A Case of Primary Signet-Ring Cell Cervical Carcinoma Treated with Chemoradiation, Brachytherapy, and Adjuvant Hysterectomy

Primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare subtype of cervical mucinous adenocarcinoma. Approximately 20 cases of primary signet-ring cell carcinoma of the cervix have been reported. Pathologic examination shows that adenocarcinomas with mucin accumulation in intracytoplasmic vacuoles displacing the nucleus indicate signet-ring cell carcinoma. A thorough metastatic workup is needed both for staging and to rule out gastrointestinal tract origin. Due to the rarity of the disease, both the true incidence and optimal management are unknown. Herein, the authors present a case of stage 1B3 primary signet-ring cell cervical carcinoma treated with combined chemotherapy and radiation (including external beam radiation and brachytherapy), followed by resection for residual disease. This case is consistent with limited reports where all surviving patients received surgery as well as 1 surviving patient with bulky disease required with chemoradiation and adjuvant hysterectomy.

Adjuvant Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer Patients Treated with Chemoradiation Therapy: A Systematic Review on the Pathology-Proven Residual Disease Rate

Objective: To determine the incidence of pathology-proven residual disease in adjuvant hysterectomy specimens in patients with cervical cancer, treated with chemoradiation therapy. Secondly, to assess a possible association for pathology-proven residual disease regarding the time between chemoradiation therapy and adjuvant hysterectomy. Additionally, the survival rate and complication rate were assessed. Methods: PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane database were searched from inception up to 8 March 2021. Results: Of the 4601 screened articles, eleven studies were included. A total of 1205 patients were treated with chemoradiation therapy and adjuvant hysterectomy, ranging from three to twelve weeks after chemoradiation therapy. A total of 411 out of 1205 patients (34%) had pathology-proven residual disease in the adjuvant hysterectomy specimen. There was no association found in the time between chemoradiation therapy and adjuvant hysterectomy. Follow-up ranged from 2.4 to 245 months, during which 270 patients (22%) relapsed, and 298 patients (27%) were deceased. A total of 202 (35%) complications were registered in 578 patients. Conclusion: there is no association found in the time between chemoradiation therapy and residual disease on adjuvant hysterectomy specimens. The survival rates after chemoradiation therapy and adjuvant hysterectomy are suboptimal, while the risk of complications after adjuvant hysterectomy is high.

Adjuvant hysterectomy following primary chemoradiation for stage IB2 and IIA2 cervical cancer: a retrospective comparison of complications for open versus minimally invasive surgery

Background Adjuvant hysterectomy following chemoradiation for bulky, early stage cervical cancer has been shown to decrease local relapse rate. The objective of this study is to compare complications and recurrences between minimally invasive and open adjuvant hysterectomy for early stage cervical cancer. Methods Patients were identified who had undergone adjuvant hysterectomy following chemoradiation for 2009 FIGO stage IB2 and IIA2 cervical cancer from August 2006 to June 2018. Demographic information, treatment course, complications, recurrence data were retrospectively extracted from the medical record. Frequency of complications was compared with Fisher exact test or chi-square test as appropriate and inverse probability of treatment propensity score weighting was used to calculate the disease-free survival. Results Fifty-four patients met inclusion criteria with a median follow up time of 60.4 months (interquartile range 28.0–98.1 months). There were 24 (44%) open versus 30 (56%) minimally invasive hysterectomies performed. The overall grade 2 or worse complication rate was 43%. There were 8 (27%) patients with complications in the minimally invasive group compared to 4 (17%) in the open group (OR 1.82 (95% CI 0.5–7.0)). There were 9 vaginal cuff defects, dehiscences and/or fistulas in the minimally invasive group compared to 3 in the open group (OR 3.0 (95% CI 0.8–11.2)). There was no statistically significant difference between disease free survival and overall survival among the two groups, however there was a trend towards decreased disease-free survival in the minimally invasive group. Conclusions Among women undergoing adjuvant hysterectomy following chemoradiation for bulky, early stage cervical cancer, there was no difference in complication rates between an open or minimally invasive surgical approach. However, the overall complication rate was high, including a high rate of vaginal cuff defect, dehiscence and/or fistulas. Our findings suggest that an adjuvant hysterectomy should be reserved for patients in which chemoradiation is not anticipated to successfully treat the primary tumor and, if performed, an open approach should be considered.

Adjuvant Hysterectomy Following Primary Chemoradiation for Stage IB2 and IIA2 Cervical Cancer: a Retrospective Comparison of Complications for Open Versus Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background: Adjuvant hysterectomy following chemoradiation for bulky, early stage cervical cancer has been shown to decrease local relapse rate. The objective of this study is to compare complications and recurrences between minimally invasive and open adjuvant hysterectomy for early stage cervical cancer. Methods: Patients were identified who had undergone adjuvant hysterectomy following chemoradiation for 2009 FIGO stage IB2 and IIA2 cervical cancer from August 2006 – June 2018. Demographic information, treatment course, complications, recurrence data were retrospectively extracted from the medical record. Frequency of complications was compared with Fisher exact test or chi-square test as appropriate and inverse probability of treatment propensity score weighting was used to calculate the disease-free survival.Results: Fifty-four patients met inclusion criteria with a median follow up time of 60.4 months. There were 24 (44%) open versus 30 (56%) minimally invasive hysterectomies performed. The overall grade 2 or worse complication rate was 43%. There were 8 (27%) patients with complications in the minimally invasive group compared to 4 (17%) in the open group (OR 1.82 (95% CI 0.5-7.0)). There were 9 vaginal cuff defects, dehiscences and/or fistulas in the minimally invasive group compared to 3 in the open group (OR 3.0 (95% CI 0.8-11.2)). There was no statistically significant difference between disease free survival and overall survival among the two groups, however there was a trend towards decreased disease-free survival in the minimally invasive group.Conclusions: Among women undergoing adjuvant hysterectomy following chemoradiation for bulky, early stage cervical cancer, there was no difference in complication rates between an open or minimally invasive surgical approach. However, the overall complication rate was high, including a high rate of vaginal cuff defect, dehiscence and/or fistulas. Our findings suggest that an adjuvant hysterectomy should be reserved for patients in which chemoradiation is not anticipated to successfully treat the primary tumor and, if performed, an open approach should be considered.

SURGERY FOR RESIDUAL DISEASE AFTER RADIOTHERAPY IN LOCALLY ADVANCED CERVICAL CANCER

Aims: Chemoradiation (CRT) is the standard treatment for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC). However part of the patients develop recurrence during the first year after treatment despite good visible effect at the first follow-up. The role of completion surgery after radiotherapy (RT) is still debated. A number of papers have showed that up to 60% of patients have residual tumor after CRT and RT. But such a surgery is not widely recommended because of increased morbidity of the treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the results of surgery after radiotherapy of LACC. Method: We retrospectively evaluated data on 86 patients with cervical cancer IB - IIIB stages (mostly stage IIB) who underwent surgery in different modalities after CRT and RT with good clinical response in our department in 2015-2018. Results: When small asymptomatic residual disease was detected early after radiotherapy radical hysterectomy was feasible in most of the cases. Patients with clinical manifestation of recurrence had very poor prognosis. Surgery of recurrent cervical cancer sufficiently deteriorates quality of life, even if possible. Conclusion: Thorough examination with adding MRI imaging after initial treatment of cervical cancer needed to identify patients who may benefit from adjuvant hysterectomy.