Bengt Lindahl

Robot assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy with short and long term morbidity data.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate feasibility and morbidity of robot assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy. METHODS From December 2005 to September 2008 robot assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed on 80 women. Using a prospective protocol, and an active investigation policy for defined adverse events, perioperative, short and long term data were obtained. RESULTS Time for surgery (skin to skin) reached 176 and 132 min after 9 and 34 procedures respectively. All tumours were radically removed. Median number of retrieved lymph nodes was 26 (range 15-55). All women had an early follow up (1-3 months) and 43 of eligible 46 women (93%) had a long term follow up (> or =12 months). In 33 of 80 women (41%) the peri/postoperative period was uneventful. The remainder had one or more mainly mild adverse events, most commonly from the vaginal cuff (n=17, 21%) or the lymphatic system (n=16, 20%). The proportion of uneventful cases increased significantly over time. Five women were resutured for dehiscence of the vaginal cuff, two women were reoperated for trocar site hernias and one woman had a ureter stricture that resolved following stent treatment. Eight women (14%) needed 60 days or more to resume spontaneous voiding. One 72-year old woman with disseminated endometrial cancer on autopsy died of pulmonary embolism 31 days after surgery. CONCLUSIONS Robot assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy is a feasible alternative to conventional laparoscopy and open surgery. Effort should be made to ensure proper closure of the vaginal cuff, trocar sites and to develop nerve sparing techniques.

The sentinel node concept in early cervical cancer performs well in tumors smaller than 2 cm.

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to evaluate the sentinel node (SLN) concept for lymphatic mapping in early stage cervical cancer. METHODS 105 women with early stage (1a1-2a) cervical cancer were scheduled for the sentinel node procedure in conjunction with a complete pelvic lymphadenectomy. The day before surgery, 1-1.5 mL 120MBq Tc(99) albumin nanocolloid was injected submucosally at four points around the tumor followed by a lymphoscintigram (LSG) to achieve an overview of the radiotracer uptake. RESULTS During surgery, the overall detection rate (gamma probe) of at least one SLN was 90% (94/105 women) whereas at least one SLN was identified in 94% (61/65 women) with a tumor <or=2 cm. Bilateral SLNs were identified in 62/105 (59%) of the women. Among 18 women with any metastatic lymph node 17 had a metastatic SLN (sensitivity 94%, 95% CI 73-100%). Among 61 women with a tumor <or=2 cm, all five women with any metastatic lymph node also had a metastatic SLN (sensitivity 100%). One woman with a 1.5-cm squamous epithelial carcinoma had metastatic positive SLNs on each side but also one metastatic bulky (>2 cm) node without radiotracer uptake. The negative predictive value for patients with cervical cancers <or=2 cm was 100%. CONCLUSIONS The SLN-technique seems to be an accurate method for identifying lymph node metastases in cervical cancer patients with tumors of 2 cm or smaller. In case of a unilateral SLN only, a complete lymphadenectomy should be performed on the radionegative side. All bulky nodes must be removed.

Five year survival rate in endometrial carcinoma stages I‐II: influence of degree of tumour differentiation, age, myometrial invasion and DNA content

Objective To compare the prognostic capability of clinical stage, tumour differentiation, myometrial invasion, age and DNA content in endometrial carcinoma. Then to use the results to identify a small, high risk group suitable for more intensive adjuvant therapy.