Search

Contains fulltext : 220978.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) AIM: Recently, the safety of laparoscopic radical hysterectomy (LRH) has been called into question in early-stage cervical cancer. This study aimed to evaluate overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) in patients treated with abdominal radical hysterectomy (ARH) and LRH for early-stage cervical cancer and to provide a literature review. METHODS: Patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2017 with International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (2009) stage IA2 with lymphovascular space invasion, IB1 and IIA1, were identified from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Cox regression with propensity score, based on inverse probability treatment weighting, was applied to examine the effect of surgical approach on 5-year survival and calculate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Literature review included observational studies with (i) analysis on tumours /=30 months (iii) >/=5 events per predictor parameter in multivariable analysis or a propensity score. RESULTS: Of the 1109 patients, LRH was performed in 33%. Higher mortality (9.4% vs. 4.6%) and recurrence (13.1% vs. 7.3%) were observed in ARH than LRH. However, adjusted analyses showed similar DFS (89.4% vs. 90.2%), HR 0.92 [95% CI: 0.52-1.60]) and OS (95.2% vs. 95.5%), HR 0.94 [95% CI: 0.43-2.04]). Analyses on tumour size (/=2 cm) also gave similar survival rates. Review of nine studies showed no distinct advantage of ARH, especially in tumours

Simple Summary In node-positive vulvar squamous cell cancer, questions of when and how to perform pelvic lymphadenectomy (LAE) as well as the optimal extent of pelvic treatment in general have been surrounded by considerable controversy. In Germany, systematic pelvic LAE is currently recommended as a staging procedure in patients at risk for pelvic nodal involvement in order to prevent morbidity caused by pelvic radiotherapy (RT) in patients without histologically-confirmed pelvic involvement. However, the population at risk for pelvic metastases remains insufficiently described, resulting in the potential overtreatment of a considerable proportion of patients with groin-positive disease. This applies to the indication to perform surgical staging but also to adjuvant RT of the pelvis without previous pelvic staging. Our study aims to describe the risk for pelvic lymph node metastasis with regard to positive groin nodes and to clarify the indication criteria for pelvic treatment in node-positive vulvar cancer. Abstract The need for pelvic treatment in patients with node-positive vulvar cancer (VSCC) and the value of pelvic lymphadenectomy (LAE) as a staging procedure to plan adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) is controversial. In this retrospective, multicenter analysis, 306 patients with primary node-positive VSCC treated at 33 gynecologic oncology centers in Germany between 2017 and 2019 were analyzed. All patients received surgical staging of the groins; nodal status was as follows: 23.9% (73/306) pN1a, 23.5% (72/306) pN1b, 20.4% (62/306) pN2a/b, and 31.9% (97/306) pN2c/pN3. A total of 35.6% (109/306) received pelvic LAE; pelvic nodal involvement was observed in 18.5%. None of the patients with nodal status pN1a or pN1b and pelvic LAE showed pelvic nodal involvement. Taking only patients with nodal status ≥pN2a into account, the rate of pelvic involvement was 25%. In total, adjuvant RT was applied in 64.4% (197/306). Only half of the pelvic node-positive (N+) patients received adjuvant RT to the pelvis (50%, 10/20 patients); 41.9% (122/291 patients) experienced recurrent disease or died. In patients with histologically-confirmed pelvic metastases after LAE, distant recurrences were most frequently observed (7/20 recurrences). Conclusions: A relevant risk regarding pelvic nodal involvement was observed from nodal status pN2a and higher. Our data support the omission of pelvic treatment in patients with nodal status pN1a and pN1b.

