Isolated recurrence at the residual uterine cervix after abdominal radical trachelectomy for early cervical cancer

BACKGROUND: We report an isolated recurrence at the residual cervix shortly after abdominal radical trachelectomy for cervical cancer. CASE: A 34-year-old woman underwent radical abdominal trachelectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for FIGO stage IB1 squamous cell cervical cancer. The tumor measured 10 mm in maximum diameter with 4 mm of invasion. Histology showed lymph vascular space involvement with no infiltration of adjacent structures and no pelvic lymph node metastases. Tumor-free resection margins exceeded 15 mm. At the 6-month follow-up examination, cervical cytology showed cells suspicious for recurrent cervical cancer. Abdominal hysterectomy was performed and histology showed an isolated 3-mm recurrence in the residual cervix. The patient is free of disease 8 months after hysterectomy. CONCLUSION: Recurrence at the residual cervix is a potential risk of abdominal trachelectomy for early cervical cancer. Patients should be counseled accordingly and followed closely.