Cervical cancer ranks as the fourth most prevalent cancer among women worldwide. Recent study evaluated the outcomes of minimal access retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (stage 1b3-3b) at a single cancer center in the UK. The researchers reviewed medical records of 191 patients diagnosed with stage 1b3-3b cervical cancer between 2005-2016. 124 of these patients were scheduled to undergo retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy, while 67 did not have the procedure for various reasons. The procedure was abandoned in 14 patients due to technical difficulties. In total, 110 patients underwent the para-aortic lymph node removal procedure. The intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were 8.8% and 5.3% respectively. The mean lymph node count was 11.7. Para-aortic nodes were positive on pre-operative imaging in 5 cases, and cancer was found in the lymph nodes of 10 (8.9%) patients on histological examination. This led to a change in radiotherapy management in 8 (8%) patients. The mean overall survival was 42.8 months. Patients who underwent the lymph node removal procedure had significantly longer survival (50.6 months) compared to those who did not have the surgery (31.3 months). Adenocarcinoma histology was associated with better prognosis. The researchers conclude that the minimal access retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy is an acceptable procedure that can guide treatment in women with locally advanced cervical cancer. However, the benefit of this approach on overall survival remains unclear and requires further research, potentially through a well-designed randomized controlled trial.

Key Points
Here are the 6 key points from the research paper:
1. The study evaluated the outcomes of minimal access retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer (stage 1b3-3b) at a single cancer center in the UK.
2. The researchers reviewed medical records of 191 patients, 124 of whom were scheduled to undergo the lymph node removal procedure, while 67 did not. The procedure was abandoned in 14 patients due to technical difficulties.
3. In total, 110 patients underwent the para-aortic lymph node removal procedure. The intraoperative and postoperative complication rates were 8.8% and 5.3% respectively. The mean lymph node count was 11.7. Para-aortic nodes were positive on pre-operative imaging in 5 cases, and cancer was found in the lymph nodes of 10 (8.9%) patients, leading to a change in radiotherapy management in 8 (8%) patients.

4. The mean overall survival was 42.8 months. Patients who underwent the lymph node removal procedure had significantly longer survival (50.6 months) compared to those who did not have the surgery (31.3 months). Adenocarcinoma histology was associated with better prognosis.
5. The researchers conclude that the minimal access retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy is an acceptable procedure that can guide treatment in women with locally advanced cervical cancer.
6. However, the benefit of this approach on overall survival remains unclear and requires further research, potentially through a well-designed randomized controlled trial.
Reference-
Claire Newton, Radha Graham, Viola Liberale, Matthew Burnell, Usha Menon, Tim Mould, Adeola Olaitan, Nicola Macdonald, Martin Widschwendter, Kostas Doufekas, Mary McCormack, Anita Mitra, Rupali Arora & Ranjit Manchanda (2024) Outcomes of minimal access retroperitoneal para-aortic lymphadenectomy in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer, Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 44:1, 2344529, DOI:
10.1080/01443615.2024.234452