Bone recurrence after radical hysterectomy and lymphadenectomy in early-stage cervical cancer

OBJECTIVE: To present the clinical, surgical, and pathologic features of bone recurrence in patients who underwent radical hysterectomy for early-stage uterine cervical cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data of 412 patients who underwent type III radical hysterectomy and pelvic ± paraaortic lymphadenectomy for stage 1B-2A epithelial cervical cancer were reviewed. Seven (1.7%) patients with bone recurrence in the first recurrence were included in the study. RESULTS: The median follow-up of the main cohort (n=412) was 46 (range=1-300) months. In this period, recurrence developed in 53 (12.9%) patients and recurrence was observed in bone in 13.2% (7 of 53) of these recurrences. Time to recurrence ranged from 9 to 45 months. Of the recurrences, five were in the axial skeleton and two were in the appendicular skeleton. Recurrence was observed in lumbar vertebrae in three patients, thoracic vertebrae in one patient, sacral vertebrae in one patient, lumbosacral vertebrae in one patient, and the left femur in two patients. Four patients had multiple recurrence in 3 patients despite isolated bone recurrence. Patients with multiple recurrences died within 6-25 months. All isolated bone recurrences were in the axial skeleton. Complete clinical response with salvage therapy was achieved in two patients with isolated bone recurrence. CONCLUSION: Complete clinical response and long postoperative survival can be achieved with salvage treatment when bone recurrence is solitary in cervical cancers.