Pregnancies after radical vaginal trachelectomy for early-stage cervical cancer

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of fertility-preserving surgery in the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. Study Design: We retrospectively reviewed our first 30 patients treated by laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy, followed by radical vaginal trachelectomy, from October 1991 to April 1998. Results: The median age of the patients was 32 years (range 22-42 years); 15 were nulligravid and 19 nulliparous. Twenty cancers were at stage IB, 1 was at stage IA₁ , 7 were at stage IA₂ , and 2 were at stage IIA. The majority (18/30) were squamous. Two lesions were >2 cm in size, and only 4 had vascular space invasion. The median operative time was 285 minutes (range 155-455 minutes), median blood loss 200 mL (range 50-1200 mL), and median hospital stay 4 days (range 2-9 days). There were 4 intraoperative complications—2 attributed to the trachelectomy and 2 resulting from the lymphadenectomy. The current median follow-up time is 25 months (range 1-79 months). One patient had a recurrence in the left parametrium 18 months after vaginal radical trachelectomy and died of metastatic disease. The only 6 patients attempting pregnancy so far have succeeded: 4 have had healthy babies delivered by cesarean section at 39, 38, 34, and 25 weeks of gestation. Two are currently 33 and 8 weeks pregnant. Conclusion: Radical vaginal trachelectomy appears to be a valuable procedure in well-selected patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Successful pregnancies are definitely possible after this procedure. This new surgical technique warrants further careful evaluation to determine precise indications. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1998;179:1491-6.)     

Less radical fertility-sparing surgery than radical trachelectomy in early cervical cancer

The purpose of this pilot study was to determine feasibility and safety of a novel and less radical fertility-preserving surgery; laparoscopic lymphadenectomy with sentinel lymph node identification (SLNI) followed by large cone or simple trachelectomy. Obstetrical and oncologic outcomes were evaluated. Twenty-six patients (6-IA2, 20-IB1) selected on basis of favorable cervical tumor characteristics and the desire to maintain fertility underwent laparoscopic SLNI, frozen section (FS), and a complete pelvic lymphadenectomy as first step of treatment. All of nodes were submitted for microscopic evaluation (sentinel nodes for ultramicrostaging). After a 7-day interval, large cone or simple vaginal trachelectomy was performed in patients with negative nodes. The average of sentinel nodes per side was 1.50 and the average of total nodes was 28.0. Four FS were positive (15.4%). In these cases, Wertheim radical hysterectomy type III was immediately performed. We had no false-negative SLN neither on FS nor on final pathology assessment. Median follow-up was 49 months (18-84). One central recurrence (isthmic part of uterus) was observed 14 months after surgery. This patient was treated with radical chemoradiotherapy, and there was no evidence of the disease 36 months after treatment. Fifteen women planned pregnancy, 11 women became pregnant (15 pregnancies), and 7 women delivered eight children (one in 24 weeks, one in 34 weeks, one in 36 weeks, and five between 37 and 39 weeks). We conclude that lymphatic mapping and SLNI improves safety in this fertility sparing surgery. Large cone or simple trachelectomy combined with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy can be a feasible method with a high successful pregnancy rate.     

各种根治性宫颈切除术手术关键点及特点比较

根治性宫颈切除术(RT)是一种较新的手术方法,在治疗早期宫颈癌的同时允许患者保留生育功能.RT主要有阴式和腹式两种术式.文章就不同术式的手术适应证、手术关键步骤、肿瘤学安全性和术后生育结果等热点问题进行探讨.     

Fertility sparing surgery for treatment of early-stage cervical cancer: open vs. robotic radical trachelectomy

Objective

To compare the open versus robotic surgical approaches and provide surgical outcome data on patients who have undergone radical trachelectomy (RT).

Methods

We identified patients who underwent open (ORT) or robotic radical trachelectomy (RRT) between September 2005 and June 2011. Tumor characteristics, perioperative, operative and obstetrical outcomes were analyzed.