RESUMEN : Introducción: El tratamiento estándar del cáncer de vejiga músculo infiltrante es la cistectomía radical junto a la linfadenectomía pélvica. Las complicaciones linfáticas resultantes de la linfadenectomía no están muy bien descritas en la literatura. Entre las complicaciones más frecuentes se encuentran el linfocele y el linfedema. Objetivos: El objetivo de nuestro trabajo es evaluar la incidencia de complicaciones linfáticas secundarias a la cistectomía radical y linfadenectomía pélvica, así como su correlación con diversos factores perioperatorios a medio y largo plazo. Material y Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio descriptivo retrospectivo de pacientes a los que se les había realizado cistectomía radical con linfadenectomía pélvica entre septiembre de 2018 y febrero de 2021 en el Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla. Resultados: Se intervinieron un total de 71 pacientes. El abordaje de la cistectomía realizado con mayor frecuencia fue el robótico (87,3%). Si nos referimos al tipo de linfadenectomía, fue de tipo extendida en el 91,4% de los casos y super-extendida en el 8,6%. Las complicaciones linfáticas reportadas con mayor frecuencia fueron el linfedema (28,5%), y el linfocele (21,4%). Se encontraron relaciones estadísticamente significativas entre la toma de antiagregante y el desarrollo de linfocele, así como entre linfedema y exitus (ajustado por edad y sexo). Conclusión: Las complicaciones linfáticas debidas a la cistectomía radical y linfadenectomía pélvica no son muy frecuentes. Las complicaciones encontradas con mayor frecuencia en nuestro estudio han sido el linfedema y el linfocele. ABSTRACT : Introduction: The standard treatment for muscle-infiltrating bladder cancer is radical cystectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. Lymphatic complications resulting from lymphadenectomy are not well described in to literature. The most frequent complications are lymphocele and lymphedema. Purpose: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the incidence of lymphatic complications due to radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy, as well as their correlation with various mid- and long- term perioperative factors. Material and methods: A retrospective descriptive study was carried out in patients who underwent radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy between September 2013 and February 2021 in Marqués de Valdecilla University Hospital. Results: A total of 71 patients underwent surgery. The most frequently performed cystectomy approach was robotic (87.3%). Regarding the type of lymphadenectomy, it was extended in 91,4% of cases and super-extended in 8.6%. The most frequent reported lymphatic complications were lymphedema (28,5%), and lymphocele (21,4%). Statistically significant relationships were found between taking antiplatelet agents and the development of lymphocele, as well as between lymphedema and death (adjusted for age and sex). Conclusion: Lymphatic complications due to radical cystectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy are not very frequent. The most frequent complications found in our study were lymphedema and lymphocele. Grado en Medicina

BackgroundTo investigate the surgical methods and clinical results of robot-assisted laparoscopic antegrade inguinal lymphadenectomy.MethodsA retrospective study was performed on clinical data from 19 patients with penile cancer admitted from March 2013 to October 2017. Among them, nine patients underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic antegrade inguinal lymphadenectomy (robot-assisted group) and 10 patients underwent open inguinal lymphadenectomy (open group). In the robot-assisted group, preoperative preparation, patient position, robot placement, design of operating channel and establishment of operating space are described. Key surgical procedures and techniques are also summarized. In addition, the number of lymph nodes removed, postoperative complications and follow-up in both groups were statistically analyzed.ResultsFor the 9 patients in the robot-assisted group, surgery was successfully accomplished at 17 sides without intraoperative conversion to open surgery. The surgery time for each side was 45~90 min using laparoscope with an average of 68.5 ± 13.69 min/side. The intraoperative blood loss was estimated to be P = 0.84). There were no postoperative complications such as skin necrosis, delayed wound healing and cellulitis in the robot-assisted group. Skin-related complications occurred in 9 (45%) of the 20 sides in the open group. During a median follow-up of 25 months in robot-assisted group and 52.5 mouths in open group, was not significantly different there were no statistical differences in recurrence-free survival between the groups (75% vs 60%,p = 0.536).ConclusionRobot-assisted laparoscopic antegrade inguinal lymphadenectomy achieved the desired surgical outcomes with fewer intraoperative and postoperative complications. The robotic arms of the surgical system were placed between the lower limbs of each patient. There was no need to re-position the robotic arms during bilateral inguinal lymphadenectomy. This simplified the procedure and reduced the use of trocars. If necessary, pelvic lymphadenectomy could be performed simultaneously using the original trocar position.

