Pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy

Surgical Outcomes of Laparoscopic Pelvic Lymph Node Debulking during Staging Aortic Lymphadenectomy in Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer: A Multicenter Study

Simple Summary

Lymph node metastasis is an important prognostic factor in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC), which makes correct staging crucial. In contrast to existing studies evaluating pelvic lymphadenectomy after aortic lymphadenectomy, this study focuses on the pelvic node (PLN) debulking technique which has the dual objective of staging and cytoreduction. This is a multicenter retrospective study of patients with LACC and positive pelvic nodes on imaging tests. Feasibility, morbidity and delay in the initiation of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) were evaluated for the PLN debulking by comparing it with a control group of aortic lymphadenectomy alone. Excision of the bulky nodes was possible in 99.4% of patients. There were no differences in complications between the groups and a shorter time from diagnosis and from surgery to the start of CRT was observed in the study group.

Abstract

Background: Few studies have evaluated laparoscopic pelvic lymph node (PLN) debulking during staging aortic lymphadenectomy in locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). It allows us to know the lymph node status and facilitates the action of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) by reducing tumor burden. We evaluated its feasibility and compared the perioperative morbidity and the time to CRT with a control group. Methods: This was a multicenter retrospective study of patients with LACC FIGO stage IIIC1r who were recipients of CRT. We compared two cohorts: group 1, which consisted of 164 patients with surgical staging by laparoscopic aortic lymphadenectomy and PLN debulking, and group 2, which consisted of 111 patients with aortic lymphadenectomy alone. Results: Excision of the bulky nodes was possible in all patients in group 1 except for one. Surgery lasted a median of 82 min longer in group 1 but there was no greater intraoperative bleeding or increased hospital stay. There were no significant differences in intraoperative or postoperative complications between the groups. A significantly shorter time from surgery to the start of RT was observed in group 1. Conclusions: It is feasible to perform laparoscopic PLN debulking in the same procedure as the staging aortic lymphadenectomy in LACC without increasing surgical or postoperative complications and without delaying the start of CRT compared to single aortic lymphadenectomy.

Comparison of lymphatic complications between sentinel node navigation surgery and pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Sentinel node navigation surgery (SNNS) has been frequently used in early cervical cancer. However, the incidence and potential reduction of lymphatic complications following the removal of the sentinel lymph node remain unknown. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of lymphatic complications post sentinel node navigation surgery in patients with early cervical cancer.

METHODS

A total of 167 patients, including 70 and 97 patients who had undergone SNNS and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLA), respectively, were enrolled in this study. We compared the lymphatic complications (lower extremity lymphedema and pelvic lymphocele) between the SNNS and PLA groups.

RESULTS

The median number of sentinel lymph nodes removed was 2 (range: 1-14). Among the 70 patients in the SNNS group, there were 0 (0%) and 3 (4.3%) occurrences of lower extremity lymphedema and pelvic lymphocele, respectively. The occurrences of lower extremity lymphedema and pelvic lymphocele were significantly lower in the SNNS group than in the PLA group, despite circumflex iliac node removal.

CONCLUSIONS

The occurrence of lymphatic complications (lower extremity lymphedema and pelvic lymphocele) was significantly lower in the SNNS group than in the PLA group. We found that SNNS, and not PLA, was the best treatment option for preventing the development of lower extremity lymphedema and pelvic lymphocele, despite circumflex iliac node preservation.

Risk factors for lymphatic complications following lymphadenectomy in patients with cervical cancer

Background

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of lymphatic complications following pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLA) in patients with cervical cancer.

Methods

A retrospective study of 169 cervical cancer patients was conducted. Lower extremity lymphedema (LEL) was diagnosed using the International Society of Lymphology guidelines, and pelvic lymphocele (PL) was evaluated using trans-vaginal ultrasonography and computed tomography.

Results

The median patient age was 46 years (range: 22-74) and median body mass index was 21.7 kg/m2 (range: 15.7-37.1). The median number of lymph nodes (LNs) removed was 27 (range: 22-74); 94 (55.6%) patients underwent circumflex iliac node (CIN) dissection; 39 (23.1%) patients received adjuvant chemotherapy; and 81 (47.9%) patients received adjuvant postoperative radiotherapy. There were 28 (16.6%) and 32 (18.9%) occurrences of LEL and PL, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the number of LNs removed (odds ratio [OR]: 3.37; 95% CI: 1.43-8.54; P = 0.0053) and CIN removal (OR: 3.92; 95% CI: 1.55-11.4; P = 0.0033) were independent risk factors for LEL; however, no risk factors were significantly associated with PL.

