Menstrual pattern after abdominal radical trachelectomy

Trachelectomy: How is it actually done? A review from FRANCOGYN group Titre: Trachélectomie: comment faire en pratique ? Revue de la littérature par le groupe FRANCOGYN

Because of the peak incidence of cervical cancer between the ages of 35 and 44 and the increasing age of first pregnancy, the issue of fertility preservation in cases of early-stage cervical cancer in women in this reproductive age category arises. Early-stage cervical cancer patients have a good prognosis and are surgically treated in cases of mildly aggressive human papillomavirus-related histological type (squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma), FIGO stage IA to IB1 (i.e., <2 cm), with shallow stromal invasion (<10 mm) and without the presence of lymph-vascular space invasion or lymph node or regional involvement. Under these conditions, conservative treatment by trachelectomy, which has recurrence-free and overall survival rates equivalent to that of hysterectomy, may be considered. After a complete pre-therapeutic assessment, including pelvic lymphadenectomy, to eliminate all contraindications to conservative treatment, a simple or enlarged trachelectomy can be chosen. According to some authors, the route of entry (vaginal, simple or robot-assisted laparoscopy, laparotomy) has no significant effect on survival or fertility, although the literature on the subject is limited. Trachelectomy offers good results in terms of fertility, with an estimated pregnancy rate of between 23% and 55% and a live birth rate of 70%. The significant reduction of the cervix associated with the procedure increases the risk of prematurity. However, this can be prevented by the use of a permanent cerclage. Close follow-up of these patients is essential for a minimum period of 5 years in order to detect any recurrence or postoperative complications.

Achievement of live birth after overcoming two gynecological malignancies treated with radical trachelectomy and medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy

Cervical cancer is a human papilloma virus-related disease, whereas endometrial cancer and atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) are hormone-related diseases, so co-occurrence of the two is possible. However, scientific studies about such cases are rare. We encountered a case of cervical adenocarcinoma and AEH in a 33-year-old nulliparous woman. Two fertility-sparing treatments were performed, a radical trachelectomy for the cervical cancer and high-dose medroxyprogesterone acetate treatment for the AEH. After remission of the diseases, the patient became pregnant by in vitro fertilization and delivered a baby at 36 weeks' gestation by cesarean section. Although the patient had two uterine malignancies, proper evaluation of the diseases, consultation with the patient and her husband, and appropriate management led to fertility preservation, and live birth was achieved.

Reduced response to controlled ovarian stimulation after radical trachelectomy: A pitfall of fertility-sparing surgery for cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE

To clarify the decrease in response to controlled ovarian stimulation in patients who receive in vitro fertilization treatment after radical trachelectomy.

METHODS

The outcomes of ovarian stimulation were retrospectively evaluated and compared between patients who have undergone radical trachelectomy and control patients who had male factor infertility or unexplained infertility.

RESULTS

A total of 30 ovarian stimulation cycles in 14 radical trachelectomy patients and 54 cycles in 30 control patients were reviewed. The median age at ovarian stimulation was 34.8 years in the radical trachelectomy group and 36.5 years in the control group. Compared with the control group, the radical trachelectomy group had significantly lower mean estradiol concentration (1461.7 pg/ml, SD 775.0 vs. 1950.9 pg/ml, SD 1057.3, P = 0.029) during controlled ovarian stimulation cycle and smaller median number of retrieved oocytes (5, range 1-14 vs. 8, range 1-19, P = 0.007), despite the higher use of gonadotropin (3527.5 IU, SD 1313.4 vs. 2670.8 IU, SD 905.1, P = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The response to controlled ovarian stimulation decreased after radical trachelectomy.

Reproductive and obstetric outcomes after abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART) for patients with early-stage cervical cancers in Fudan, China

OBJECTIVE

To report the reproductive and obstetric outcomes of patients undergoing abdominal radical trachelectomy (ART) for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancers in Fudan, China.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed a prospectively collected database of 360 patients with stage IA1-IB1 cervical cancers who underwent ART between 2004 and 2018.

