Modified radical hysterectomy for stage IB1 (≤2 cm) cervical cancer: assessment of temporal trends and oncologic outcomes in the United States

Objective: The oncologic safety of less-radical surgery for early-stage cervical cancer is currently being actively investigated. Given the paucity of data, this study assessed the temporal trends and oncologic outcomes associated with modified radical hysterectomy for stage IB1 (<= 2 cm) cervical cancer in the United States. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used data from the Commission-on-Cancer's National Cancer Database. The study population was 2902 patients with clinical stage IB1 (<= 2 cm) cervical cancer from 2010 to 2020. Temporal trends based on hysterectomy modality (radical hysterectomy, modified radical hysterectomy, and simple hysterectomy) were assessed using linear segmented regression with log-transformation, and the overall survival was assessed using a multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression model. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in modified radical hysterectomy from 2013 to 2020 (annual percentage rate increase 4.4, 95% CI 0.7 to 16.0, p=.040) and a decrease in simple hysterectomy from 2012 to 2020 (-2.3, 95% CI -3.7 to -1.3, p<.001). The lymphovascular space invasion rates (26.8%, 26.8%, and 23.1% for the radical, modified radical, and simple hysterectomy groups, respectively, p=.10) and pathological nodal metastasis rates (5.0%, 4.4%, and 4.0%, respectively, p=.54) were similar among the 3 groups. The use of adjuvant radiotherapy was higher in the simple hysterectomy group (13.0%, 13.0%, and 18.2% in the radical, modified radical, and simple hysterectomy groups, respectively, p<.001). The 5-year overall survival rates for radical hysterectomy, modified radical hysterectomy, and simple hysterectomy were 96.6%, 96.3%, and 95.8%, respectively (p=.66). In multivariable analysis, modified radical hysterectomy (adjusted HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.73 to 2.06) and simple hysterectomy (adjusted HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.48) were not associated with decreased overall survival compared with radical hysterectomy. Conclusions: The results of this cohort study in the United States suggest that modified radical hysterectomy for stage IB1 (<= 2 cm) may not be associated with overall survival. This observed survival association warrants further investigation for stage IB1 (<= 2 cm) cervical cancer that does not meet the low-risk criteria.