Conclusions

Our results demonstrated that CIN removal and the number of LNs removed were significant risk factors for LEL in patients with cervical cancer. However, we did not identify any significant risk factors for PL in this study. We instead speculate that LN dissection itself causes PL. We suggest that establishment of comprehensive PLA without CIN dissection, or use of the sentinel lymph node concept, will prevent the occurrence of lymphatic complications in cervical cancer patients.

Lymphadenectomy for the management of endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

This is an update of a previous Cochrane review published in Issue 1, 2010 and updated in Issue 9, 2015. The role of lymphadenectomy in surgical management of endometrial cancer remains controversial. Lymph node metastases can be found in approximately 10% of women who before surgery are thought to have cancer confined to the womb. Removal of all pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy) at initial surgery has been widely advocated, and pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy remains part of the FIGO (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) staging system for endometrial cancer. This recommendation is based on data from studies that suggested improvement in survival following pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. However, these studies were not randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and treatment of pelvic lymph nodes may not confer a direct therapeutic benefit, other than allocating women to poorer prognosis groups. Furthermore, the Cochrane review and meta-analysis of RCTs of routine adjuvant radiotherapy to treat possible lymph node metastases in women with early-stage endometrial cancer found no survival advantage. Surgical removal of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes has serious potential short-term and long-term sequelae. Therefore, it is important to investigate the clinical value of this treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of lymphadenectomy for the management of endometrial cancer.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), MEDLINE and Embase to June 2009 for the original review, updated the search to June 2015 for the last updated version and further extended the search to March 2017 for this version of the review. We also searched registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings, and reference lists of included studies, and we contacted experts in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs and quasi-RCTs that compared lymphadenectomy versus no lymphadenectomy in adult women diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Hazard ratios (HRs) for overall and progression-free survival and risk ratios (RRs) comparing adverse events in women who received lymphadenectomy versus those with no lymphadenectomy were pooled in random-effects meta-analyses. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach.

MAIN RESULTS

978 unique references were identified via the search strategy. All but 50 were excluded by title and abstract screening. Three RCTs met the inclusion criteria; for one small RCT, data were insufficient for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The two RCTs included in the analysis randomly assigned 1945 women, reported HRs for survival adjusted for prognostic factors and based on 1851 women and had an overall low risk of bias, as they satisfied four of the assessment criteria. The third study had an overall unclear risk of bias, as information provided was not adequate concerning random sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding, or completeness of outcome reporting.Results of the meta-analysis remained unchanged from the previous versions of this review and indicated no differences in overall and recurrence-free survival between women who underwent lymphadenectomy and those who did not undergo lymphadenectomy (pooled hazard ratio (HR) 1.07, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.81 to 1.43; HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.58 for overall and recurrence-free survival, respectively) (1851 participants, two studies; moderate-quality evidence).We found no difference in risk of direct surgical morbidity between women who underwent lymphadenectomy and those who did not undergo lymphadenectomy. However, women who underwent lymphadenectomy had a significantly higher risk of surgery-related systemic morbidity and lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation than those who did not undergo lymphadenectomy (RR 3.72, 95% CI 1.04 to 13.27; RR 8.39, 95% CI 4.06 to 17.33 for risk of surgery-related systemic morbidity and lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation, respectively) (1922 participants, two studies; high-quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review found no evidence that lymphadenectomy decreases risk of death or disease recurrence compared with no lymphadenectomy in women with presumed stage I disease. Evidence on serious adverse events suggests that women who undergo lymphadenectomy are more likely to experience surgery-related systemic morbidity or lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation. Currently, no RCT evidence shows the impact of lymphadenectomy in women with higher-stage disease and in those at high risk of disease recurrence.