RESULTS

Overall, 211 women (58.6%) did not plan to get pregnant immediately after ART, and 89.6% of them were due to childbearing before surgery or unmarried. Among 149 women who attempted to conceive, 26 (17.4%) of them achieved 30 pregnancies. Eighty-six patients (57.7%) had infertility problems, 44 attempted to conceive with assisted reproductive technologies, and 12 (27.3%) succeeded. Post-operative cervical stenosis (26, 27.4%) and fallopian tube obstruction (22, 23.2%) were the most common reasons for infertility after surgery. Among the patients who conceived, there were 3 first-trimester miscarriages, 6 second-trimester miscarriages, and 2 elective terminations. A total of 19 pregnancies reached the third trimester, and 84.2% of them ended after 36 weeks. Twelve of 20 cases in patients with cerclage placed had full-term birth, while 3 of 5 patients without cerclage placed suffered from second-trimester miscarriage or preterm birth.

CONCLUSIONS

Immediately after ART, many patients were reluctant to conceive, while others suffered from cervical stenosis or fallopian tube obstruction, which had led to low pregnancy rate. Pregnant patients might experience miscarriage or preterm labor which could be prevented by cervical cerclage. Assisted reproductive technology should be encouraged to improve obstetric outcomes.

Reconstructed uterine length is critical for the prevention of cervical stenosis following abdominal trachelectomy in cervical cancer patients

AIM

Although the procedure of abdominal trachelectomy has been remarkably improved, preventing subsequent cervical stenosis remains challenging. In this study, we analyzed the clinicopathological risk factors for cervical stenosis to explore the appropriate surgical procedures for the prevention of cervical stenosis following trachelectomy.

METHODS

Thirty-two patients who underwent abdominal extended and radical trachelectomy were assessed retrospectively (median follow-up period = 33 months). To evaluate the risk factors, the clinicopathological factors were analyzed by univariate and multivariate analyses. The reconstructed uterine length (UtL), that is, the length between the vaginal end of the neo-cervix and the uterine fundus, was measured by transvaginal ultrasound after surgery. The cut-off value for the UtL was assessed by a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.

RESULTS

Cervical stenosis of any grade was observed in 12 patients (grade 1 = 9, grade 3b = 3). Among the various clinicopathological factors, the UtL and cervical length (CL) were significantly related to cervical stenosis following trachelectomy. The multivariate analysis revealed that the UtL, but not CL, is an independent risk factor for stenosis. The ROC curve analysis revealed that stenosis was significantly more likely to occur in patients with a UtL shorter than 53 mm (area under the ROC curve = 0.902). UtL in the patients who became pregnant was longer than that in the patients who did not. No evidence of recurrent cancer was observed during the follow-up period.

CONCLUSION

Our proposed method may provide a functional reconstructed uterus with preserving fertility by remaining UtL more than 53 mm.

Successful Pregnancy following Myomectomy Accompanied with Abdominal Radical Trachelectomy for an Infertile Woman with Early Cervical Cancer: A Case Report and Literature Review

Women in the reproductive age group diagnosed with cervical cancer can receive radical trachelectomy in case they wish to preserve fertility. However, the indication for this procedure in infertile women with cervical cancer is controversial depending on the underlying cause of infertility. Here, we present a case of a successful pregnancy following myomectomy accompanied with abdominal radical trachelectomy for an infertile woman with early cervical cancer. The patient was a 38-year-old nulliparous woman with a significant past medical history of infertility of unknown origin. She had been undergoing treatment with assisted reproductive technologies including artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization for over four years. During her treatment for infertility, she was diagnosed with stage IB1 cervical squamous cell carcinoma. She received abdominal radical trachelectomy and abdominal myomectomy in the same surgical procedure. Six months after the surgery, she went for the first embryo transfer and became pregnant. At 26 weeks of pregnancy, a male baby weighing 980 g was delivered with an Apgar score of 3/5/7 by cesarean section due to chorioamnionitis. The baby has received general care in a neonatal intensive care unit for four months and weighed 4520 g when discharged.