Background: Although lymphadenectomy is advised for accurate surgical endometrial-carcinoma staging, the procedure is not performed regularly worldwide. Most studies on it include few patients and mainly compare pelvic with pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy. Comparing lymphadenectomy with non-lymphadenectomy is rare. The current study examined prognostic significance and survival advantages of pelvic and pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy compared to no lymphadenectomy. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cohort analysis of 75 patients with endometrial carcinomas. The patients were divided into 3 treatment groups based on whether or not lymph-node dissection was performed and the extent of the dissections: (1) pelvic lymphadenectomy; (2) pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy; and (3) no lymphadenectomy. Correlations were analyzed among the surgical techniques used for the 3 groups with respect to the need for adjuvant radiotherapy or chemotherapy, recurrences, and survival outcomes. Results: Pelvic and pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy produced more-favorable overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) rates than no lymphadenectomy (p = 0.047). A significant difference was noted among the 3 treatment groups for OS rate and disease-free survival rates (p = 0.015 and 0.017, respectively). The recurrence rates were 47.1%, 35.7%, and 68.8% in the pelvic lymphadenectomy, and pelvic/para-aortic lymphadenectomy, and no lymphadenectomy groups, respectively (p = 0.037). Conclusions: This study showed that pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy improved the OS and PFS rates of patients with endometrial cancer.

Laparoscopic salpingo-oophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy place the ureter at risk. Although traditional anatomic studies indicate that ureters generally cross over the common iliac artery in the pelvic inlet, the view is often different during surgery. Hence, digital three-dimensional models have been utilized to solve this conundrum. Our study aimed to evaluate the anatomic relation between the iliac artery and the ureter in the pelvic inlet.A medical image processing system processed data collected from 129 female patients, and digital 3D models of the iliac artery and ureter were used to study their anatomic relation. Left- and right-side data were compared using Pearson's χTwo different anatomic relations were found immediately posterior to the ureter: Common iliac arteries were present in 33.2% and external iliac arteries in 76.8%. The mean distances from the point at which the ureter crossed over the iliac artery until the bifurcation of the artery was 8.8 ± 12.2 mm in the left pelvis and 12.4 ± 10.8 mm in the right pelvis - different from that of the traditional anatomic study.In the future, these models and digital anatomical data could help avoid surgical complications.

Objectives For early-stage endometrial cancer, laparoscopic surgery is well established in many countries. In Japan, the procedure is covered by insurance from 2014. Since then, laparoscopic surgeries for gynecological cancers have been performed by not only gynecolo-oncologists but also laparoscopic qualified gynecologists. To review the safety of our cases, this IRB-approved study was performed. Methods Operative cases of endometrial cancer were reviewed retrospectively. Results Out of 94 stage I endometrial cancer cases who underwent laparoscopic surgery, total laparoscopic modified radical hysterectomy + laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed for 22 patients. Median operative duration was 238 minutes, and median blood loss was 100mL. We experienced two cases of obturator nerve complete transection. Both of the surgeons were laparoscopic board certificated. In both cases, right obturator nerve was cut near to the branch of internal iliac vein. Surgical video can be revisited for one patient. The nerve covered with lymphatic tissue was dragged out medially under the internal iliac branch, and cut misinterpreted as a lymphatic trunk. For both, although nerve correction was done during surgery by suturing, rehabilitation was necessary. For open surgery, we have never experienced obturator nerve injury during the pelvic lymphadenectomy in the same period. Conclusions Obturator nerve injury during pelvic surgery is possibly frequent in laparoscopic surgery.