Lymphadenectomy for the management of endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

This is an update of a previous Cochrane review published in Issue 1, 2010. The role of lymphadenectomy in surgical management of endometrial cancer remains controversial. Lymph node metastases can be found in approximately 10% of women who clinically before surgery have cancer confined to the womb. Removal of all pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy) at initial surgery has been widely advocated, and pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy remains part of the FIGO (International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) staging system for endometrial cancer. This recommendation is based on data from studies that suggested improvement in survival following pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. However, these studies were not randomised controlled trials (RCTs), and treatment of pelvic lymph nodes may not confer a direct therapeutic benefit, other than allocating women to poorer prognosis groups. Furthermore, the Cochrane review and meta-analysis of RCTs of routine adjuvant radiotherapy to treat possible lymph node metastases in women with early-stage endometrial cancer found no survival advantage. Surgical removal of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes has serious potential short-term and long-term sequelae. Therefore it is important to investigate the clinical value of this treatment.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of lymphadenectomy for the management of endometrial cancer.

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), the Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Review Group Trials Register, MEDLINE and EMBASE to June 2009 for the original review and extended the search to June 2015 for this version of the review. We also searched registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings and reference lists of included studies, and we contacted experts in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs and quasi-RCTs that compared lymphadenectomy versus no lymphadenectomy in adult women diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently extracted data and assessed risk of bias. Hazard ratios (HRs) for overall and progression-free survival and risk ratios (RRs) comparing adverse events in women who received lymphadenectomy versus those with no lymphadenectomy were pooled in random-effects meta-analyses. We assessed the quality of the evidence using the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation, Assessment, Development and Evaluation) approach.

MAIN RESULTS

Three RCTs met the inclusion criteria; for one small RCT, data were insufficient for inclusion in the meta-analysis. The two RCTs included in the analysis randomly assigned 1945 women, reported HRs for survival adjusted for prognostic factors and based on 1851 women and had an overall low risk of bias, as they satisfied four of the assessment criteria. The third study had an overall unclear risk of bias, as information provided was not adequate concerning random sequence generation, allocation concealment, blinding or completeness of outcome reporting.Results of the meta-analysis remain unchanged from the previous version of this review and indicate no differences in overall and recurrence-free survival between women who underwent lymphadenectomy and those who did not undergo lymphadenectomy (pooled HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.81 to 1.43; HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.58 for overall and recurrence-free survival, respectively) (1851 participants, two studies; moderate-quality evidence).We found no difference in risk of direct surgical morbidity between women who underwent lymphadenectomy and those who did not undergo lymphadenectomy. However, women who underwent lymphadenectomy had a significantly higher risk of surgery-related systemic morbidity and lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation than those who did not undergo lymphadenectomy (RR 3.72, 95% CI 1.04 to 13.27; RR 8.39, 95% CI 4.06 to 17.33 for risk of surgery-related systemic morbidity and lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation, respectively) (1922 participants, two studies; high-quality evidence).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

This review found no evidence that lymphadenectomy decreases risk of death or disease recurrence compared with no lymphadenectomy in women with presumed stage I disease. Evidence on serious adverse events suggests that women who undergo lymphadenectomy are more likely to experience surgery-related systemic morbidity or lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation. Currently, no RCT evidence shows the impact of lymphadenectomy in women with higher-stage disease and in those at high risk of disease recurrence.

Synthetic cyanoacrylic glue in the prevention of post-operative lymphocele after pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with uterine malignancies: A prospective, single-blind, preliminary study

OBJECTIVES

Lymphoceles are among the most common post-operative complications of pelvic lymphadenectomy, with a reported incidence of 1% to 29% in gynecology oncology. Several studies evaluated the effectiveness of biological glues on reducing lymphoceles, but no data on gynecological patients are available. We evaluated the effectiveness of cyanoacrylic glues (n-butyl cyanoacrylate) (Glubran 2 - GEM s.r.l., Italy) in preventing lymphocele on 30 patients who underwent pelvic lymphadenectomy for endometrial or cervical cancer.

METHODS

Single-blind prospective randomized study. Patients were divided into 2 groups: pelvic lymphadenectomy plus n-butyl cyanoacrylate (treatment group: 44 patients) and pelvic lymphadenectomy without n-butyl cyanoacrylate (control group: 44 patients). Primary endpoint was incidence of pelvic lymphocele in the two groups 30 days after surgery, and evaluated with pelvic ultrasound and RMI examination. Secondary endpoints evaluated drainage volume of lymphorrhea 36, 48, 72 and 96 h after surgery.

