Objectives: The aims of this study are to evaluate the feasibility of laparoscopic iliac external lymphadenectomy and to define current indications of this technique in pre-treatment staging of cervical carcinoma.
Material and method: Forty seven patients with FIGO stages IA-IIIB invasive cervical cancer underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic iliac lateral lymphadenectomy prior to initiation of treatment. The mean length of operation was 115 min (35-180). An average of 14 nodes were retrieved from each patient (3-30). Percentage of complete removal was 96% in this study. The rate of complications was 6%, they were always minor. Today's most accepted indications concern: 1) FIGO IA2 stages with lymphovascular involvement or micro-invasion over 3mm, for which a simple resection of lesions can be performed if pN0. 2) Small FIGO IB stages where an exclusive vaginal enlarged colpo-hysterectomy can be performed for pN0. Other indications should not be performed for the moment except for therapeutical trials.