Abstract

Objectives: In pregnant patients with early stage cervical cancer, the preferred mode of delivery is a caesarean section (CS), which can be combined with a radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHLD). The aim of this study was to compare this group of patients with non-pregnant cervical cancer patients treated by RHLD alone with regard to perioperative morbidity, oncological outcomes, and perinatal outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all consecutive patients diagnosed with early stage cervical cancer during pregnancy who were treated by CS and RHLD at our institution. Nonpregnant counterparts served as controls and were matched on a 1 : 2 ratio. Key outcomes were perioperative complications, cancer outcome and perinatal outcome. Results: Nineteen pregnant women treated with a CS and RHLD were matched with 38 non-pregnant control patients with cervical cancer who underwent a RHLD. The only difference in morbidity was a higher estimated perioperative blood loss in the pregnant group (1600 mL) compared to the control group (800 mL; P = 0.001), resulting in seven (36.8%) and eight (21.1%) blood transfusions (P = 0.22; OR 2.19; 95% CI 0.65 to 7.38), respectively. Conclusion: Oncological outcomes were similar with 5- year overall survival rates of 94% in the pregnant group and 95% in the non-pregnant group. The neonatal survival rate was 100%. Complication rates and oncological outcomes after treatment with RHLD were comparable for pregnant and non-pregnant patients with early stage cervical cancer. Therefore we feel that it is safe to combine a CS with a RHLD in pregnant patients with early stage cervical cancer.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)300-306
Number of pages7
JournalEuropean journal of gynaecological oncology
Volume42
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Apr 2021

Keywords

  • Caesarean section
  • Perinatal mortality
  • Postoperative complications
  • Pregnancy
  • Radical hysterectomy
  • Survival
  • Uterine cervical cancer

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