RESULTS

15% in the treatment group and 36.6% in the control group had lymphocele 1month after the procedure (p<0.03; RR 0.4 [95% CI 0.152-0.999]). Concerning the secondary outcome in group A the amount of lymphorrhea presented a constant significant decrease during evaluation; on the contrary, in group B, after an initial decrease at 48 h, the amount of lymphorrhea remained unchanged; at all considered times the amount of lymphorrhea resulted significantly greater in controls.

CONCLUSION

Intraoperative application of n-butyl cyanoacrylate seems to reduce lymph production after pelvic lymphadenectomy, providing a useful additional treatment option for reducing drainage volume and preventing lymphocele development after pelvic lymphadenectomy.

The role of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common malignancy of the female reproductive tract and the fourth most common cancer overall. Approximately 20 % of patients with EC harbor disease outside the uterus, and 10 % of patients initially diagnosed with cancer confined to the uterus are found to have lymph node metastases. Para-aortic lymph node involvement occurs in approximately 7-8 % of EC patients overall and in about 50 % of patients with positive pelvic nodes. Metastases to the para-aortic lymph nodes are associated with poor prognosis. Factors associated with para-aortic lymph node dissemination include advanced stage, high histological grade, deep myometrial invasion, cervical involvement, lymphovascular space involvement, and the presence of pelvic lymph node metastases. Approximately 77 % of patients with para-aortic nodal involvement are found to have metastases above the level of the inferior mesenteric artery. Systematic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy with dissection optimally carried out to the renal vessels is important in high-risk patients in order to identify nodes present at distant sites, particularly above the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA). While the definitive management of EC varies widely across the gynecological oncology community, there is a consensus that patients at risk for lymphatic metastases (high and intermediate risk) who are targeted with systematic lymphadenectomy may have an improved prognosis. Well-designed prospective studies evaluating the therapeutic role of systematic lymphadenectomy in EC are needed. Herein, we describe the role of para-aortic lymphadenectomy in the surgical staging of EC emphasizing its prerequisites, extent, and diagnostic and potential therapeutic advantages.

Defining the optimal lymphadenectomy cut-off value in epithelial ovarian cancer staging surgery utilizing a mathematical model of validation

OBJECTIVE

Since 1985 International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics includes pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy as part of the surgical staging in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). There is no consensus on the overall number of nodes needed in a systematic lymphadenectomy. The aim of this study is to calculate the optimal cut-off value using a mathematical modeling approach.

METHODS

Data was collected retrospectively, from 1996 to 2000, of 120 consecutive Mayo Clinic patients with EOC and positive nodes. All patients was underwent pelvic and/or aortic lymphadnectomy during surgical staging. To mathematically predict the probability of a positive node in EOC patients we used a predictive mathematical model (PMM). The mathematical analysis consisted: creation of a new PMM according to our purposes, application of PMM to describe the experimental data in order to build the polynomial regression curves in each lymphatic area and determine the optimal point for each curve.

RESULTS

The mean number of lymph nodes and metastatic nodes removed were 35 and 7.8, respectively; the mean percentage of positive nodes was 28.3%. The optimal point of each fitting curves were: 7 nodes for unilateral aortic nodal sampling (at least 3 infrarenal or 5 inframesenteric) and 15 nodes for unilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy (at least 5 external iliac).

CONCLUSIONS

We can mathematically predict the probability to obtain a positive node in EOC surgical staging. Our results have shown the need to obtain at least 22 lymph nodes between pelvic and aortic lymphadenectomy.

First 100 early endometrial cancer cases treated with laparoendoscopic single-site surgery: a multicentric retrospective study

OBJECTIVE

We sought to assess feasibility and perioperative outcomes for laparoendoscopic single-site surgery (LESS) in early endometrial cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

This was a retrospective multicentric study of 100 early endometrial cancer cases undergoing LESS from July 2009 through July 2011.

