Tailoring pelvic lymphadenectomy for patients with stage IA2, IB1, and IIA1 uterine cervical cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the risk factors for pelvic lymph node metastasis (PLNM) in patients with early-stage uterine cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 192 patients with early-stage uterine cervical cancer (FIGO stage IA2, IB1, and IIA1) receiving radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy were included in the statistical analysis. Results: Thirty-six patients (18.8%) developed PLNM, and the incidences of PLNM in patients with stage IA2, stage IB2, and stage IIA1 were 0% (0/6), 13.9% (20/144), and 38.1% (16/42), respectively. The most common location of PLNM was the obturator lymph node. Univariate analysis showed that stage IIA1 (p < 0.001), tumor size greater than 3cm (p = 0.019), deep-full thickness stromal invasion (p < 0.001), and lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.001) were associated with PLNM. Multivariate analysis showed that deep or full-thickness stromal invasion and lymphovascular invasion were significantly and independently associated with PLNM (p < 0.05 for both). The incidence of PLNM was 34.9% and 28.7% in patients with deep-full thickness stromal invasion and lymphovascular invasion, respectively, but that was only 5.7% and 9.2% in patients with superficial-middle stromal invasion and absence of lymphovascular invasion, respectively. Conclusion: Patients with superficial-middle stromal invasion and without lymphovascular invasion may be avoided pelvic lymphadenectomy in stage IA2, IB1, IIA1 uterine cervical cancer.