Separate lateral parametrial lymph node dissection improves detection rate of parametrial lymph node metastasis in early-stage cervical cancer: 10-year clinical evaluation in a single center in China

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical significance of separate lateral parametrial lymph node dissection (LPLND) in improving parametrial lymph node (PLN) and its metastasis detection rate during radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer. METHODS: From July 2007 to August 2017, 2,695 patients with cervical cancer in stage IB1−IIA2 underwent radical hysterectomy were included. Of these patients, 368 underwent separate dissection of PLNs using the LPLND method, and 2,327 patients underwent conventional radical hysterectomy (CRH). We compared the surgical parameters, PLN detection rate and PLN metastasis rate between the two groups. RESULTS: Compared with CRH group, the rate of laparoscopic surgery was higher (60.3% vs. 15.9%, P<0.001), and the blood transfusion rate was lower (19.0%vs. 29.0%, P<0.001) in the LPLND group. PLNs were detected in 356 cases (96.7%) in the LPLND group, and 270 cases (11.6%) in the CRH group (P<0.001), respectively. The number of PLNs detected in the LPLND group was higher than that in the CRH group (median 3vs. 1, P<0.001). The PLN metastases were detected in 25 cases (6.8%) in the LPLND group, and 18 cases (0.8%) in the CRH group (P<0.001), respectively. In multivariable analysis, LPLND is an independent factor not only for PLN detection [odds ratio (OR)=228.999, 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 124.661−420.664; P<0.001], but also for PLN metastasis identification (OR=10.867, 95% CI: 5.381−21.946; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: LPLND is feasible and safe. The surgical method significantly improves the detection rate of PLN and avoids omission of PLN metastasis during radical hysterectomy for early-stage cervical cancer.