[Laparoscopic management of occult cervical cancer discovered after simple hysterectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To assess the feasibility and morbidity of surgical management by combined laparoscopic and vaginal approach after cervical cancer diagnosed at the time of simple hysterectomy.


METHODS
From 2000 to 2005, 10 patients were referred with occult cervical cancer discovered after simple hysterectomy. All these patients had laparoscopy for surgical staging.


RESULTS
Eight on ten patients had complete laparoscopic staging: pelvic lymphadenectomy (N=8), radical colpectomy (N=5). Operative time, pelvic lymph nodes resected, postoperative stay were respectively 261.3 minutes (200-400), 27 (23-38), 4.4 days. There were 2 symptomatic lymphocysts. Pelvic lymph nodes were positive for 1 patient with negative paraaortic nodes. Residual disease was present in 2 cases: 1 parametrial and vaginal involvement, 1 ovarian metastasis. 5 patients had adjuvant treatment: 2 combined pelvic external radiotherapy and brachytherapy, 1 pelvic external radiotherapy, 1 pelvic concurrent chemoradiation and 1 brachytherapy only. Two on ten patients needed a laparoconversion, one for ovarian involvement and one for technical failure. With a median follow-up of 29.7 months (4-63), 3 patients recurred. 3 patients recurred above 5 patients with pelvic lymphadenectomy but without parametrectomy versus no recurrence above 5 patients with pelvic lymphadenectomy and parametrectomy.


CONCLUSIONS
Surgical staging of occult cervical cancer discovered after simple hysterectomy is necessary for indication of adjuvant treatment. Laparoscopy combined with vaginal surgery is feasible and safe, inducing fewer adhesions which is important for adjuvant radiotherapy. The realization of a radical parametrectomy seems to offer a local control of the disease and a decrease in the risk of recurrence, which need to be confirmed by conducting a study with more patients. This emphasize the necessity of creating a national record to register all women managed for occult cervical cancer.
Vignancour
S
S
Service de gynécologie-obstétrique, centre hospitalier de Calais, 11, quai du Commerce, 62100 Calais, France. sebastien.vignancour@libertysurf.fr
Narducci
F
F
Collinet
P
P
Vinatier
D
D
Castelain
B
B
Leblanc
E
E
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000379:methods; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents