[Oncological outcomes of laparoscopic radical trachelectomy for early stage cervical cancer].

Objective: To analyze and summarize the oncological outcomes after laparoscopic radical trachelectomy (LRT) for early stage cervical cancer. Methods: The clinical data and follow-up results of 148 patients with early stage cervical cancer who underwent LRT in Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University from July 2014 to June 2023 were collected, while tumor outcomes and postoperative pregnancy were analyzed retrospectively. Results: (1) General situation: the median age of 148 patients with LRT was 33 years (range: 19-42 years). Pathological type: 111 cases of squamous cell carcinoma, 36 cases of adenocarcinoma, 1 case of adenosquamous carcinoma. International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (2018) stage: 17 cases of stage Ⅰa1 with lympho-vascular space invasion, 25 cases of stage Ⅰa2, 102 cases of stage Ⅰb1, and 4 cases of stage Ⅰb2. (2) Tumor outcomes: 148 patients were followed up regularly after LRT, and the median follow-up time was 59 months (range: 2-104 months). During the follow-up period, 5 cases of tumor recurred (including 1 death), and the median recurrence time was 10 months (range: 4-33 months). Among them, there were 3 cases of pelvic metastasis, 1 case of distant metastasis, and 1 case of both pelvic and distant metastasis. Both 3-year and 5-year disease-free survival rates of 148 patients were 94.5%, and the 5-year overall survival rate was 98.9%. (3) Postoperative pregnancy: among 148 patients with LRT, 67 patients had pregnancy requirements, followed up for 1 year, and 20 of them were pregnant, with a pregnancy rate of 29.9% (20/67). Among the 20 pregnant patients, 2 cases early abortion, 1 case mid-term abortion, and 17 cases gave birth (including 4 cases of premature birth and 13 cases of full-term birth). Conclusion: Under the condition of strict control of surgical indications, guaranteed surgical scope and tumor-free operation, LRT in patients with early cervical cancer has a good outcome.

Successful pregnancy with in vitro fertilization after vaginal radical trachelectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy in stage IB1 cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: To present a case of successful pregnancy after undergoing vaginal radical trachelectomy (VRT) and pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) for early-stage cervical cancer. CASE REPORT: A 37-year-old female patient has been diagnosed with stage IB1 cervical cancer and underwent VRT and PLND. Two years after the surgery, the patient successfully conceived and delivered a healthy baby through a cesarean section. CONCLUSION: This case report demonstrates that pregnancy after VRT and PLND for stage IB1 cervical cancer is possible and can result in a successful outcome. This report provides valuable information for patients and physicians who are considering these surgical options.

Oncologic and Fertility Outcomes After Simple Trachelectomy in Women With Early Cervical Cancer.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to present our case series of patients with early-stage cervical cancer undergoing simple trachelectomy (ST). Currently, radical trachelectomy is considered the most appropriate fertility-preserving procedure for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. However, there is increasing debate on the appropriate radicality of the surgery to preserve oncologic safety. DESIGN: Descriptive retrospective analysis of patient records and evaluation of questionnaires. SETTING: 2 gynecologic oncologic centers, surgeries performed by one surgical team. PATIENTS: 36 women with early-stage cervical cancer undergoing ST. INTERVENTIONS: Laparoscopic assisted simple vaginal trachelectomy. MEASUREMENTS: Demographic, histologic, fertility, and follow-up data of all patients who underwent ST between April 2007 and July 2021 were prospectively recorded and retrospectively analyzed. MAIN RESULTS: A total of 36 women (mean age: 28 years) underwent ST of whom 81% were nulliparous. Indications for ST were multifocal International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA1 (n = 30), stage IA1 L1 (n = 1), stage IA2 (n = 2), and stage IB1 (n = 3). Mandatory staging procedure was laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy, including bilateral sentinel biopsy in 92% of the cases and systematic in 8%. Residual tumor was histologically confirmed in 8 specimens (22%); 18 women (50%) were seeking parenthood, and 13 succeeded (72%). There were 16 live births, all on term, with a median fetal weight of 3110 grams (2330-4420). One patient had a medical abortion owing to fetal congenital malformation. One pregnancy is ongoing. After a median follow-up of 91.5 months (9-174), all women are alive with no evidence of disease. CONCLUSION: ST represents a de-escalation compared with radical trachelectomy and provides excellent oncologic results with an outstanding fertility rate and obstetric outcome for patients with early cervical cancer. However, clear indications for this tailored fertility-preserving surgery have to be defined in well-designed trials.

The influence of radical trachelectomy on endometrial thickness in in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer.

AIM: Both morbidity and mortality rates of cervical cancer are increasing, especially in reproductive-aged women. Radical trachelectomy (RT) is an effective fertility-preserving surgery for early-stage cervical cancer. This study aimed to determine the influence of RT on endometrial thickness during in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET). METHODS: Forty-four patients had undergone RT, and 23 women undergoing IVF-ET treatment (105 ET cycles) were included. Endometrial thickness during hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was retrospectively evaluated and compared between patients with and without RT. RESULTS: Eleven patients (50 ET cycles) in the RT group and 12 (52 ET cycles) in the control group were investigated. Compared with the control group, higher ET cancellation rates were observed in patients in the RT group (1 of 52 cycles [control group] vs. 8 of 50 cycles [RT group], p < 0.01). Endometrial thinning was not affected by patient age at first IVF-ET treatment, history of artificial abortion, preservation of uterine arteries during RT, or postoperative chemotherapy (p = 0.27, 1, 1, and 1, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our data revealed that RT influenced endometrial thickness in IVF-ET. This was not affected by the background of the patients or perioperative management in this study. We could not reveal the underlying mechanism, but it is postulated that the transient postoperative uterine blood flow status and postoperative infections may have some effect on the endometrium. To resolve these issues, accumulation of evidences are required. We recommend informing patients about the impact of RT on IVF-ET before starting assisted reproductive technology (ART).

An update of oncologic and obstetric outcomes of radical trachelectomy for early-stage cervical cancer: The need for further minimally invasive treatment.

AIMS: To investigate the oncologic and obstetric outcomes of radical trachelectomy (RT) in patients with early-stage cervical cancer and to evaluate the potential role of fertility-preserving treatments in improving pregnancy outcomes while oncologic status is stable. METHODS: In this single-institution study, we analyzed the oncologic and obstetric outcomes of 67 patients with early-stage cervical cancer who underwent RT at Nagoya University Hospital. RESULTS: The cancer recurrence rate (6.0%) and the mortality rate (1.5%) were comparable with those of previous studies. Of the 46 patients who attempted to conceive after RT, 19 (41.3%) became pregnant, and 16 gave birth. Of these 37.5% delivered at term, and delivery at less than 28 weeks of gestation occurred in 31.3% of pregnancies. CONCLUSIONS: RT is a viable treatment option for selected patients with early-stage cervical cancer. However, the use of less invasive techniques, such as conization/simple trachelectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection, may improve pregnancy outcomes while oncologic status is stable.

Effect of radical trachelectomy on ovarian reserve: A single-institute prospective study.

AIM: Reduced responses to controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) after radical trachelectomy (RT) have been previously reported. We aimed to assess the effect of RT on ovarian reserve by measuring anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels before and after the procedure in this prospective study. METHODS: We included 12 patients who underwent RT between September 2019 and December 2021 in this study. Serum AMH levels were measured preoperatively, 1 month postoperatively, and 6 months postoperatively. Differences in the AMH levels were assessed using a paired t-test. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 30.6 years, and the median follow-up time was 30.1 months. AMH levels at 1 and 6 months postoperatively did not show a consistent trend. At 1 month postoperatively, the average AMH level decreased insignificantly but returned to preoperative levels at 6 months. The differences in AMH levels before and after RT were insignificant. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that RT did not affect ovarian reserve as measured by AMH levels. However, the relationship between unchanged ovarian reserve and reduced response to COS remains unclear. Further research with larger sample sizes and additional measures of ovarian function is needed to corroborate these results and investigate the long-term effects of RT on ovarian reserve. Understanding these mechanisms will help guide surgical practices and provide patients with valuable information about their reproductive outcomes after RT.

Pregnancy outcomes following radical trachelectomy for early-stage cervical cancer: A retrospective observational study in the Kanto area, Japan.

OBJECTIVE: The authors aimed to investigate the prevalence of pregnancy and obstetric outcomes in patients who underwent radical trachelectomy (RT) for early-stage cervical cancer in the Kanto area, Japan. METHOD: A survey among 113 perinatal centers affiliated with the Kanto Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology was conducted to investigate their experience in managing pregnancies following RT, between 2010 and 2020. The association between preterm delivery (before 34 gestational weeks) and a midtrimester short cervix (<13 mm) was evaluated. RESULTS: The authors retrospectively collected maternal and perinatal data from 13 hospitals. There were 135 pregnancies among 115 women following RT. Of the 135 pregnancies, 32 were miscarriages (<12 gestational weeks: n = 22; >12 gestational weeks: n = 10), and 103 were delivered after 22 gestational weeks. The incidences of preterm delivery before 28 and 34 gestational weeks were 8.7% and 30.1%, respectively. A midtrimester short residual cervix was associated with preterm delivery (P = 0.046). CONCLUSION: Since more than 100 pregnancies were recorded after RT in the Kanto area, many physicians had more opportunities to manage pregnancy after RT. Pregnancy following RT is associated with increased risk of preterm delivery, and midtrimester short residual cervix is a good predictor of preterm delivery.

Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Trachelectomy with Prophylactic Cerclage: A Safe Fertility-Sparing Treatment for Early Stage Cervical Cancer.

BACKGROUND: In recent years fertility-sparing treatments are increasingly developing in patients with early stage cervical cancer.1,2 Among these, trachelectomy represents a milestone with a wide range of surgical approaches,3 evidence of oncological safety, and positive obstetric outcomes.4 PATIENTS AND METHODS: A 26-year-old patient underwent conization for CIN3 with a subsequent diagnosis of squamous cervical cancer stage FIGO IB1. After a negative laparoscopic bilateral pelvic nodes sampling and the radiologic evidence [positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)] of a disease limited to the cervix, the patient was a candidate for trachelectomy according to her fertility-sparing desire. RESULTS: The first laparoscopic time is dedicated to the safe opening of the vesicouterine and rectovaginal spaces until the medial pararectal fossa. Ureters are found and bilateral ureterolysis performed under vision. Colpotomy is then vaginally achieved, and the cervix is closed in a vaginal cuff to avoid tumor spread. Careful dissection of the anterior and posterior septa is carried out until reunification with laparoscopic dissection. Bilateral parametrectomy is performed. Vaginal trachelectomy is finalized with a negative deep margin at the frozen section. In the second laparoscopic time a monofilament polypropylene sling cerclage is bilaterally positioned from posterior to anterior through the broad ligaments and fixed anteriorly on the uterine isthmus to prevent an eventual preterm delivery. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal trachelectomy is a feasible procedure combining the conservative advantages of the vaginal approach and the oncological safety of laparoscopic spaces dissection with possible good obstetric outcomes.

Eugen Bogdan Aburel, a pioneer of fertility sparing surgery.

Eugen Bogdan Aburel was pioneer of the fertility sparing surgery in early cervical cancer in young women desiring to preserve their childbearing potential. He graduated in Romania but started specializing in obstetrics and gynecology in Paris, where he had the chance to work with the most prominent professors of the time and do research at Sorbonne, the most famous French higher education institution. Most of his discoveries date from the time he spent in Paris hospitals, proving that a good medical school can generate remarkable physicians. The fertility sparing surgery he created after returning to Romania did not have the same chance to be known and spread to the international medical world because of the Cold War isolation, Romania belonging to the Eastern Communist bloc. However, his pioneering work in this field of surgery is fully recognized today.

How to make a LLETZ simulator: LLETZ Simulator.

Large loop excision of the transformation zone (LLETZ) of the uterine cervix is a surgical procedure very frequently performed. Simulation of LLETZ under colposcopic guidance has a major role in training practitioners. The objective was to present an ex vivo model of LLETZ.

A meta-analysis of treatment for early-stage cervical cancer: open versus minimally invasive radical trachelectomy.

