Vaginal Radical Trachelectomy for Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: Increased Recurrence Risk for Adenocarcinoma

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate consecutive vaginal radical trachelectomies (VRTs) in early-stage cervical cancer in the 2 main referral centers for fertility-preserving surgery in the Netherlands. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Oncology, fertility, and obstetrical data were recorded in a regional database of all VRTs without neoadjuvant chemotherapy performed in 2 major referral centers between 2000 and 2015. RESULTS: Most of the patients (91.7%) had stage IB1 disease. In 72.0%, squamous cell carcinoma was the histologic diagnosis; in 24.2%, adenocarcinoma; and in 3.8%, adenosquamous carcinoma. The median follow-up was 51 months.Nine (6.8%) recurrences occurred, 4 resulting in death of disease (death rate, 3.0%). Recurrence rates were 12.5% for adenocarcinoma, 20% for adenosquamous carcinoma, and 4.2% for squamous cell carcinoma (P < 0.01).From 117 women, data about fertility and obstetrical outcome were obtained. Almost 60% of women attempted to conceive after a VRT. Of these women, 40% needed fertility treatment. A total of 47 pregnancies were established, and a total of 37 children were born of which 30 (81.1%) were delivered after 32 weeks of gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: Nonsquamous cell histology and high-grade disease are associated with a significantly higher risk of recurrence in the univariate and multivariate analyses. Women with both these histology features should be counseled reticently for VRT.Pregnancies after VRT must be regarded as high-risk pregnancies with a high prematurity rate.