Management of symptomatic pelvic lymphocyst after radical pelvic or pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy for cervical and endometrial cancer

Treatment and Impact of Cervical-Cancer-Related Lymphatic Disorders on Quality of Life and Sexuality Compared with Controls

Background: Lymphatic disorders are frequent complications related to treatment for cervical cancer (CC). The aims of the study are to evaluate the impact of lymphatic disorders on quality of life (QOL) and sexuality in CC survivors after the completion of oncological treatment and to compare them with controls. Methods and Results: An ambispective cohort study was performed by using the Functional Assessment Cancer Therapy (FACT)-Cervix (Cx) fourth version, the World Health Organization Quality of Life-Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF), and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI). Twelve patients affected by lymphatic disorders comprised the study group, 251 comprised the CC control group, and 185 comprised the non-CC control group. Regarding QOL, there were no statistically significant differences between the lymphatic disorder-unaffected and non-CC control groups, except in the WHOQOL-BREF environment domain. A weak positive correlation between lymphatic disorder and FACT-Cx additional concerns (σ = 0.135) was observed. Regarding sexuality, a weak negative correlation was detected between lymphatic disorders and FSFI sexual satisfaction (σ = -0.200) and a weak positive correlation was observed between lymphatic disorders and FSFI dyspareunia (σ = 0.148). We did not observe statistically significant differences in QOL satisfaction between the lymphatic disorder-affected and non-CC control groups. Symptomatic controls reported significantly higher physical health scores than the lymphatic disorder-affected group (p < 0.05). Regarding the psychological domain, the asymptomatic controls obtained significantly higher scores than the lymphatic disorder-affected group (p = 0.003). Conclusions: Lymphatic disorders notably influenced the QOL of CC survivors compared with the non-CC control groups. Lymphatic disorders had a significant negative impact on physical and psychological health. Sexuality was scarcely affected by lymphatic disorders.

Microbiology of Pelvic Lymphocyst Infection after Lymphadenectomy for Malignant Gynecologic Tumors

BACKGROUND

Pelvic lymphocyst infection is a rare complication after lymphadenectomy for malignant gynecologic tumors. Although medical therapy is a useful addition to surgical drainage, the appropriate antibiotic regimen is unknown because few studies have examined the causative organisms. The purpose of this case series was to identify the micro-organisms infecting pelvic lymphocysts.

METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective, case-series review conducted at a tertiary-care cancer center between October 2002 and March 2013. The participants included all patients who experienced their first pelvic lymphocyst infection after undergoing pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical, endometrial, or ovarian cancer and exhibited positive lymphocyst fluid culture. Computed tomography- or sonography-guided percutaneous aspiration procedures were performed to obtain lymphocyst fluid for culture.

RESULTS

During the study period, 878 patients underwent lymphadenectomy for gynecologic malignant tumors, and 13 developed a pelvic lymphocyst infection documented microbiologically. Cultures identified Staphylococcus aureus (three patients), S. epidermidis (one patient), Streptococcus agalactiae (three patients), Enterococcus (two patients), Escherichia coli (one patient), and anaerobic bacteria (three patients). They were all monomicrobial infections.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study and other smaller ones suggest that lymphocyst infections following pelvic lymphadenectomy for malignant gynecologic tumors usually are monomicrobial and caused by gram-positive cocci, including Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus, and anaerobes such as Bacteroides fragilis. These bacteria should be considered when selecting empiric antibiotic therapy.

Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy: indications, technique, and complications

Radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy remains the treatment of choice for women with Stages IA(2) and IB(1) carcinoma of the cervix, and selected patients with Stage II endometrial cancer. Improvement in surgical techniqe, administration of prophylactic antibiotics, thromboemolic prophylaxis, and advances in critical care medicine have resulted in lower operative morbidity associated with this procedure. Major urinary tract complications such as ureteral injury or vesico-vaginal fistula are now extremely rare (<1%). Five-year survival rates following this procedure vary according to a number of clinical and histologic variables, and may be as high as 90% in women without lymph node metastases.