Lymphocele formation following pelvic lymphadenectomy is a well-known complication. In this article, we report a 56 years old female patient with a pelvic infected lymphocele fistulised in the sigmoid discovered in imaging 2 months after pelvic surgery. Lymphocele complications are rare and their diagnosis is based on imaging. However, lymphocele as a potential cause for fistula in the bowel as a particular new case has not been found in literature search.

Introduction: Pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) during robotic prostatectomy is associated with potential complications. The most common complication of PLND is lymphoceles, occurring in up to 50...

Introduction/Background* Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy of the pelvis is rarely performed due to its apparently high degree of difficulty. More and more clinical situations, especially in young people or those with medical problems, require breaking the treatment down into several steps. Methodology The featured video describes the pelvic right retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy procedure. Result(s)* As a result we present step by step procedure. Conclusion* Retroperitoneal lymphadenectomy of the pelvis is a skill that should be mastered by everyone involved in endoscopic surgery in gynecological oncology.

Aim The aim of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes between patients who were staged laparoscopically for early-stage endometrioid-type endometrial cancer (EC) between those who underwent prophylactic ligation of uterine arteries (UAs) prior to pelvic lymphadenectomy and the patients who were operated with standard procedure. Methods This retrospective study was conducted in women diagnosed with early-stage and low/intermediate-risk endometrioid-type EC. The control group included patients who underwent standard laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy and the study group concerned patients who underwent prophylactic ligation of UA prior to pelvic lymphadenectomy. The prophylactic ligation of UA procedure was performed at a point just proximal to its origin. Results The mean lymph node count dissected in the study group was higher in terms of statistical significance (17.5 +/- 2.2 vs. 19.8 +/- 3.6, p = 0.003 and p < 0.05). The rate of the patients who had a positive pelvic lymph node detected did not differ between groups (7.4% vs. 16.7%, p = 0.258 and p < 0.05). The operation time (OT) of the patients in the study group did not differ between groups (p = 0.546 and p < 0.05). Hemoglobin drop (-0.5 +/- 0.7) and hematocrite drop (-0.8 +/- 0.9) values in the study group were found to be lower in the study group (p = 0.000, p = 0.000, and p < 0.05). Conclusions Performing prophylactic ligation of UA at its origin prevents unwanted bleeding and facilitates the laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy procedure. WOS:000700243300001 2-s2.0-85115674696 PubMed: 34571568

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE:Pelvic lymphadenectomy (PLN) during Retzius-Sparing Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy (RS-RARP) may be challenging because the medial umbilical ligaments are not rel...

BackgroundLymph node metastasis (LNM) is a critical unfavorable prognostic factor in endometrial cancer (EC). At present, models involving molecular indicators that accurately predict LNM are still uncommon. We addressed this gap by developing nomograms to individualize the risk of LNM in EC and to identify a low-risk group for LNM.MethodsIn all, 776 patients who underwent comprehensive surgical staging with pelvic lymphadenectomy at the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University were divided into a training cohort (used for building the model) and a validation cohort (used for validating the model) according to a predefined ratio of 7:3. Logistics regression analysis was used in the training cohort to screen out predictors related to LNM, after which a nomogram was developed to predict LNM in patients with EC. A calibration curve and consistency index (C-index) were used to estimate the performance of the model. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and Youden index were used to determine the optimal threshold of the risk probability of LNM predicted by the model proposed in this study. Then, the prediction performance of different models and their discrimination abilities for identifying low-risk patients were compared.ResultLNM occurred in 87 and 42 patients in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that histological grade (P=0.022), myometrial invasion (P=0.002), lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) (P=0.001), serum CA125 (P=0.008), Ki67 (P=0.012), estrogen receptor (ER) (0.009), and P53 (P=0.003) were associated with LNM; a nomogram was then successfully established on this basis. The internal and external calibration curves showed that the model fits well, and the C-index showed that the prediction accuracy of the model proposed in this study was better than that of the other models (the C-index of the training and validation cohorts was 0.90 and 0.91, respectively). The optimal threshold of the risk probability of LNM predicted by the model was 0.18. Based on this threshold, the model showed good discrimination for identifying low-risk patients.ConclusionCombining molecular indicators based on classical clinical parameters can predict LNM of patients with EC more accurately. The nomogram proposed in this study showed good discrimination for identifying low-risk patients with LNM.

