Early cervical cancer and parametrial involvement: Is it significant?

Abstract

Objective. To determine the incidence of parametrial involvement in clinical stage IA and IB1 cervical cancer and whether pelvic lymph node status is a predictor of parametrial status. Methods. Retrospective review of 120 patients with FIGO stage IA/IB1 cervical carcinoma treated by class II radical abdominal hysterectomy between January 1997 and December 2001 was performed. The parametria were examined for microscopic involvement of parametrial lymph nodes and/or tissue. Continuous variables were compared using Wilcoxon rank sum test, and Fisher's exact test was used to categorical variables. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed for overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS). Cox proportional hazards model was used to investigate prognostic factors. Results. One hundred ten patients were eligible. Five patients (5%) had positive parametria and 13 patients (12%) had positive pelvic lymph nodes. Four (80%) patients with positive parametria had positive pelvic lymph nodes. The groups did not differ significantly in terms of age ( P = 0.92), histology ( P = 0.15), or LVSI ( P = 0.20). Positive parametria was associated with larger tumor size (3.0 vs. 2.0 cm, P < 0.05), greater depth of invasion (16 mm vs. 5 mm, P = 0.03), and pelvic lymph node metastases (80% vs. 10%, P = 0.001). The only variable that was significant in the proportional hazards model was lymph node status ( P = 0.02). After median follow-up of 48 months, there was a significant difference in recurrence (40% vs. 4%, P = 0.03) and RFS (0.0003). Conclusions. Acknowledging small sample size and retrospective study, positive parametrial involvement in stage IA and IB1 cervical cancer is infrequent. There is a significant association with lymph node status. Thus, there may be a role for less radical surgery combined with pelvic lymphadenectomy in this patient population.