BACKGROUND: In previous systematic reviews, meta-analysis was lacking, resulting in the statistical difference between the data of different surgeries being impossible to judge. This meta-analysis aims to contrast the fertility results and cancer outcomes between open and minimally invasive surgery. METHOD: We systematically searched databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Scopus to collect studies that included open and minimally invasive radical trachelectomy. A random-effect model calculated the weighted average difference of each primary outcome via Review Manager V.5.4. RESULT: Eight studies (1369 patients) were incorporated into our study. For fertility results, the Open group excels MIS group in pregnancies-Third trimester delivery [OR = 2.68; 95% CI (1.29, 5.59); P = 0.008]. Nevertheless, there is no statistical difference in clinical pregnancy, miscarriage, and second-trimester rate. Concerning cancer outcomes, no difference was detected in the overall survival [OR = 1.56; 95% CI (0.70, 3.45); P = 0.27] and recurrence [OR = 0.63; 95% CI (0.35, 1.12); P = 0.12]. Concerning surgery-related outcomes, the comprehensive effects revealed that the estimated blood loss of the Open group was higher than that of the MIS group[MD = 139.40; 95% CI (79.05, 199.75); P < 0.0001]. However, there was no difference between the postoperative complication rate in the two groups [OR = 1.52; 95% CI (0.89, 2.60); P = 0.12]. CONCLUSION: This meta-analysis suggested that the fertility result of the Open group may be better than the MIS group, while the MIS group has better surgery-related outcomes. Owing to the poor cases of our study, a more robust conclusion requires more relevant articles in the future. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42022352999.

Fertility sparing therapy in women with lymph node negative cervical cancer >2cm - oncologic and fertility outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical vaginal trachelectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Simple or radical trachelectomy are accepted fertility sparing therapies for patients diagnosed with cervical cancer ≤2 cm. In patients with larger tumors a fertility sparing concept is considered experimental. The aim of our study is to present oncological and fertility outcomes of laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and subsequent radical vaginal trachelectomy. These procedures were performed in two centers in patients diagnosed with cervical cancer of diameter >2 cm. METHOD: We retrospectively analyzed the demographic, histological, fertility and follow-up data of all patients with cervical cancer assessed as stage IB2, IB3 or IIA1 under the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2018 system. These patients had undergone pelvic lymphadenectomy, followed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radical vaginal trachelectomy between February 2006 and June 2020 at Charité University Berlin and Asklepios Hospital, Hamburg. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients (mean age 29.5 years, range; 26-40) underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical vaginal trachelectomy in case of proven tumor-free lymph nodes. Twenty-six (84%) of these patients were nulliparous. Across all 31 patients, the initial tumor stages were FIGO 2018 stage IB2 (n=27), IB3 (n=3) and IIA1 (n=1).Lymphadenectomy was completed in all but one patient (sentinel) with a median of 33 (range; 11-47) pelvic lymph nodes. The neoadjuvant chemotherapy regimen was two cycles of paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin in 17 patients; three cycles of paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin in eight patients; two cycles of paclitaxel and cisplatin in four patients; two cylces cisplatin monoagent in one patient; and two cycles of paclitaxel and cisplatin followed by two cycles of paclitaxel, ifosfamide and cisplatin in one patient. Residual tumor was histologically confirmed in 17 specimens (55%). The median residual tumor size following neoadjuvant chemotherapy was 12 mm (range; 1-60). Fertility could be preserved in 27 patients (87%); two patients underwent adjuvant chemoradiation after radical vaginal trachelectomy due to high-risk histological features; two other patients underwent radical hysterectomy with adjuvant chemoradiation therapy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Of 18 (67%) patients seeking motherhood, 13 became pregnant (72%). There were 12 live births in 10 women, with a median fetal weight of 2490 grams (range; 1640-3560) and five miscarriages. After a median follow-up of 94.5 months (range; 6-183) three recurrences (11.1%) were detected, one patient (3.7%) died of the disease. CONCLUSION: Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by radical vaginal trachelectomy may be offered to patients seeking motherhood with cervical cancer >2 cm and histopathologically tumor-free lymph nodes, the rate of healthy baby pregnancy on discharge was 10/18 women (55%). This fertility-preserving strategy is associated with higher recurrence and death compared with what was published in the literature for women undergoing radical vaginal trachelectomy for tumors up to 2 cm.

