[Role of radical vaginal trachelectomy and laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in treating early cervical carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the possibility and effect of radical vaginal trachelectomy and laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy in treating women with early cervical cancers who desired to maintain fertility.


METHODS
From August 2001 through May 2003, we performed vaginal radical trachelectomy with laparoscopic lymphadenectomy on 12 patients with biopsy-proven early stage cervical carcinomas. Subjects were selected for this treatment on the basis of favorable cervical tumors and a desire to maintain fertility. Pelvic lymphadenectomies were performed in all patients. Vaginal radical trachelectomy was performed immediately if lymph nodes were negative.


RESULTS
Twelve women underwent this procedure. The median age was 27.6 years (range 24 - 31 years); 10 were nulligravid and 2 were multipara. Mean operative time was 142 min (115 - 178 min), with a mean blood loss of 180 ml (120 - 230 ml), and an average hospital stay of 6.7 days. There was no intra- or post-operative complication. With an average follow-up of 21.5 months, there have been no recurrences. One woman has become pregnant.


CONCLUSIONS
Radical vaginal trachelectomy with laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy permits preservation of fertility in selected patients. It is mini-invasive, and needs shorter recovery time.
Liang
Zhi-qing
ZQ
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
Xu
Hui-cheng
HC
Chen
Yong
Y
Li
Yu-yan
YY
Xiong
Guang-wu
GW
Shi
Chang-xu
CX
D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010388:Pelvis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*