Robot-assisted laparoscopic transperitoneal infrarenal lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer by single docking: Do we need a backup procedure?

Conventional Laparoscopy versus Robotic-Assisted Aortic Lymph-Nodal Staging for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Aortic lymph node metastases are a relative common finding in locally advanced cervical cancer. Minimally invasive surgery is the preferred approach to perform para-aortic lymph nodal staging to reduce complications, hospital stay, and the time to primary treatment. This meta-analysis (CRD42022335095) aimed to compare the surgical outcomes of the two most advanced approaches for the aortic staging procedure: conventional laparoscopy (CL) versus robotic-assisted laparoscopy (RAL). The meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guideline. The search string included the following keywords: "Laparoscopy" (MeSH Unique ID: D010535), "Robotic Surgical Procedures" (MeSH Unique ID: D065287), "Lymph Node Excision" (MeSH Unique ID: D008197) and "Aorta" (MeSH Unique ID: D001011), and "Uterine Cervical Neoplasms" (MeSH Unique ID: D002583). A total of 1324 patients were included in the analysis. Overall, 1200 patients were included in the CL group and 124 patients in the RAL group. Estimated blood loss was significantly higher in CL compared with RAL (p = 0.02), whereas hospital stay was longer in RAL compared with CL (p = 0.02). We did not find significant difference for all the other parameters, including operative time, intra- and postoperative complication rate, and number of lymph nodes excised. Based on our data analysis, both CL and RAL are valid options for para-aortic staging lymphadenectomy in locally advanced cervical cancer.

[18F]FDG-PET or PET/CT in the evaluation of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer: A systematic review of the literature

PURPOSE

Imaging is essential in detecting lymph node metastases for radiotherapy treatment planning in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). There are not many data on the performance of [¹⁸F]FDG-PET(CT) in showing lymph node metastases in LACC. We pooled sensitivity and specificity of [¹⁸F]FDG-PET(CT) for detecting pelvic and/or para-aortic lymph node metastases in patients with LACC. Also, the positive and negative posttest probabilities at high and low levels of prevalence were determined.

METHODS

MEDLINE and EMBASE searches were performed and quality characteristics assessed. Logit-sensitivity and logit-specificity estimates with corresponding standard errors were calculated. Summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by anti-logit transformation. Positive and negative likelihood ratios (LRs) were calculated from the mean logit-sensitivity and mean logit-specificity and the corresponding standard errors. The posttest probabilities were determined by Bayesian approach.

RESULTS

Twelve studies were included with a total of 778 patients aged 10-85 years. For pelvic nodes, summary estimates of sensitivity, specificity, LR+ and LR- were: 0.88 (95%CI: 0.40-0.99), 0.93 (95%CI: 0.85-0.97), 11.90 (95%CI: 5.32-26.62) and 0.13 (95%CI: 0.01-1.08). At the lowest prevalence of 0.15 the positive predictive value (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) were 0.68 and 0.98, at the highest prevalence of 0.65, 0.96 and 0.81. For the para-aortic nodes, the summary estimates of sensitivity, specificity LR+ and LR- were: 0.40 (95%CI: 0.18-0.66), 0.93 (95%CI: 0.91-0.95), 6.08 (95%CI: 2.90-12.78) and 0.64 (95%CI: 0.42-0.99), respectively. At the lowest prevalence of 0.17 the PPV and NPV were 0.55 and 0.88, at the highest prevalence of 0.50, 0.86 and 0.61.

CONCLUSION

The PPV and NPV of [¹⁸F]FDG-PET(CT) showing lymph node metastases in patients with LACC improves with higher prevalence. Prevalence and predictive values should be taken into account when determining therapeutic strategies based on [¹⁸F]FDG-PET(CT).

The role of robotic aortic lymphadenectomy in gynecological cancer: surgical and oncological outcome in a single institution experience

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate the surgical outcomes observed in robotic transperitoneal aortic lymphadenectomy (AL) in gynecological cancer patients.

METHODS

Retrospective data were collected and analyzed on 71 patients undergoing robotic surgical procedures for gynecological cancers, including transperitoneal AL, between December 2014 and February 2018 at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.

RESULTS

Median age of the sample population was 50 years (range, 26-76 years). The median operative time was 210 minutes (range, 75-480 minutes), the median estimated blood loss was 50 ml (range, 20-300 ml). The number of para-aortic nodes removed was 12 (range, 7-43). In the whole series, 13 patients (18.3%) had at least one metastatic node. Overall, 10 patients (14.1%) experienced any grade early postoperative complications. Three patients experienced more than one complication. Three intraoperative complications occurred with two cases of vascular injury. Conversion to laparotomy was necessary for one patient (1.4%).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study shows the safety and adequacy of robotic transperitoneal AL as surgical staging step for gynecological cancers in terms of perioperative and postoperative outcomes.