An adequate pelvic lymph node dissection (PLND) is an essential part of radical cystectomy for muscle invasive bladder cancer. However, the definition of what constitutes an adequate PLND is often shrouded in controversy. Various authors have defined different anatomic templates of PLND based on levels of pelvic lymph nodes. Some have suggested other surrogate markers of the adequacy of PLND, namely lymph node count and lymph node density. While individual studies have shown the efficacy and reliability of some of the above markers, none of them have been recommended forthright due to the absence of robust prospective data. The use of non-standardized nomenclature while referring to the above variables has made this matter more complex. Most of older data seems to favor use of extended template of PLND over the standard template. On the other hand, one recent randomized controlled trial (RCT) did not show any benefit of one template over the other in terms of survival benefit, but the study design allowed for a large margin of bias. Therefore, we conducted a systematic search of literature using EMBASE, Medline, and PubMed using PRISMA-P checklist for articles in English Language published over last 20 years. Out of 132 relevant articles, 47 articles were included in the final review. We have reviewed existing literature and guidelines and have attempted to provide a few suggestions toward a uniform nomenclature for the various anatomical descriptions and the extent of PLND done while doing a radical cystectomy. The results of another large RCT (SWOG S1011) are awaited and until we have a definitive evidence, we should adhere to these suggestions as much as possible and deal with each patient on a case to case basis.

Objetivo: evaluar la eficacia de la combinación de radioterapia y 5-fluorouracilo-cisplatino en el tratamiento del cáncer de cuello uterino de alto riesgo. Materiales y métodos: estudio retrospectivo en el que se revisaron los datos de pacientes tratadas en el periodo enero 2009 a diciembre 2019 en el Hospital Central “Dr. Urquinaona”, Maracaibo, Venezuela. Se revisaron los registros clínicos de todas las pacientes sometidas a histerectomía radical y linfadenectomía pélvica bilateral que recibieron quimio-radioterapia concurrente adyuvante con 5-fluorouracilo-cisplatino (grupo de tratamiento) y se compararon con quienes no fueron manejadas con este régimen, las que no recibieron ningún tratamiento adyuvante o solo fueron tratadas con radioterapia (grupo control). Se evaluaron las características generales, efectos adversos del tratamiento, recurrencias de la enfermedad y supervivencia. Resultados: para el análisis final quedaron 164 pacientes, de las cuales 115 (70,1%) fueron del grupo de tratamiento y 49 (29,9%) del control. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas en las características clínicas entre ambos grupos (p = ns); sí las hubo en la frecuencia de recurrencias a distancia (p = 0,0056). La supervivencia libre de progresión y la global de ambos grupos no mostraron diferencias significativas (p = 0,2678 y p = 0,3452). Conclusión: no existen beneficios evidentes del uso de 5-fluorouracilo-cisplatino desde el punto de vista de progresión o supervivencia general, en pacientes con carcinoma cuello uterino de alto riesgo.

BACKGROUND/AIM The purpose of this study was to evaluate the learning curve of robotic hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy for early-stage endometrial carcinoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective chart review was performed on the first 81 surgeries performed by a single surgeon. The 81 cases were divided into three groups; 4 subgroups of 20 cases each, 3 subgroups of 27 cases each, and 2 subgroups of 40 cases each. The surgical outcomes in each group were analyzed, using operative time, estimated blood loss, and the number of lymph nodes resected. RESULTS The median operating time, estimated blood loss, and number of pelvic lymph nodes were 147 min, 50 g and 23, respectively. The estimated blood loss improved over time significantly, when dividing by every 27 and 40 cases. No statistical significance was shown regarding operative time and the number of lymph nodes. CONCLUSION Approximately, 30 cases were needed to gain proficiency in the surgical technique.

