BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical aspects and prognostic factors for survival in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after radical hysterectomy with node dissection (RHND) for stages IA2-IB1. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinicopathologic characteristics of the primary tumor, pattern of recurrence, method of detection, salvage treatment, and outcome were reviewed from the medical records of patients who underwent RHND between 1987 and 2015. Prognostic factors were identified using a Cox regression model. RESULTS: Of 702 patients enrolled in the study, 84 (11.9%) had recurrence. 58, 17, and 9 patients had locoregional, distant, and combined recurrence, respectively. No association between clinicopathologic features and recurrence patterns was observed. Most recurrence patients (63.1%) complained of symptoms prior to examination. The majority of asymptomatic recurrence patients (71.4%) were diagnosed by physical and/or pelvic examination. 5-year overall survival after recurrence (SAR) was 34.3%. On multivariate analysis, pattern of recurrence (p = 0.003), symptom status (p = 0.011), age (p = 0.035), and white blood cell (WBC) count (p = 0.017) were independent prognostic factors for overall SAR. CONCLUSION: Only pattern of recurrence, symptom status, age, and WBC count were found to be prognostic factors in recurrent cervical cancer after RHND. Follow-up programs after RHND should be directed toward early detection of recurrence.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical aspects and prognostic factors for survival in patients with recurrent cervical cancer after radical hysterectomy with node dissection (RHND) for stages IA2-IB1. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Clinicopathologic characteristics of the primary tumor, pattern of recurrence, method of detection, salvage treatment, and outcome were reviewed from the medical records of patients who underwent RHND between 1987 and 2015. Prognostic factors were identified using a Cox regression model. RESULTS: Of 702 patients enrolled in the study, 84 (11.9%) had recurrence. 58, 17, and 9 patients had locoregional, distant, and combined recurrence, respectively. No association between clinicopathologic features and recurrence patterns was observed. Most recurrence patients (63.1%) complained of symptoms prior to examination. The majority of asymptomatic recurrence patients (71.4%) were diagnosed by physical and/or pelvic examination. 5-year overall survival after recurrence (SAR) was 34.3%. On multivariate analysis, pattern of recurrence (p = 0.003), symptom status (p = 0.011), age (p = 0.035), and white blood cell (WBC) count (p = 0.017) were independent prognostic factors for overall SAR. CONCLUSION: Only pattern of recurrence, symptom status, age, and WBC count were found to be prognostic factors in recurrent cervical cancer after RHND. Follow-up programs after RHND should be directed toward early detection of recurrence.