Central pelvic recurrence 7 years after radical vaginal trachelectomy

Background. We report a case of central pelvic recurrence 7 years after radical vaginal trachelectomy for adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Case. A 30-year-old woman was treated by radical vaginal trachelectomy and bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection (a fertility sparing procedure) in 1996 for cervical cancer. Pathology demonstrated a well differentiated, stage 1131 adenocarcinoma. She presented 7 years later with a central pelvic recurrence measuring 30 mm in width. She subsequently underwent radical hysterectomy for central clearance and did not require post-operative radiotherapy. Conclusions. Should selected patients who were initially treated by radical trachelectomy for early stage cervical cancer, in particular those with adenocarcinoma (as 50% of recurrences have been reported in this group of patients), be offered hysterectomy once child bearing is complete? (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.