Effect of Quality Control Program in Surgical Management of Early Cervical Cancer

BACKGROUND: Regular assessments of clinical performance in gynecologic cancer surgery is important for the safety of patients. We evaluated the effects of quality control (QC) program on the treatment pattern and clinical outcomes of early cervical cancer. METHODS: Medical records of cervical cancer patients who received operation in our institution from January 2007 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. Cases were divided into 2 groups, before and after the initiation of QC program, group 1 (2007–2013) and group 2 (2014–2018), based on the operation date. Two groups were compared in clinicopathologic variables, surgical methods, operative details, adjuvant treatments, recurrence and survival. RESULTS: A total of 305 cervical cancer patients were included in the analysis, 210 in group 1 and 95 in group 2. In group 2, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) was more frequently performed (60.0% vs. 76.8%, P = 0.004), especially in earlier stages (stage IA, 72.6% vs. 100.0%; stage IB, 52.2% vs. 69.5%). However, the median tumor size treated by MIS was decreased in stage IB (20 mm vs. 17 mm, P = 0.015). Frequency of adjuvant treatment was also reduced in stage IB (56.5% vs. 37.3%, P = 0.016). Recurrence within 3 years, 3-year disease free survival and overall survival did not show significant difference; however, 3-year recurrence after MIS was significantly reduced in stage IB. CONCLUSION: QC program enforced stricter patient selection criteria for MIS and positively affected clinical outcomes in cervical cancer patients who underwent surgery. Systemic monitoring should be considered for patient safety.