Is common iliac lymph node dissection necessary in early stage cervical carcinoma?

Para-Aortic Lymph Node Dissection for Patients with Node-Negative Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective. The current guidelines for cervical cancer are uncertain regarding whether the para-aortic lymph nodes (PALNs) need to be removed. For patients with negative PALNs, whether the addition of PALN dissection (PALND) can be translated into survival benefits is unknown. Methods. The medical records of 3,995 patients with FIGO stage IB-IIA cervical squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) who underwent abdominal radical surgery between 2006 and 2014 at our center were retrospectively reviewed. Two groups were identified: PALN-negative patients who underwent PALND (+PALND) and those who did not (−PALND). The groups were matched by propensity score matching (PSM). Survival was analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and the Cox proportional hazards model. Subgroups were stratified by the variables known at the time of diagnosis. Results. After PSM, 313 patients were matched to the −PALND (cohort 1) and +PALND (cohort 2) groups. Cohort 2 patients had a poorer prognosis than cohort 1 patients in terms of overall survival (OS, $P=0.014$ ), and PALND was an independent prognostic factor for OS ( $P=0.021$ ). There were no differences in recurrence patterns between the groups. Subgroup analysis showed that cohort 2 patients had worse OS than cohort 1 patients when they were aged ≤47 years ( $P=0.033$ ), were premenopausal ( $P=0.032$ ), were in stage IB ( $P=0.009$ ), or had preoperative SCC-Ag<6.5 ( $P=0.009$ ). Conclusions. PALND negatively impacts OS in early-stage PALN-negative CSCC patients. For CSCC patients who are clinically PALN-negative, especially those who are young, are premenopausal, have tumors confined to the cervix, and have relatively low SCC-Ag values, PALND may “rub salt on the wound.”

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Pregnant Patients with Cervical Cancer: A Monocentric Retrospective Study

Background: To date, little and discordant data still exists on the management of cervical cancer (CC) during pregnancy. In this paper, we report our experience of the treatment of these patients analyzing the oncologic, obstetric, and neonatal outcomes. Methods: Between January 2010 and December 2021, 13 patients were diagnosed with CC during pregnancy. All patients underwent platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and 11/13 patients underwent a cesarean radical hysterectomy (CRH). Results: All 13 patients were diagnosed with squamous-cell carcinoma, FIGO-2018 stage between IB2-IIIC1. The majority of patients had a partial (61.5%) or complete (15.4%) response to NACT. Most patients had a regular course of pregnancy and the obstetric complications observed were gestational diabetes mellitus in 23.1% and IUGR in 15.4% of cases. CRH was performed in the absence of major complications. Only 2 patients (15.4%) had disease recurrence and only 1 patient (7.7%) died of disease. All children are currently healthy. At birth, we observed mainly prematurity-related complications (38.5% respiratory distress syndrome and 7.7% neonatal jaundice) and only a case of congenital malformation (hypospadias). In our pediatric population, we reported a case of malignancy (acute myeloid leukemia). Conclusion: NACT seems to be safe and efficacious in controlling tumor burden during pregnancy. CRH following NACT appears to be feasible, avoiding repeated surgery and treatment delays. This approach is also reasonably safe from a maternal, obstetric, and neonatal point of view.

A retrospective study of small-pelvis radiotherapy plus image-guided brachytherapy in stage I-II non-bulky cervical squamous cell carcinoma

We herein report a retrospective analysis of the efficacy of a combination therapy of pelvic irradiation that excluded the common iliac lymph nodes region and image-guided brachytherapy (IGBT) for non-bulky (≤4 cm) cervical cancer. Thirty-three patients with stage I-II cervical squamous cell carcinoma (≤4 cm) and without pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenopathy who were treated with definitive radiotherapy alone between February 2009 and September 2016 were included. The radiotherapy consisted of CT-based small-pelvis irradiation (whole pelvis minus common iliac lymph node area) of 20 Gy/10 fractions followed by pelvic irradiation with a midline block of 30 Gy/15 fractions and IGBT of 24 Gy/4 fractions (6 Gy/fraction for high-risk [HR] clinical target volume [CTV] D90%). In-room computed tomography (CT) imaging with applicator insertion was used for brachytherapy planning, with physical examinations and diagnostic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) also being referred to for determination of HR CTV. Over a median follow-up of 60.5 months (range, 7-89), two patients developed distant recurrence and one developed local and distant recurrence. Two patients died from cervical cancer, one from hepatocellular carcinoma and one from non-cancerous disease. The 2/5-year local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 100%/96.7%, 93.8%/90.6% and 93.9%/93.9%, respectively. No pelvic/para-aortic lymph node recurrence was observed. There were no late complications of grade 3 or higher in the small bowel, large bowel/rectum, or bladder. Our results suggest that a combination therapy of IGBT plus small-pelvis irradiation excluding common iliac lymph nodes provides reasonable clinical outcomes and can be a treatment option in non-bulky (≤4 cm) cervical squamous cell carcinoma.

