Fertility-conserving treatment of early stage cervical cancer using trachelectomy and laparoscopic lymphadenectomy-a case report and a review of recent literature

Fertility-conserving surgical treatment of patients with early stage cervical cancer poses a particular challenge. In specialist centres, trachelectomy with laparoscopic lymphadenectomy could be established as a minimally invasive, fertility-preserving alternative to radical hysterectomy for women of child-bearing age. This report describes the case of a 33-year-old patient who wished to conceive and was diagnosed with cervical cancer stage pT1a1 in 2004. The patient conceived 9 months after surgery and gave birth to a healthy baby girl at 38+0 weeks. Complications during pregnancy were gestational diabetes, premature contractions and pre-eclampsia at 37 weeks. The advantages and disadvantages of this method as well as the specific ante-natal monitoring required are discussed.