Robotic port-site and pelvic recurrences after robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy for a stage IB1 adenocarcinoma of the cervix with negative lymph nodes.

BACKGROUND

Port-site metastasis (PSM) following minimally invasive surgery for gynaecological cancer has been recognized as a potential problem over the last two decades.

METHODS

A 60 year-old woman with stage Ib1 adenocarcinoma of the cervix was treated with radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection, using robot-assisted laparoscopy.

RESULTS

Eighteen months after primary surgery, the patient developed a pelvic recurrence invading both the bladder mucosa and the parametrium. During the routine recurrence work-up, we found an 8 mm robotic port-site metastasis (PSM) on the abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan.

CONCLUSION

This is the first case report emphasizing the risk of PSM and early pelvic recurrences in robot-assisted laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection for an early-stage cervical adenocarcinoma patient with negative lymph nodes, histologically examined by immunohistochemical ultrastaging.