RESULTS

All patients underwent total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy by LESS. Pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy were performed in 48 and 27 patients, respectively. A median of 16 pelvic lymph nodes (range, 1-33) and 7 paraaortic lymph nodes (range, 2-28) were retrieved. Both median operative time (129 minutes; range, 45-321) and estimated blood loss (70 mL; range, 10-500) were greater when staging lymphadenectomy was performed (P values = .001). Four intraoperative and 4 postoperative complications were observed. Conversion to standard laparoscopy and laparotomy was necessary for completion of 1 case each. Patients responded positively regarding cosmetic result and minimal postoperative pain control.

CONCLUSION

LESS further minimizes the invasive nature of surgery and is feasible for treatment of early-stage endometrial cancer.

Lymphadenectomy for the management of endometrial cancer

BACKGROUND

Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynaecological cancer in western Europe and North America. Lymph node metastases can be found in approximately 10% of women who clinically have cancer confined to the womb prior to surgery and removal of all pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes (lymphadenectomy) is widely advocated. Pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is part of the FIGO staging system for endometrial cancer. This recommendation is based on non-randomised controlled trials (RCTs) data that suggested improvement in survival following pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy. However, treatment of pelvic lymph nodes may not confer a direct therapeutic benefit, other than allocating women to poorer prognosis groups. Furthermore, a systematic review and meta-analysis of RCTs of routine adjuvant radiotherapy to treat possible lymph node metastases in women with early-stage endometrial cancer, did not find a survival advantage. Surgical removal of pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes has serious potential short and long-term sequelae and most women will not have positive lymph nodes. It is therefore important to establish the clinical value of a treatment with known morbidity.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of lymphadenectomy for the management of endometrial cancer.

SEARCH STRATEGY

We searched the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) Issue 2, 2009. Cochrane Gynaecological Cancer Review Group Trials Register, MEDLINE (1966 to June 2009), Embase (1966 to June 2009). We also searched registers of clinical trials, abstracts of scientific meetings, reference lists of included studies and contacted experts in the field.

SELECTION CRITERIA

RCTs and quasi-RCTs that compared lymphadenectomy with no lymphadenectomy, in adult women diagnosed with endometrial cancer.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Two review authors independently abstracted data and assessed risk of bias. Hazard ratios (HRs) for overall and progression-free survival and risk ratios (RRs) comparing adverse events in women who received lymphadenectomy or no lymphadenectomy were pooled in random effects meta-analyses.

MAIN RESULTS

Two RCTs met the inclusion criteria; they randomised 1945 women, and reported HRs for survival, adjusted for prognostic factors, based on 1851 women.Meta-analysis indicated no significant difference in overall and recurrence-free survival between women who received lymphadenectomy and those who received no lymphadenectomy (pooled HR = 1.07, 95% CI: 0.81 to 1.43 and HR = 1.23, 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.58 for overall and recurrence-free survival respectively).We found no statistically significant difference in risk of direct surgical morbidity between women who received lymphadenectomy and those who received no lymphadenectomy. However, women who received lymphadenectomy had a significantly higher risk of surgically related systemic morbidity and lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation than those who had no lymphadenectomy (RR = 3.72, 95% CI: 1.04 to 13.27 and RR = 8.39, 95% CI: 4.06, 17.33 for risk of surgically related systemic morbidity and lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation respectively).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We found no evidence that lymphadenectomy decreases the risk of death or disease recurrence compared with no lymphadenectomy in women with presumed stage I disease. The evidence on serious adverse events suggests that women who receive lymphadenectomy are more likely to experience surgically related systemic morbidity or lymphoedema/lymphocyst formation.

How accurate is frozen section histology of pelvic lymph nodes in patients with endometrial cancer?

OBJECTIVE

Recent prospective data support the trend towards systematic retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy in patients with high-risk endometrial cancer. Because para-aortic node involvement in the absence of pelvic node involvement is uncommon, a reliable finding of negative pelvic lymph nodes (PLN) at intraoperative frozen section examination might allow omitting para-aortic dissection. We analyzed the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section examination of PLN in patients with endometrial cancer.

METHODS

We reviewed 131 patients with endometrial cancer who underwent surgery including systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy (n=101) or pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy (n=27). Intraoperative frozen section examination of PLN was performed in 72 (55%) patients. Results of frozen section examination were compared with those of final histopathology and the diagnostic accuracy of frozen section examination of PLN was calculated. One pathologist measured the diameters of PLN metastases retrospectively.