Background: To prospectively assess LLL incidence among cervical cancer patients treated by uterine surgery complemented by SLN biopsy, without PLND. Methods: A prospective study in 150 patients with stage IA1–IB2 cervical cancer treated by uterine surgery with bilateral SLN biopsy. Objective LLL assessments, based on limb volume increase (LVI) between pre- and postoperative measurements, and subjective patient-perceived swelling were conducted in six-month periods over 24-months post-surgery. Results: The cumulative incidence of LLL at 24 months was 17.3% for mild LLL (LVI 10–19%), 9.2% for moderate LLL (LVI 20–39%), while only one patient (0.7%) developed severe LLL (LVI &gt, 40%). The median interval to LLL onset was nine months. Transient edema resolving without intervention within six months was reported in an additional 22% of patients. Subjective LLL was reported by 10.7% of patients, though only a weak and partial correlation between subjective-report and objective-LVI was found. No risk factor directly related to LLL development was identified. Conclusions: The replacement of standard PLND by bilateral SLN biopsy in the surgical treatment of cervical cancer does not eliminate the risk of mild to moderate LLL, which develops irrespective of the number of SLN removed.

Lymphoceles are common following prostatectomy with lymph node dissection, but the vast majority are asymptomatic. We present a unique case of a large complex lymphocele tracking into the anterior space of Retzius following Retzius sparing prostatectomy and bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy. The patient initially presented with shortness of breath and subsequent diagnosis of a submassive pulmonary embolism. Further evaluation revealed compression of the iliac vessels by the fluid collection. Following multiple failed attempts of drainage percutaneously, the patient required return to the operating room for peritoneal marsupialization, drainage of fluid collection, and evacuation of large amounts of clot within the collection.

There is currently no consensus among pathologists on the optimal method of sampling pelvic lympadenectomy specimens (PLND) in prostate cancer. We evaluated the impact of complete PLND submission on lymph node (LN) yield, detection of metastasis and laboratory workload in a series of 141 cases. Following isolation of grossly identifiable LNs/potential LNs, the remaining fatty tissue was embedded in toto. Complete PLND submission increased median LN yield from 10 (1–42) to 17 (3–57). Metastatic deposits were identified in nine non-palpable LNs, which altered the pN category in four cases (3%). The primary tumour (pT) was grade group ≥3 and/or pT3 at radical prostatectomy in 96% of pN+ cases. A median of seven additional blocks (1–28) was required for complete tissue embedding. Our findings indicate that submission of the entire fat can optimise PLND assessment but has a significant impact on laboratory workload. Complete submission of selected high-risk cases may be a reasonable alternative.

The Silva system is a pattern-based classification system that stratifies endocervical adenocarcinomas (AC) into 3 categories to assess the risk of lymph node (LN) metastasis. This study aimed to evaluate whether this novel risk stratification system is applicable to all endocervical AC, including usual and variant, and to suggest a suitable management plan for cervical AC. We retrospectively retrieved consecutive pathology cases with a final diagnosis of endocervical AC treated via radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy. Specimens were classified by consensus according to the Silva system based on “pattern of invasion” as A, B, or C, further clinical/pathologic features were assessed according to pattern-based classification. A total of 76 cases of invasive cervical AC were evaluated. Of these, 63 (82.9%) were categorized as usual-type endocervical AC and 13 (17.1%) as special types. Among those with usual and variants, all patients with pattern A tumor had no LN metastasis and did not develop recurrence. Likewise, multivariate analysis revealed that LN metastasis and pattern C or B tumors are significant independent predictors of disease-free survival (DFS). Although pattern A tumors had no LN metastasis, they also developed complications after surgery, similar to pattern B or C tumors. Regardless of histologic subtypes, pattern A tumors had no LN metastasis and no recurrence. Thus, the Silva classification system can influence the clinical management of all types of endocervical AC. Conservative management is reasonable in all patients with endocervical AC with pattern A tumors.

