Radical Trachelectomy Performed During Pregnancy: A Review of the Literature.

OBJECTIVE

Cervical cancer is one of the most frequent malignant diseases diagnosed during pregnancy. Abdominal or vaginal radical trachelectomies are fertility-preserving alternatives to radical hysterectomy for young women with early-stage cervical cancer that can be performed during ongoing pregnancy.

METHODS

A literature review of articles on this subject was conducted through a Medline search for articles published in English or French.

RESULTS

At this moment, 21 cervical cancer patients, including ours (4 stage IA2, 16 IB1, and 1 IB2) who underwent radical trachelectomy during pregnancy have been reported. Of these, 10 were performed by vaginal route and 11 were abdominal radical trachelectomies.

CONCLUSIONS

Radical trachelectomy could be offered as an option for pregnant patients with early invasive cervical cancer. It may help women avoid the triple losses of a desired pregnancy, fertility, and motherhood.