Results

Thirty-seven patients with early stage cervical cancer that desired future fertility underwent attempted radical trachelectomy, and 32 patients (20 with 1B1, 11 with 1A2, and 5 with 1A1 with LVSI/poorly differentiated histology) had successful completion of RT. Five (1 open/4 robotic) underwent conversion to radical hysterectomy secondary to close (< 5 mm) endocervical margin (p = 0.08). The median age at diagnosis was 28.9 years (range; 21.4-37.2), 70% were nulliparous, and 9 had a visible lesion. Twenty-five patients (68%) underwent ORT and 12 (32%) underwent RRT. RRT was associated with less blood loss (62.5 mL vs. 300 mL, p = 0.0001) and decreased length of postoperative stay (1 vs. 4 days, p < 0.001), with no difference in operative time or histopathologic outcomes. Twenty-three patients (62%) had no residual cervical disease on final pathology. Common long-term morbidities were irregular menstrual bleeding or amenorrhea (25%), cerclage erosion (13%), or cervical stenosis (9%). Although there was a higher rate of conversion to hysterectomy in the robotic surgery cohort, rates of serious morbidities among the cohorts were comparable (robotic: 33% vs. open: 24%, p = 0.70). Eleven (36%) patients are actively attempting pregnancy and three have achieved pregnancy. The median time of follow up is 17.0 months (range 0.30-64.9 months). There are no documented recurrences.

Conclusions

RRT results in less blood loss and decreased length of hospital stay with no compromise in histopathologic outcomes.     

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and vaginal radical trachelectomy for fertility-sparing treatment in women affected by cervical cancer (FIGO stage IB-IIA1)

Objectives

The aim of the present report is to support the feasibility and the safety of a new fertility-sparing treatment in young women affected by bulky cervical cancer.

Methods

Between February 2007 and October 2010, seven patients presenting large IB-IIA1 tumors (30-45 mm) were scheduled for conservative treatment. All patients underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) followed by laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy and vaginal radical trachelectomy (VRT).

Results

One patient presented hematological toxicity during NACT (grade 3). All patients showed complete disappearance of tumor (n = 4/7) or partial response (a 50% or more decrease in total tumor size, n = 3/7) to neoadjuvant treatment, and they were all treated with pelvic lymphadenectomy and VRT. Additional treatment (interstitial brachytherapy) was offered to only one woman because of a persistent parametrial tumoral lesion.After a mean follow up of 22 months (range 5-49), no relapse was observed. To date, only one woman in our study attempted to conceive and she is currently pregnant.

Conclusions

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy for fertility sparing treatment is an innovative approach which is potentially quite interesting for many young women affected by bulky cervical cancer. These women, i.e. those with tumors larger than 2 cm (2-5 cm), are traditionally not offered fertility sparing treatment, thus the preliminary data we report here might have a promising impact. Nevertheless, for these patients it may be suitable to use the more radical, and time-tested, conservative surgical approach to allow for a complete and conservative excision of the residual tumor after neoadjuvant treatment.Studies with a larger number of patients and adequate follow-up are required to validate this conservative approach and to define clearly the good indications for this treatment.     

Systematic comparison of radical vaginal trachelectomy and radical hysterectomy in the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer

Objective

To review the effects of radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) and radical hysterectomy (RH) on overall progression-free survival rate, and intraoperative and postoperative complications in patients with cervical cancer (FIGO stage IA-IB1).

Methods

Electronic searches for studies of RVT and RH in the treatment of cervical cancer between 1994 and January 2010 were made on MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and the Wan Fang dissertation database.

Results

No significant differences were found between RVT and RH in 5-year overall survival rate (relative risk [RR] 0.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.93-1.02); 5-year progression-free survival rate (RR 0.99; 95% CI, 0.95-1.02); intraoperative complications (RR 1.99; 95% CI, 0.61-6.52)]; and postoperative complications (RR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.10-1.27). There were fewer blood transfusions (RR 0.33; 95% CI, 0.12-0.90), less blood loss, and shorter hospital stays in patients undergoing RVT.

Conclusion

Radical vaginal trachelectomy should be considered as a viable treatment option for young patients with early cervical cancer (FIGO stage IA-IB1) who wish to preserve their fertility.     

Radical trachelectomy for early stage cervical cancer: A case series and literature review

Objective

Radical trachelectomy (RT) is an alternative treatment for preserving fertility in patients with cervical cancer. Because women with operable cervical cancer opting for fertility preservation are scarce, few cases have been reported in Taiwan. Here we report our cases series.