Pathologic Risk Factors and Oncologic Outcomes in Early-stage Cervical Cancer Patients Treated by Radical Hysterectomy and Pelvic Lymphadenectomy at a Thai University Hospital: A 7 year Retrospective Review

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the rate of pathologic high-risk factors, intermediate-risk factors, and treatment outcomes in early-stage cervical cancer patients undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHPL).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records of stage IA-IIA1 cervical cancer patients who underwent RHPL during the 2006 to 2012 time period and patient follow-up data until December 2013 were reviewed.

RESULTS

Of 331 patients, 52 women (15.7%) had pathologic high-risk factors and 59 women (17.8%) had intermediate-risk factors without high-risk factors. All studied patients had an initial complete response. At median follow-up time of 40.9 months (range 1-103.3 months) and mean follow-up time of 43.3±25.3 months, 37 women had disease recurrence and 4 women had died of disease. The most common site of recurrence was the pelvis (64.8%). Five- year and 10-year disease free survival rates were 96.1% and 91.5%, respectively. Five-year and 10-year overall survival rates were 100% and 99.4%, respectively. Independent factors related to recurrence were pelvic node metastasis (odds ratio [OR], 2.670; 95%CI, 1.001-7.119), and >1/3 cervical stromal invasion (OR, 3.763; 95%CI, 1.483-9.549).

CONCLUSIONS

The rates of pathologic high-risk and intermediate-risk factors should be considered and disclosed when counseling patients regarding primary treatment by RHPL. Oncologic outcomes of primary surgical treatment for early-stage cervical carcinoma were found to be excellent.

Distribution pattern of lymph node metastases and its implication in individualized radiotherapeutic clinical target volume delineation of regional lymph nodes in patients with stage IA to IIA cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

To study the distribution pattern of lymph node metastases of stage IA to IIA cervical cancer and to clarify the individualized clinical target volume delineation of regional lymph nodes (CTVn).

METHODS

A total of 665 cases with International Federation Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA to IIA cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were retrospectively reviewed. The clinicopathological factors related to lymph node metastases were analyzed using logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

Pelvic lymph node metastases were found in 168 of 665 patients resulting in a metastasis rate of 25.3%. Binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, lymph vascular space involvement, and deep stromal invasion statistically influenced pelvic lymph node metastases (p = 0.017, < 0.001, < 0.001, respectively). Pathological morphology type, lymph node metastases of the obturator, the external iliac and internal iliac, and the para-aortic had a strong influence on lymph node metastases of the common iliac (p = 0.022, 0.003, < 0.001, 0.009, respectively). Tumor size and lymph node metastases of the common iliac were significantly related to lymph node metastases of the para-aortic (p = 0.045, < 0.001, respectively). Lymph node metastases of the obturator, the external iliac and internal iliac were strongly correlated to lymph node metastases of the circumflex iliac node distal to the external iliac node (CINDEIN; p = 0.027, 0.024, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Factors related to lymph node metastases should be comprehensively considered to design and tailor CTVn for radiotherapy of cervical cancer. Selective regional irradiation including the correlated lymphatic drainage regions should be performed.

Lymph node assessment in cervical cancer: prognostic and therapeutic implications

Lymph node status is not part of the staging system for cervical cancer, but provides important information for prognosis and treatment. This article reviews the incidence and patterns of lymph node metastasis, and the issues surrounding surgical assessment of lymph nodes. The preoperative assessment of lymph nodes by imaging, as well as the intraoperative assessment by sentinel nodes will be discussed. Finally, the prognostic and therapeutic implications of lymphadenectomy in cervical cancer will be reviewed.

Frequency of Pelvic Lymph Node Metastases and Parametrial Involvement in Stage IA2 Cervical Cancer: A Population-Based Study and Literature Review

Background:

The frequency of lymph node metastases in stage IA2 cervical cancer is reported to range from 0% to 9.7%. Treatment recommendations vary likewise from a cone biopsy to a Wertheim radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. The objective of this study was to get insight into the true frequency of lymph node metastases and/or parametrial involvement in stage IA2 cervical cancer.

Methods:

The hospital records of 48 patients with stage IA2 cervical carcinoma who registered from 1994 to 2006 were reviewed, and a literature search was performed.

Results:

Of 48 registered patients, 14 were confirmed to have stage IA2. No lymph node metastases or parametrial invasion and recurrences were found. The collated literature data showed a risk of lymph node metastases of 4.8% (range, 0%-9.7%). The presence of adenocarcinoma and the absence of lymph vascular space invasion resulted in a low risk on lymph node metastases (0.3% and 1.3%, respectively). Parametrial involvement has not been reported.

Conclusions:

The risk of the selected patients with stage IA2 cervical cancer on lymph node metastases is low. In patients with stage IA2 squamous cell cancer with lymph vascular space invasion, a standard pelvic lymph node dissection should be recommended. Parametrectomy should be included if the nodes are positive. In the other patients, the treatment can be individualized and does not have to include lymph node dissection or parametrectomy.