Decreased pregnancy rate per embryo transfer in women undergoing assisted reproductive technology after abdominal trachelectomy: A retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: Abdominal trachelectomy (AT) is a fertility-preservation surgery for patients with early-stage cervical cancer. Few studies have reported the outcomes of assisted reproductive technology (ART) in patients after AT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcomes of ART after AT. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective study, we compared the ART outcomes of 13 patients who underwent AT at another hospital prior to undergoing ART at our clinic (T group) and 52 control patients (non-T group) who did not undergo AT prior to ART, selected on the basis of age, time of treatment onset, and serum anti-Müllerian hormone concentrations, matched 1:4, respectively. RESULTS: Cumulative live birth rates were 62% (8/13) and 65% (34/52) in the T and non-T groups, respectively (p = 0.795). The total number of oocyte retrieval cycles was 34 in the T group and 95 in the non-T group. In all oocyte retrieval cycles, no significant differences were noted in the number of oocyte retrievals, rate of fertilization, and presence of good-quality blastocysts (Gardner classification ≥ BB). The total number of embryo transfer (ET) cycles was 55 in the T group and 109 in the non-T group. The pregnancy and live birth rates per ET were lower in the T group than those in the non-T group (pregnancy rate, 20% vs. 39%, p = 0.017; live birth rate, 15% vs. 30%, p = 0.028; respectively). Endometrial thickness before ET was lower in the T group vs. the non-T group: median (range): 7.4 (3.5-14.3) mm vs. 9.0 (5.5-14.9) mm, respectively; p < 0.0001. Multivariate logistic regression models showed that age at oocyte retrieval (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66-0.87), use of good-quality blastocysts (adjusted OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 1.20-8.67), and history of AT (adjusted OR, 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.72) were associated with the pregnancy rate per ET. CONCLUSION: The pregnancy rate per ET was lower in patients with vs. without a history of AT. Clinicians should be aware of the longer time to pregnancy in patients who undergo ART after AT.

Conservative surgical approaches for small volume FIGO stage IB1 cervical cancer. Updated survival and obstetric outcomes of an expanded cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Standard surgical treatment of FIGO stage 1B1 cervical cancer is open radical surgery. However, there is increasing evidence that for small tumours a more conservative approach can minimise fertility consequences without impacting on long term oncologic outcomes. The objective of our study is to present survival and obstetric outcomes following extended follow-up for patients who underwent conservative management of small-volume stage 1B1 disease. METHODS: All patients with FIGO stage 1B1 cancer and estimated tumour volume of <500 mm3 in a loop biopsy specimen treated in Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre between December 2000 and December 2021, were included in the study. Clinico-pathological and demographic data were collated alongside detailed follow-up and obstetric outcomes in conjunction with primary care and death register. RESULTS: 117 patients underwent conservative surgery for small volume stage 1B1 disease. 58 (49.5%) underwent fertility sparing conservative management with LLETZ while 59 (50.5%) underwent simple hysterectomy. Overall, 95% (111/117) of the patients underwent bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and 1 positive node was identified. There was no death related to cervical cancer and 1 recurrence identified during a median follow up of 8.5 years (1-20). 17 pregnancies have been recorded in patients underwent LLETZ and 17 live babies were born. No second trimester miscarriages were noted and there was one preterm delivery (36 weeks). CONCLUSION: Non-radical surgery with negative pelvic lymphadenectomy for smallvolume stage 1B1 cervical cancer ensures excellent survival without compromising obstetric outcomes. Should these results be verified by the ongoing prospective studies, radical surgery for these patients may be avoided.

Twenty years of experience with less radical fertility-sparing surgery in early-stage cervical cancer: Pregnancy outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The standard procedure in cervical cancer is radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLND). Because of the increasing age of women bearing children, fertility has become a major challenge. We present pregnancy results after less radical fertility-sparing surgery in women with IA1, LVSI positive, IA2 and IB1 (<2 cm, infiltration less than half of the cervical stroma). MATERIALS AND METHOD: All women (n = 91) underwent laparoscopic sentinel lymph node mapping with frozen section followed by PLND and "selective parametrectomy" (removal of afferent lymphatic channels from the paracervix) if sentinel nodes (SLN) are negative. If lymph nodes were verified negative by definitive histopathology, patients were treated by simple trachelectomy (IB1) or large cone (IA1/IA2) biopsy 1 week after primary surgery. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2018, 91 women were enrolled in the study (median age 29.1 years, range 21-40). Fertility was spared in 76 (83.5%) women; 13 (17.1%) women did not plan future pregnancy and 63 (82.9%) had pregnancy desires. Fifty-four of 63 women conceived (pregnancy rate 85.7%) and 48 of 63 delivered 58 babies (delivery rate 76.2%). Thirty-nine women delivered in term (67.2%): 13 women between 32 and 36 + 6 weeks of pregnancy, 3 between 28 and 31 + 6 weeks and 3 between 24 and 27 + 6 weeks. Only one woman still plans pregnancy. One woman is currently pregnant. CONCLUSION: The goal of fertility-sparing surgery is to produce good oncological results and promising pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy results after less radical fertility-sparing procedures show promise (pregnancy rate 82.9% and delivery rate 76.2%).