RESULTS

A total of 1063 and 2666 PLN were analyzed by frozen section examination and by final histopathology, respectively. PLN metastases were found in 7 cases (10%) at frozen section examination, and in 17 cases (24%) at final histopathology (false negative rate, 59%). No false positive cases were noted. The mean diameter of all PLN metastases at final histopathology was 4.3 mm, as compared to 9.0 mm for the metastases detected at frozen section analyses. The mean diameter of PLN metastases missed at frozen section examination was 2.0 mm.

CONCLUSION

In this review at a single institution, intraoperative frozen section histology missed nearly two of three endometrial cancer patients with positive nodes. These results do not support tailoring the extent of lymphadenectomy according to the results of frozen section examination.

The number of pelvic lymph nodes in the quality control and prognosis of radical hysterectomy for the treatment of cervical cancer

AIMS

To determine if the number of removed lymph nodes in radical hysterectomy with lymphadenectomy (RHL) influences survival of patients with early stage cervical cancer and to analyze the relation of different factors like patient age, tumour size and infiltration depth with the number of nodes examined in node-negative early stage cervical cancer patients.

METHODS

Of consecutive patients, who underwent RHL between January 1984 and April 2005, 331 had negative nodes (group A) without adjuvant therapy and 136 had positive nodes (group B). The Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression model were used to detect statistical significance. Factors associated with excision of nodes were confirmed with linear regression models.

RESULTS

The median number of removed nodes was 19 and 18 for group A and group B, respectively. There was no significant relationship between the number of removed nodes and the cancer specific survival (CSS) or disease free survival (DSF) for patients of group A (p=0.625 and p=0.877, respectively). The number of removed nodes in group B was not significantly associated with the CSS (p=0.084) but it was for the DSF (p=0.014). Factors like patient age, tumour size and infiltration depth were not associated with the number of nodes.

CONCLUSIONS

No relation was found between the number of negative nodes examined after RHL for the treatment of early stage cervical cancer and CSS or DFS. However, a higher amount of removed lymph nodes leaded to a better DFS for patients with positive nodes. It is suggested that patients with positive nodes benefit from a complete pelvic lymphadenectomy and a sufficient yield of removed nodes.

Pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical cancer: Extraperitoneal versus laparoscopic approach

OBJECTIVE

To compare the extraperitoneal versus the laparoscopic technique in performing pelvic lymphadenectomy in a series of patients undergoing a radical vaginal hysterectomy for locally advanced cervical cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study with 42 patients undergoing a radical vaginal hysterectomy for cervical cancer. Patients from group A (20 patients) had a laparoscopic lymph node dissection and patients belonging to group B (22 patients) had an extraperitoneal lymphadenectomy. Historical data, clinical and surgical characteristics, perioperative and post-operative complications were analyzed. Follow-up was conducted according to the oncologic requirements.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of blood loss, post-operative pain, transfusions, hospital stay and post-operative hematomas. The extraperitoneal group (group B) significantly showed a reduced operating time, a greater number of nodes removed (p<0.05). The only lymphocyst occurred in group B.

CONCLUSIONS

Extraperitoneal pelvic lymphadenectomy can be considered an adequate technique to complement radical vaginal operations for cervical cancer.

An analysis of the risk factors and management of lymphocele after pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with gynecologic malignancies

OBJECTIVES

The incidence and risk factors of lymphocele development after pelvic lymphadenectomy were evaluated and its management investigated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study was carried out on 264 patients who received a pelvic lymphadenectomy, between March 1999 and February 2003, due to gynecologic cancer. The patients were classified into two groups; the lymphocele (n=50) and non-lymphocele groups (n=214), as confirmed by ultrasonography, CT scan and MRI. Each group was compared by cancer type and stage, BMI, preoperative Hb, use of pre/postoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy, number of resected pelvic lymph nodes and the volume of postoperative drainage from a Hemovac pelvic drain.

RESULTS

Of the 264 patients tested, 15 of 105 cervical cancer (14%), 22 of 115 ovarian cancer (19%) and 11 of 40 endometrial cancer patients (27%), a total of 50 patients (18%), developed lymphoceles. In the lymphocele group (n=50), 13 patients were diagnosed with complicated lymphocele. The BMI and number of resected pelvic lymph nodes were found to be higher in the lymphocele than in the non-lymphocele group (23.94+/-3.38 vs. 22.52+/-3.00, p=0.00 and 26.80+/-14.82 vs. 22.96+/-10.18, p=0.03, respectively), and showed statistical significance. The occurrence of lymphoceles was lower without postoperative radiotherapy (p=0.01).

CONCLUSION

Among the 264 patients, a total of 50 patients (18%) developed lymphoceles. The BMI and number of resected lymph nodes were higher in the lymphocele group, and the use of postoperative radiotherapy was associated with a higher risk of lymphoceles. Thirteen of the 50 patients that developed lymphoceles (n=50) required treatment for lymphocele-related complications.

MR imaging staging of pelvic lymph nodes

Accurate pelvic nodal staging is important in the workup of many pelvic tumors for assessing prognosis and directing therapy. Advances in diagnostic imaging have played an integral role in the staging of these tumors. Cross-sectional imaging, including MR imaging,however, uses size criteria and morphology to infer malignancy within a node,which is neither sensitive nor specific. This article reviews the normal pelvic nodal anatomy and techniques of conventional MR imaging for optimal nodal evaluation as well as introducing the recent technique of ultra small supraparamagnetic iron oxide(USPIO)-enhanced MR lymphangiography, which uses nodal function rather than structural criteria in assessing for metastatic nodes.

[Lymph node dissection in the surgical management of stage I endometrial carcinomas]

The indication and extent of lymph node dissection in the surgical management of endometrial cancers remain highly controversial. Randomized studies are badly needed but will probably lack for the next years, considering the large sample size required to show a small difference in survival. The trend towards a reduction in the routine use of external radiation therapy weakens the argument that radiation therapy makes adequate lymph node dissection useless. The balance stays between the risk for node involvement and the expected complications rate of the procedure. Lymph node dissection is advised whenever there is a non-negligible risk of node metastasis in a patient at low surgical risk.

Modulation of surgery in early invasive cervical cancer

In modern oncology increasing attention is given to patient quality of life issues. Reduction of morbidity and preservation of reproductive organs are aspects of major concern for surgeons treating women affected by gynecologic tumors. To achieve these goals both improvements of surgical technique and peri-operative management, but mainly a better individualization of therapy are needed. This requires: (1) advanced knowledge of the natural history of disease, (2) accurate pathological evaluation, (3) innovative diagnostic tools. In the last decades remarkable progresses have been made in these fields making modulation of surgery a concrete option in the treatment of early invasive cervical cancer. Currently, tumor volume measurements by step serial section of cone specimen (stage IA(2) and small volume IB(1)), sentinel nodal group lymphadenectomy and sentinel node biopsy (stage IB(1)) represent the best techniques available for assessing the risk of extracervical spread of disease allowing tailoring of patient management to optimize the patients outcome and quality of life.

Pre-operative lymphatic mapping and intra-operative sentinel lymph node detection in early stage endometrial cancer

Lymphatic mapping and sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy are becoming increasingly useful for the identification of tumour lymphatic spread in a wide variety of neoplasms, such as breast cancer and melanoma, reducing unnecessary radical lymph node resection. The aim of our study was to determine the feasibility of lymphatic mapping with both labelled colloid and patent blue violet in patients with early stage endometrial cancer. Sixteen consecutive patients with endometrial cancer, stage International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO Ib), were included in the study. Lymphoscintigraphy and laparoscopically assisted intra-operative SLN detection were performed in all patients. In addition, to verify the prognostic role of this method, 12 of 16 patients were followed up for a period of at least 1 year. In 15 of 16 patients, 24 SLNs (all internal iliac lymph nodes) were detected at lymphoscintigraphy (six monolateral and nine bilateral). At histological analysis, three of the 24 were positive for micrometastases, whereas the remaining 21 were negative. No other surgically dissected lymph nodes presented metastases. At 1 year of follow-up, none of the 12 patients presented relapse of their disease. In conclusion, in endometrial cancer, both pre-operative lymphoscintigraphy and intra-operative gamma-probe detection of SLNs represent promising tools for the visualization of SLNs. The status of the latter may yield a correct representation of pelvic lymph node involvement, providing important information for further treatment.