Pelvic lymphocele following radical para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical carcinoma: incidence rate and percutaneous management.
Thirty-six women, treated with radical hysterectomy (Piver types III-IV) plus systematic para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy for cervical carcinoma, underwent serial postoperative ultrasound examinations to determine the incidence of lymphocele and the therapeutic efficacy of percutaneous catheter drainage. Pelvic lymphoceles, ranging in volume from 46-300 mL, occurred in eight patients (22.2%) between the 12-24th postoperative day. Percutaneous catheter drainage, inserted under local anesthesia, was used for a mean time of 14.5 days (range 4-32), resulting in a mean daily drainage of 92.2 mL and a mean total volume of 1727.5 mL per patient. Catheter drainage allowed complete clinical and sonographic remission in all cases, and only one asymptomatic recurrence was observed at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. Ultrasound-guided percutaneous catheter drainage has proved to be a well-tolerated, safe, and effective technique in the management of lymphocele that obviates the need for more invasive surgical procedures.
Institute of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.
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M
Conte
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PB
Panici
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Guariglia
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G
Scambia
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S
Greggi
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S
Mancuso
D004322:Drainage / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D015994:Incidence; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008206:Lymphatic Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008210:Lymphocele / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010388:Pelvis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*