Aim Radical trachelectomy (RT) with pelvic lymphadenectomy has become an option for young patients with early invasive uterine cervical cancer who decide to maintain their fertility. However, this operative method entails a high risk for the following pregnancy due to its radicality. Therefore, RT for pregnant patients can be a challenge both for gynecologic oncologists and obstetricians. Methods We have performed vaginal RT for five pregnant patients with uterine cervical cancer stage 1B1 according to the method of Dargent et al. The operations were performed between 16 and 26 weeks of pregnancy, and the patients were followed up carefully according to the follow-up methods we reported previously. Results Vaginal RT was performed for five patients without any troubles. Four of the patients continued their pregnancies until almost 34 weeks or longer under our previously published follow-up schedule. The pregnancy of one patient was terminated at 26 weeks due to recurrence of the cancer. Conclusion Expansion of vaginal RT for pregnant patients with uterine cervical cancer could be a practical option for pregnant patients with early invasive uterine cervical cancer.

Robotic pelvic lymphadenectomy (rPLND) has been demonstrated to be a safe and effective minimally invasive approach for patients with metastatic melanoma to the iliac nodes. However, the long-term oncologic benefit of this procedure remains poorly defined. A single-institutional study comparing perioperative outcomes and survival [recurrence-free (RFS) and overall survival (OS)] between rPLND and open PLND (oPLND) for metastatic melanoma was conducted. From 2006 to 2018, a total of 63 PLND cases were identified: 22 rPLND and 41 oPLND. Evidence of isolated pelvic metastasis was the most common indication for PLND in both groups (rPLND: 64%, oPLND: 85%). There was no difference in median pelvic lymph node yield (11 vs. 9 nodes, p = 0.65). Neither treatment group experienced a Clavien-Dindo complication ≥ 3. rPLND was associated with a shorter length of stay compared with oPLND (2 vs. 4 days, p

Lymphocele formation is the most common adverse event of pelvic lymphadenectomy during radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Previous studies failed to favor one surgical technique over the other in terms of minimizing its rate. Data on risk factors for its development are still conflicting and warranting further research. In this mini-review, we aimed to scrutinize available evidence on these aspects and outline current achievements in lymphocele prevention approaches.

Lymph node dissection is part of the standard treatment protocol for various cancers, but its role in prostate cancer has been debatable for some time. Pelvic lymphadenectomy has been shown to better help stage prostate cancer patients, but has yet to be definitively proven to be of any benefit for survival. Various templates for lymph node dissections exist, and though some national guidelines have endorsed an extended pelvic node dissection, the choice of template is still controversial. Pelvic lymphadenectomy may lead to a slightly higher rate complications and operative time, and their use must be judiciously applied to patients with a high enough risk of lymph node involvement. We present a comprehensive review of the literature regarding the benefits and harms of lymph node dissection in prostate cancer.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine the learning curve of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of early endometrial cancer and report the surgical outcomes. METHODS Patients: Data were retrospectively extracted from the medical charts of patients who underwent laparoscopic surgery. INTERVENTION Laparoscopic surgery, including pelvic lymphadenectomy, was performed using the same technique and instruments for all patients. OUTCOMES The learning curve for the surgical technique, characterized by the operative time, number of lymph nodes removed, and volume of intra-operative blood loss, was analyzed. RESULTS Over the period of observation, 82 patients were enrolled. For analysis, cases were classified into four groups, based on their surgery date. Between-group comparisons identified a significant decrease in operative time and volume of blood loss between Groups 1 and 4 (P < 0.05). However, the number of lymph nodes removed, and the length of hospital stay were not influenced by learning. CONCLUSION The operative time and the amount of blood loss significantly decreased with an increase in the surgeon's experience but with no effect of learning on the number of lymph nodes removed and length of hospital stay.