Port site metastasis after laparoscopy for uterine cervical carcinoma

Background: Aim of this study was to review cases reported of port-site recurrence (PSR) after laparoscopy for uterine cervical carcinoma. Methods: A Medline computer database search from January 1980 to September 2002. Results: We reported 13 cases published of PSR after laparoscopy for cervical carcinoma. The majority of them were squamous carcinoma (9/13 at least, 69%) and initial staging of disease was Ib (7/13 (54%)). Median of interval between laparoscopy and diagnostic of PSR was 7 months (min 1.5 month, max 48 months). Of 10 cases of laparoscopy with lymphadenectomy, in three cases (30%) nodes were not involved. PSR developed at the port through which tissues was extracted in four cases (30.1%) or another port in five cases (38.5%). At the time of PSR, five patients (38.5%) were free of disease. Conclusions: PSR were reported after laparoscopy for lymphadenenectomy with or without hysterectomy and with or without node involvement. In some cases, umbilical metastases should not be systematically diagnosed as PSR and a diagnosis of Sister Mary Joseph's nodule may be discussed.