Radical vaginal trachelectomy and laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in IB1 cervical cancer during pregnancy

Cervical Cancer Associated with Pregnancy: Current Challenges and Future Strategies

Cancer during pregnancy is defined as a tumor diagnosed in a pregnant woman or up to 1-year post-partum. While being a rare disease, cervical cancer is probably one of the most challenging medical conditions, with the dual stake of treating the cancer without compromising its chances for cure, while preserving the pregnancy and the health of the fetus and child. To date, guidelines for gynecological cancers are provided through international consensus meetings with expert panels, giving insights on both diagnosis, treatment, and obstetrical care. However, these expert guidelines do not discuss the various approaches than can be found within the literature, such as alternative staging modalities or innovative surgical approaches. Also, the obstetrical care of women diagnosed with cervical cancer during pregnancy requires specific considerations that are not provided within our current standard of care. This systematic review aims to fill the gap on current issues with regards to the management of cervical cancer during pregnancy and provide future directions within this evolving landscape.

Abdominal Radical Trachelectomy for Early-Stage Cervical Cancer During Pregnancy: A Provocative Surgical Approach. Overview of the Literature and a Single-Institute Experience

OBJECTIVE

Treatment of pregnancy complication due to malignancy of the cervix constitutes a great clinical challenge between optimal maternal therapy and fetal viability. Radical trachelectomy in early-stage cervical cancer during pregnancy instead of radical hysterectomy presents an alternative approach that can offer a satisfactory outcome for the mother and fetus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS-RESULTS

A literature search of articles in English has been performed. Until now, 28 women with cervical cancer, including 2 who were managed and treated in our institute, who underwent a radical trachelectomy during pregnancy have been reported. We overviewed a total of 13 abdominal trachelectomies, 13 vaginal trachelectomies, and 2 laparoscopic trachelectomies.

CONCLUSIONS

Radical trachelectomy can widen the therapeutic approach of early-stage cervical cancer in pregnant women who wish to preserve their pregnancy, providing a possibility of receiving the proper treatment with no delay.

Management of cervical cancer during pregnancy

Cervical cancer (CC) is the most common gynaecological cancer during pregnancy. The rarity of the disease and lack of randomised control studies have prevented the establishment of treatment guidelines. The management of CC mainly follows the guidelines for the non-pregnant disease state, expert opinions and limited case reports. Although the management of CC diagnosed during pregnancy appears to be a significant dilemma for the patients and specialists, the prognosis of CC is not influenced by pregnancy. The treatment decision should be made collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team consisting of an obstetrician, gynaecologist, oncologist and paediatrician. The concerns of the patient should be taken into account.

Conservative treatment in early cervical cancer

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The aim of this study was to describe fertility preservation methods to improve quality of life of early stages of cervical cancer.

RECENT FINDING

Although definite treatment of early stages of cervical cancer including stages IA,IB1 and IIA non-bulky is radial hysterectomy, this method is used in perimenopousal period in which fertility preservation is not important. Whenever fertility preservation is so important, some methods like radical trachelectomy and laparoscopic lymphadenectomy are used to rule out lymphatic metastases.

SUMMARY

If any visible lesion on cervix is found, pelvic MRI is helpful and during operation, trachelectomy samples are sent for frozen section and margin study. Radical trachelectomy is done vaginal or abdominal. Overall relapse rate of cervical cancer in radical trachelectomy and radical hysterectomy is the same. Complications of radical trachelectomy include chronic vaginal discharge, abnormal uterine bleeding, dysmenorrhea, inflammation and ulcer due to cercelage, amenorrhea, cervical stenosis and pregnancy complications following trachelectomy including 2(nd) trimester abortion and premature labor following cervical prematurity.The best and preferred method of labor is cesarean section. Neoadjuant chemotherapy followed by radical trachelectomy in large cervical lesions is a suitable treatment. Ultraconservative operations like large cold knife conization, simple trachelectomy with laparoscopic lymphadenectomy and sentinel lymph node mapping are suitable for very small lesions.