Safety and Prognostic Impacts of Ovarian Preservation during Radical Hysterectomy for Early-Stage Adenocarcinoma and Adenosquamous Cervical Cancer

OBJECTIVE: To identify the incidence of ovarian metastasis and the impact of ovarian preservation on oncological outcomes for early-stage adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous cervical cancer. METHODS: 281 patients with stages IA2-IB1 adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous cervical cancer who underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy (RHND) were included in the study. The incidence of ovarian metastasis was evaluated from 173 patients who underwent oophorectomy during RHND. Subgroup analysis was performed for patients less than 50 years (196 of 281 patients) who were classified into two groups, ovarian preservation and nonovarian preservation groups. 5-year recurrence-free survival (5-yr RFS) and 5-year overall survival (5-yr OS) were evaluated and compared between these groups. RESULTS: There was no evidence of ovarian metastasis, synchronous ovarian cancer, or ovarian recurrence during follow-up. In patients less than 50 years of age, there were no statistically significant differences in the 5-yr RFS (P = 0.363), or 5-yr OS (P = 0.974) between the ovarian preservation and nonovarian preservation groups. In Kaplan–Meier analysis, the ovarian preservation group seemed to have a slightly better OS in long-term follow-up (after 15 years); however, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Ovarian preservation was safe in adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous cervical cancer stages IA2-B1. However, the impact of ovarian preservation on oncological outcomes needs to be further investigated.