[Pelvic Reconstruction in Abdominal Trachelectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy for Occult Uterine Endometrial Cancer Found in Specimens Removed in the Context of Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy].

In the patients undergoing pelvic organ prolapse (POP) repairs, the incidence of occult uterine endometrial cancer is low and there is no established management procedure for preoperative cancer screening. We report a case of pelvic reconstruction in abdominal trachelectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for occult uterine endometrial cancer found in specimens removed in the context of laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC). A 70-year-old woman presented to our center with cystocele. She underwent LSC and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy. She had no atypical genital bleeding; and, transvaginal ultrasound, pelvic plane magnetic resonance imaging and cervical cytology showed no evidence of malignancy. However, the pathological examination showed uterine endometrial cancer. She underwent trachelectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. A part of mesh was removed with a cervical stamp, but the remaining mesh was sewn together. At 5 months after the operation, no recurrence of uterine endometrial cancer and POP was seen.

Radical Vaginal Hysterectomy, Type B: An Educational Video, Cadaver Model.

The radical vaginal hysterectomy popularized by Schauta1 has been virtually abandoned due to painful perineal incision, high rate of urinary dysfunction, and inability to perform lymph node assessment. However, this approach is still used and taught in a few centers outside its Austrian birthplace. In addition, a combined vaginal and laparoscopic approach, overcoming the flaws of the pure vaginal technique, was developed in the 1990s by French and German surgeons.2 After the publication of the Laparoscopic Approach to Cervical Cancer trial,3 the radical vaginal approach has found a very timely application with the closure of the vaginal cuff, aiming at avoiding cancer cell spillage.4 In addition, it is the basis to perform radical vaginal trachelectomy, or Dargent's operation, the best documented approach for the fertility-sparing management of stage IB1 cervical cancers. Today, the main obstacle to the rebirth of radical vaginal surgical surgery is the lack of teaching centers and the need of a specific learning curve that requires performing 20-50 surgeries.5,6 This educational video demonstrates that training is possible using a fresh cadaver model. A type B approach according to the Querleu-Morrow7 classification of radical vaginal hysterectomy, adapted according to surgeon's choice to stage IB1 or IB2 cervical cancer, is shown. Key specific steps such as the creation of a vaginal cuff and the identification of the ureter within the bladder pillar are highlighted. Fresh cadaver model is a method that spares the patients the risks of early learning curve while allowing the surgeon to acquire skills and keep offering the patient the benefit of the most specifically gynecological approach in cervical cancer surgery.

An update of oncologic and obstetric outcomes after abdominal trachelectomy using the FIGO 2018 staging system for cervical cancer: a single-institution retrospective analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To apply the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) 2018 staging system to all patients who underwent trachelectomy in our previous study and to update the oncologic and obstetric results. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients in whom abdominal trachelectomy was attempted between June 2005 and September 2021. The FIGO 2018 staging system for cervical cancer was applied to all patients. RESULTS: Abdominal trachelectomy was attempted for 265 patients. Trachelectomy was converted to hysterectomy in 35 patients, and trachelectomy was completed successfully in 230 (conversion rate: 13%). Applying the FIGO 2018 staging system, 40% of the patients who underwent radical trachelectomy had stage IA tumors. Among 71 patients who had tumors measuring ≥2 cm, 8 patients were classified as stage IA1 and 14 as stage IA2. Overall recurrence and mortality rates were 2.2% and 1.3%, respectively. One hundred twelve patients attempted to conceive after trachelectomy; 69 pregnancies were achieved in 46 patients (pregnancy rate: 41%). Twenty-three pregnancies ended in first-trimester miscarriage, and 41 infants were delivered between gestational weeks 23 and 37; 16 were deliveries at term (39%) and 25 were premature deliveries (61%). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that patients judged to be ineligible for trachelectomy and patients receiving overtreatment will continue to appear using the current standard eligibility criteria. With the revisions to the FIGO 2018 staging system, the preoperative eligibility criteria for trachelectomy, which were based on the FIGO 2009 staging system and tumor size, should be changed.