Fertility-sparing Surgery for Presumed Early-stage Invasive Cervical Cancer: A Survey of Practice in the United Kingdom

Abstract

Aim: To explore current practice in fertility-sparing surgery for cervical cancer in the UK.

Materials and methods: A web-based structured questionnaire was designed and circulated to all members of the British Gynaecological Cancer Society.

Results: From 111 recipients, a total of 49 responses were collected. The majority of centres treated between 20-29 cases of invasive cervical cancer surgically (21/49, 42.9%) and performed between 0-5 cases of radical trachelectomy annually (29/49, 59.2%). The vaginal approach was the one most commonly used and was offered by almost half of the centres (21/49, 42.9%); laparoscopic techniques were offered in 13 (13/49, 26.6%). The responses were divided as to whether these cases should have been referred to supra-regional centres (25/49, 51.0%).

Conclusion: With the use of Human Papillomavirus vaccination leading to a projected decrease in the number of cervical cancer incidence, patients may need to be referred to supraregional centres in the future.

Keywords: Invasive cervical cancer; fertility; radical hysterectomy; radical trachelectomy.