was to prove the surgical and oncological safety of radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) and laparoscopic lymphadenectomy for patients with early-stage cervical cancer who are seeking parenthood. Methods: A database of 225 patients with early-stage cervical cancer and intention to treat by RVTafter laparoscopic lymphadenectomy was prospectively maintained. A total of 212 patients were treated according to the protocol. The procedure was preformed in a standardized manner, and life table analysis was applied. Results: In the cohort of patients treated according to protocol, 8 recurrences occurred and 4 patients died from recurrence. The median follow-up time was 37 months (range, 0-171 months). The 5-year recurrence-free and overall survival was 94.4% and 97.4%, respectively. Perioperative and short-term postoperative complications were rare (2.8% and 7.5%, respectively). No severe long-term complications occurred. Conclusions: Radical vaginal trachelectomy combined with laparoscopic lymphadenectomy is a safe method for treatment of patients with early-stage cervical cancer who are seeking parenthood

Prevalence of lymph nodes in the parametrium of radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) specimen

Objective: In order to evaluate radicality in fertility preserving surgery in women with early invasive cervical cancer we analyzed the parametrium of specimens of patients treated by radical vaginal trachelectomy for the presence of lymph nodes. We tried to identify morphologic factors associated with the presence of parametrial lymph nodes. Methods: We analyzed surgical specimens of 112 patients who underwent radical trachelectomy between June 2004 and April 2009 at the Department of Gynecologic Oncology at Charité Campus Benjamin Franklin and Campus Mitte. All parametrial tissue was step sectioned and a total of 1878H&E stained histological sections were analyzed. Results: In 8 patients (7.1%) a total of 13 lymph nodes were detected. Five lymph nodes in four patients had been primarily detected by routine histological examination. In one of these patients (0.9%) a 2 mm lymph node metastasis was found. Serial sectioning revealed additional seven lymph nodes in four patients. The thickness of parametrium correlated significantly with the presence of lymph nodes in the parametrium. Conclusion: The presence of small lymph nodes in the parametrium of specimens of radical trachelectomy is low. In patients with early-stage cervical cancer, the incidence of metastasis is less than 1%. Preoperative assessment of the volume of the parametrium may indicate which patients need parametrial resection. © 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved