Preoperative MRI criteria for trials on less radical surgery in Stage IB1 cervical cancer

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Highlights

  • There was no parametrial involvement in patients categorized as low risk based on our MRI parameters (0/127).

  • Low risk is defined as tumor size ≤ 25 mm and no evidence of parametrial involvement in MRI.

  • Patients in the low risk category may be candidates for trials on less radical surgery.

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study is to identify a patient group with a low-risk of parametrial involvement (PMI) in Stage IB1 cervical cancer using preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) parameters.

Methods

In total, 190 Stage IB1 cervical cancer patients with clinically visible lesions who had undergone Type C2 radical hysterectomy and preoperative MRI were included in this study. Clinical records, pathology reports, and preoperative MRI findings were reviewed retrospectively.

Results

Of the 190 patients, 19 (10%) had pathologic PMI. The largest tumor diameter identified by MRI ranged from zero (no definite mass on the cervix) to 60 mm, with a median of 21 mm. Patients were identified as being either low-risk (tumor size ≤ 25 mm and no evidence of PMI, n = 127) or high-risk (tumor size > 25 mm and/or findings indicating PMI, n = 63) based on MRI parameters. The rate of pathologic PMI in low- and high-risk patients was 0.0% and 30.2%, respectively (P < 0.001). Five-year progression-free survival in low-risk patients was 95.9%, which is significantly better than the rate of 85.6% for patients in the high-risk group (P = 0.039).

Conclusions

Preoperative MRI parameters can help identify patients with a low-risk of PMI and, therefore, possible candidates for trials on less radical surgery.

Introduction

Radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy are standard surgical treatments for the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage IB1 cervical cancer. Despite the excellent rate of five-year overall survival [1], [2], this surgical approach is also accompanied by high incidence of long-term morbidity, such as lower urinary tract dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and colorectal motility disorders, which are attributable to parametrectomy [3], [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. As researchers have previously reported low rates of parametrial involvement (PMI) in patients with early-stage cervical cancer, there has been an effort to identify a low-risk group of cervical cancer patients who may be candidates for less radical surgery while oncologic outcomes are maintained [9], [10], [11], [12].

Previous studies have shown that the rate of PMI was less than 1% in patients with low-risk characteristics, such as limited depth of invasion, absence of lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI), and negative pelvic lymph nodes [9], [11], [13]. All of these criteria were constructed on the basis of surgicopathologic parameters obtained from final pathologic reports. Although tumor size ≤ 2.0 cm is the most consistently reported criteria and the only factor that can be determined preoperatively, accurate determination of the tumor diameter from preoperative inspection and/or bimanual physical examination is difficult [14], [15]. As the current FIGO staging system recommends clinical staging for cervical cancer, tumor diameter is generally determined by pelvic examination. However, preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can provide a more accurate and reproducible estimate of tumor size, especially for endophytic tumors, when identifying suitable candidates for less radical surgery [16], [17]. Moreover, preoperative MRI allows for noninvasive evaluation of the parametrium, nodal metastasis, and vaginal involvement.

There has been increasing demand for clinicians to help patients make informed decisions and to provide accurate information regarding the risks and benefits of parametrectomy before surgery. The aim of this study is to identify a patient group with a low-risk of PMI in Stage IB1 cervical cancer using preoperative MRI parameters.

Section snippets

Methods

After receiving approval from the Institutional Review Board, medical records, pathologic reports, and MRI findings were reviewed retrospectively for all patients treated surgically for Stage IB1 cervical cancer between 2003 and 2011 at Seoul National University Hospital. The use of MRI in diagnosis and follow-up has been widespread at this institution since 2003. Patients eligible for inclusion were those: (1) with clinical Stage IB1 cervical cancer and macroscopically visible lesions, (2) who

Results

The characteristics of the 190 patients are presented in Table 1. The median age was 49 years and the rate of pathologic PMI was 10% (19/190). Squamous cell carcinoma was most prevalent (73.2%), followed by adenocarcinoma (21.6%) and adenosquamous carcinoma (4.2%). The entire study population underwent preoperative evaluation using MRI. The largest tumor diameter measured by MRI in Stage IB1 cervical cancer ranged from zero (no demonstrable lesion on the cervix) to 60 mm, with a median diameter

Discussion

In this study, we demonstrate that there was no evidence of PMI in patients categorized as low-risk based on our MRI parameters. Our findings suggest that patients with Stage IB1 cervical cancer who have tumor diameter ≤ 25 mm and no evidence of PMI in MRI results have minimal risk of PMI and an excellent prognosis. Although further studies are required to validate our results, preoperative MRI findings can be used to categorize patients into low- and high-risk groups for PMI; those in the

Conflict of interest

We declare no conflicts of interest.

Acknowledgment

The authors thank Dong-Su Jang for his excellent support with medical illustration.

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