Disease-free survival and recurrence after laparoscopically-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy for cervical cancer

Objective: We report on disease-free survival and patterns of recurrence af ter laparoscopically-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy for treatment of cervical cancer. Methods: A total of 55 patients with FIGO stage IA2-II B cervical cancer un derwent laparoscopically-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy between August 1993 and December 1997. We reviewed the peri operative course and long-term results. Results: Fifty-five patients were available for follow-up. None of the 15 p atients with stage IA2 disease developed recurrence. Of the 27 patients wit h stage I B disease, 23 had no evidence of disease and 4 developed a recurr ence. Conclusions: These preliminary results suggest that prospective trials of l aparoscopically-assisted radical vaginal hysterectomy versus conventional r adical abdominal hysterectomy are warranted.