Laparoscopic lymph node staging of cervical cancer in the 19th week of pregnancy. A case report

Surg Endosc. 2001 Mar;15(3):324. doi: 10.1007/s004640042005. Epub 2001 Feb 6.

Abstract

We present the case of a 39-year-old gravida I para 0 woman who underwent laparoscopic staging of lymph node involvement in cervical cancer in the 19th week of pregnancy. She had been diagnosed with adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix, stage 1B1, grade 2, with tumor involvement of the lymphovascular space and tumor involved resection margins via a cone biopsy in the 16th week of pregnancy. In order to decide whether it would be safe to proceed with the pregnancy, she was submitted to the laparoscopic exposure and removal of 18 parametric and pelvic lymph nodes. One positive lymph node was detected at the right internal iliac artery; therefore, an open radical hysterectomy with paraaortic lymphadenectomy was performed. This case shows that lymph node staging for cervical cancer can be done laparoscopically in the 2nd trimester. Information yielded during the course of this procedure can be crucial in deciding whether it is possible to preserve the pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Biopsy
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / diagnosis*
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / surgery
  • Cervix Uteri / pathology
  • Cervix Uteri / surgery
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hysterectomy
  • Laparoscopy / methods*
  • Lymph Node Excision
  • Lymph Nodes / pathology*
  • Lymphatic Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications / diagnosis*
  • Pregnancy Complications / pathology
  • Pregnancy Complications / surgery
  • Pregnancy Trimester, Second
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / diagnosis*