Purpose: Patients after radical vaginal trachelectomy (RVT) need specific follow-up treatment because their problems differ from those of other gyneco-oncologic patients. Anatomic changes after surgery complicate examinations. Recognition and treatment of these issues require physician's expertise.
Patients and methods: We evaluated the follow-up data of 70 patients who underwent RVT for early cervical cancer between 03/2010 and 12/2013. The follow-up interval in the first 2 years was 3 and 6 months in the following 2 years. We used a tailored protocol to describe the special problems after RVT.
Results: Cervical stenosis was one of the central problems independent of time interval to RVT. Physicians' most significant problem was to locate the exact position of the neo-cervix and thus to receive valid pap smears.
Conclusions: Follow-up of patients after RVT needs special expertise because the symptoms differ from those after hysterectomy and examinations ensuring oncologic safety require special attention.
Keywords: Cervical cancer; Cervical stenosis; Follow-up; Neo-cervix; Vaginal trachelectomy.