Reproductive outcomes of patients undergoing radical trachelectomy for early-stage cervical cancer

Objective

To report the reproductive outcomes of patients undergoing fertility-preserving radical trachelectomy (RT) for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer.

Methods

We analyzed data from our institution's first 105 patients who underwent attempted fertility-sparing surgery with radical trachelectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy, and cerclage from November 2001 to October 2010.

Results

Of the 105 patients who underwent attempted RT, 77 (73%) did not require a conversion to radical hysterectomy or postoperative treatment. The median age was 32 (range, 25-38 years). Most patients (75%) had stage IB1 disease. Sixty-six patients (63%) were nulliparous. Thirty-five women were actively attempting conception 6 months after surgery, and 23 (66%) women were successful in conceiving: there were 20 live births, 3 elective terminations, and 4 spontaneous miscarriages. Four patients had 2 pregnancies each; all delivered their second pregnancy between 32 and 36 weeks. Cerclage erosion through the vaginal wall occurred in 6 cases and was treated by transvaginal removal of protruding suture material. One of these patients experienced a second trimester miscarriage.

Conclusions

The majority of women who attempted to conceive after radical trachelectomy were successful, and most of their pregnancies resulted in full-term births. Assisted reproduction played an important role in select women. Cerclage likely contributed to a post-trachelectomy uterine ability to carry a pregnancy to the third trimester. The second post-trachelectomy pregnancy appears to be at higher risk for preterm delivery than the first pregnancy.     

The functional reconstruction of fertility-sparing radical abdominal trachelectomy for early stage cervical carcinoma

Objective

To study the feasibility and outcome of functional reconstruction during radical abdominal trachelectomy in the treatment of early stage cervical carcinoma.

Study design

Ten cervical cancer patients (FIGO stage IA2 or IB1 with tumours less than 2 cm in diameter) who desired to preserve their fertility underwent abdominal radical trachelectomy with functional reconstruction, including preserving the ascending uterine artery, placing a stent to avoid intrauterine adhesions and using three pieces of mesh to prevent cervical incompetence and uterine prolapse.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 29 years (range 28-30). The average operative time was 261 min (range 204-345), with a mean blood loss of 370 ml (range 150-500). The mean time to remove the urinary catheter was 12 days (range 8-14) after surgery and the mean time to remove pelvic drainage was 4 days (range 2-8). During the follow-up (range 4-68 months), no recurrence was detected and a normal menstrual pattern resumed within 8 weeks after surgery. No abnormality was noted in the preserved ascending branches of the uterine arteries, and no intrauterine adhesion was found. One patient successfully conceived without reproductive assistance and another patient conceived with in vitro fertilization. There was no cervical incompetence or premature rupture of membrane in their pregnancies, and cesarean sections were done as in normal women at a gestation of 38⁺⁵ weeks and 34⁺³ weeks, respectively.

Conclusion

We conclude that the functional reconstruction is a good choice of fertility-sparing surgery for patients with early stage cervical carcinoma.     

保留生育功能的宫颈癌手术选择注意事项及术后生育问题

随着早期宫颈浸润癌的发病逐渐年轻化,保留生育功能的宫颈癌根治术日益受到关注。目前根治性宫颈切除术可以选择经阴道、腹式、经腹腔镜和机器人等手术途径。文章对各种不同手术方式的特点、手术指征、一些关键技术和术后生育问题进行阐述。     

早期宫颈癌保留生育功能治疗后肿瘤和妊娠结局的多中心研究

目的探讨宫颈癌保留生育功能治疗后肿瘤和妊娠结局对临床的指导价值。方法选取北京市9个研究中心2008年1月至2012年5月55例保留生育功能治疗的宫颈癌患者为研究对象,收集临床资料及随访结果,对数据进行统计学分析。结果 55例中子宫颈鳞癌52例,子宫颈腺癌3例;FIGO（2009）分期ⅠA1期17例,ⅠA2期7例,ⅠB1期31例;48例行广泛宫颈切除＋腹膜后淋巴结切除术,7例行次广泛宫颈切除＋腹膜后淋巴结切除术;11例术前行新辅助化疗1～2疗程,9例术后进行1～6个疗程的化疗。术后完成随访53例（96.4%）,中位随访时间19.2个月,49例（92.5%）对目前生活质量满意。肿瘤结局和妊娠结局如下：①保留生育功能治疗后肿瘤复发1例（1.9%）;②治疗后有妊娠计划的26例患者中,9例（9/26,34.6%）共有11次妊娠;其中足月分娩6次（6/11,54.5%）,早产2次（2/11,18.2%）,自然流产（10周）、人工流产（8周）及药物流产（6周）各1次（1/11,9.1%）。结论广泛/次广泛宫颈切除术作为年轻早期宫颈癌患者保留生育功能的治疗方法,安全有效,妊娠结局良好。     

The vaginal radical trachelectomy: an update of a series of 125 cases and 106 pregnancies

Objective

To review our first consecutive 125 vaginal radical trachelectomies (VRT) to assess the oncologic, fertility and obstetrical outcomes.

Methods

Data from our prospective database was used to identify all VRT planned between October 1991 to March 2010 in patients with early-stage cervical cancer (stages IA, IB and IIA). Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test and Student t-test were used to compare baseline characteristics and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed and compared with the use of the log-rank test.

Results

During the study period, 140 VRT were planned and 125 were performed. The median age of the patients was 31 and 75% were nulliparous. The majority of the lesions were stage IA2 (21%) or IB1 (69%) and 41% were grade 1. In terms of histology, 56% were squamous and 37% were adenocarcinomas. Vascular space invasion was present in 29% of cases, and 88.5% of the lesions measured ≤ 2 cm. The mean follow-up was 93 months (range: 4-225 months). There were 6 recurrences (4.8%) and 2 deaths (1.6%) following VRT. The actuarial 5-year recurrence-free survival was 95.8% [95% CI: 0.90-0.98], whereas it was 79% [95% CI: 0.49-0.93] in the group where the VRT was abandoned (p = 0.001). Higher tumor grade, LVSI and size > 2 cm appeared to be predictive of the risk of abandoning VRT (p = 0.001, p = 0.025 and p = 0.03 respectively). Tumor size > 2 cm was statistically significantly associated with a higher risk of recurrence (p = 0.001). In terms of obstetrical outcome, 58 women conceived a total of 106 pregnancies. The first and second trimester miscarriage rates were 20% and 3% respectively, and 77 (73%) of the pregnancies reached the third trimester, of which 58 (75%) delivered at term. Overall, 15 (13.5%) patients experienced fertility problems, 40% of which were due to cervical factor. Twelve (80%) were able to conceive, the majority with assisted reproductive technologies.

Conclusion

VRT is an oncologically safe procedure in well-selected patients with early-stage disease. Lesion size > 2 cm appears to be associated with a higher risk of recurrence and a higher risk of abandoning the planned VRT. Fertility and obstetrical outcomes post VRT are excellent.     

A fertility-preserving option in early cervical carcinoma: laparoscopy-assisted vaginal radical trachelectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy

OBJECTIVE: Laparoscopic vaginal radical trachelectomy is a fertility-preserving alternative to radical hysterectomy or chemoradiation in young women with stage IA2 to IB cervical cancers. The aim of this study is to describe the feasibility and outcome of laparoscopic radical vaginal trachelectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy in women treated with early cervical cancers who wish to maintain fertility. STUDY DESIGN: From August 2000 through December 2004, 16 patients were offered this procedure. Patients were selected for this treatment on the basis of favorable cervical tumors and a desire to maintain fertility. Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomies were performed in all patients. Vaginal radical trachelectomy was performed immediately if removed lymph nodes were negative. Obstetrical and oncological outcomes were evaluated. RESULTS: Sixteen women underwent this procedure. The mean operative time was 142 min (115-178 min), with a mean blood loss of 180 ml (120-230 ml), and the average hospital stay was 6.7 days. No intraoperative or postoperative complications occurred. With an average follow-up of 28.2 months, there have been no recurrences. Five pregnancies have subsequently occurred, with two third-trimester deliveries, two miscarriages at 24 and 26 weeks' gestation, and one patient is currently 18 weeks' pregnant. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopy-assisted radical vaginal trachelectomy is an adequate treatment, with its minimally invasive procedure and shorter recovery time, for early-stage cervical cancer in women who wish to preserve fertility. However, fertility issues remain the largest unanswered problem with this technique.