An update of oncologic and obstetric outcomes of radical trachelectomy for early‐stage cervical cancer: The need for further minimally invasive treatment

Abstract Aims To investigate the oncologic and obstetric outcomes of radical trachelectomy (RT) in patients with early‐stage cervical cancer and to evaluate the potential role of fertility‐preserving treatments in improving pregnancy outcomes while oncologic status is stable. Methods In this single‐institution study, we analyzed the oncologic and obstetric outcomes of 67 patients with early‐stage cervical cancer who underwent RT at Nagoya University Hospital. Results The cancer recurrence rate (6.0%) and the mortality rate (1.5%) were comparable with those of previous studies. Of the 46 patients who attempted to conceive after RT, 19 (41.3%) became pregnant, and 16 gave birth. Of these 37.5% delivered at term, and delivery at less than 28 weeks of gestation occurred in 31.3% of pregnancies. Conclusions RT is a viable treatment option for selected patients with early‐stage cervical cancer. However, the use of less invasive techniques, such as conization/simple trachelectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection, may improve pregnancy outcomes while oncologic status is stable.