Long-term survival outcomes of laparoscopically assisted radical hysterectomy in treating early-stage cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to determine the long-term disease-free and overall survival outcomes of laparoscopic treatment of early-stage cervical cancer.

STUDY DESIGN: This was a longitudinal study of prospectively registered patients of cervical cancer undergoing laparoscopic surgery from June 1994 to December 2005.

RESULTS: A total of 139 patients were included, in which 60 patients were in International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IA, 76 in IB, and 3 in IIA. Mean operation time was 231.1 +/- 6.1 minutes. Median number of pelvic lymph node retrieval was 16. Major intraoperative complications included 1 great vessel injury, 1 ureteral injury, 1 colon injury, and 6 cystotomies. In a median follow-up of 92.1 months, the mean +/- SEM cumulative disease-free and overall survival rates were 91.01% +/- 2.77% and 92.78% +/- 3.06%, respectively.

CONCLUSION: The laparoscopic approach has favorable long-term survival outcomes and perioperative morbidity. With the advantage of minimal invasiveness, laparoscopic treatment by experienced surgeons is an ideal alternative for early-stage cervical cancer.