Port-site metastases in patients with gynecological cancer after robot-assisted operations.

Abstract

Port-site metastasis is an extremely rare event in patients with cancer treated with robotic-assisted surgery. However, as robotic procedures are increasing, the incidence of port-site metastases might also increase. The purpose of our review is to evaluate the up-to-now existing literature data on robotic port-site metastasis in the field of gynecological oncology. The authors retrieved the included results of the study after performing a systematic search in PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Library. In total, 20 patients were included in the study. The mean age of them was 56.3 (range 27-82) years. In the majority of the cases, endometrial cancer was responsible for port-site recurrences. The port-site metastasis occurred after 1-36 months postoperatively with the tumor measuring from 0.8 to 10.5 cm. As far as the management of this type of local recurrence, the most common therapeutic strategy adopted was the local excision followed by combined radiotherapy/chemotherapy. Robotic surgery is a rather new technique and port-site metastasis is a rare complication of it. Due to this fact, we could not reach safe conclusions. The purpose of this study was to raise doctor's clinical suspicion level to such a rare complication. Additional studies should be performed with the intention to clarify both port-site metastasis rates in gynecological oncology patients, as well as to elucidate the possible mechanisms of this type of local recurrence.