University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA
Annalyn Welp , Michael Crawford , Rachel O'Brien , Stephanie Sullivan , Linda R. Duska
Background: Nodal positivity directs receipt of adjuvant post-operative therapy in early stage cervical cancer; the significance of low-volume metastases (LVM) is unclear. We hypothesized patients with early stage cervical cancer with high risk factors on pathology and negative nodes would have a higher incidence of LVM on retrospective ultrastaging. Methods: This retrospective cohort study collected clinicopathologic data via chart review on early stage cervical cancer patients treated at our institution from January 2011 - June 2021. The study was approved by the IRB. Inclusion criteria included patients >18 years old who underwent a radical hysterectomy/trachelectomy with pathology-proven negative nodes who went on to be recommended for post-operative adjuvant therapy, due to factors defined under Sedlis or Peters criteria. Patients were excluded for rare histology or prior pelvic radiation. Resected nodes were ultrastaged, performed by 4 re-cuts at 20 microns on each lymph node staging, stained with H&E and one level with CK AE1/AE3 to identify presence of any LVM. Analysis was performed via descriptive statistics with Microsoft Excel. Results: 199 patients were treated with radical hysterectomy between 2011-2021; 20 met study criteria. The average age at diagnosis was 51 years: 65% Caucasian, 25% Black, 10% Latino. 75% had Squamous cell carcinoma, 85% (n=17) of the cohort were a 2009 FIGO pathologic Stage 1B. 35% of the cohort underwent a minimally invasive hysterectomy. Tumor size varied: 25% (n=5) of tumors were less than 2 cm, 35% (n=7) of tumors measured greater than or equal to 2 cm, 30% (n=6) measured greater than or equal to 3 cm, and 10% (n=2) measured greater than or equal to 4 cm. Lymphovascular space invasion was noted in 75% (n=15) of samples. Superficial stromal invasion was noted in 5% (n=1), deep stromal invasion was noted in 65% (n=13). 5% (n=1) of patients had parametrial invasion, and 5% (n=1) had positive margins. A full bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy was performed on every patient, with 245 nodal blocks ultrastaged. 80% (n=16) received adjuvant therapy: 3 chemoradiation, 13 radiation, 4 declined. LVM was identified in 5% (n=1) patients; a macrometastases was identified as missed in the initial pathologic evaluation of another. 10% (n=2) patients developed recurrence, one at the pelvic brim and one distant (lung). The patient with the newly identified LVM received adjuvant radiation, and developed recurrence at the pelvic brim. Conclusions: The results of this small study suggest traditional “high risk” factors in surgically managed cervical cancer is associated with positive ultrastaged nodes in 5% of cases. This finding suggests that utilization of sentinel node identification with associated ultrastaging will accurately identify patients who will benefit from adjuvant therapy.
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Abstract Disclosures
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