Port-Site Metastasis in Gynecological Malignancies

Background:

Minimally invasive oncologic surgery has become the standard of care in many gynecologic cancers. While laparoscopic surgery provides many benefits to patients, such as faster recovery, there are unique challenges associated with minimally invasive techniques. Port-site metastasis is a rare complication after laparoscopic oncologic surgery in management of gynecologic malignancies.

Methods:

We present the case of a 44-year-old female with isolated port-site recurrence following laparoscopic radical hysterectomy with node-negative, clinical stage IB1 cervical adenocarcinoma. In addition, we provide an updated review of the literature on management and oncologic outcomes of port-site metastasis.

Conclusion:

Port-site metastasis prevention necessitates a better understanding of underlying risk factors and pathophysiology in order to optimize outcomes. Future studies are needed on risk-reducing strategies and standardization of management for port-site metastasis.

Robotic laparoendoscopic single-site surgery in gynecology: A systematic review

Robotic laparoendoscopic single-site (R-LESS) seems to be the next route in advancing minimal invasive surgery, with the potential for better cosmetic results and reduced patient morbidity compared with multi-port surgery. This review describes the history and development of (R-LESS) gynecologic surgery and outlines the latest advancements in the realm of gynecology. The review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines. Pubmed and ClinicalTrials.gov (www.clinicaltrials.gov) were the main search engines utilized for retrieval of study data (1990 - present). The following subject headings and keywords were searched: "robotic laparoscopic single incision", "robotic laparoendoscopic single site", "single incision robotic surgery" and "single-port robotic surgery". All original research articles including randomized, non-randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, patient series, and case reports were included. The search produced a total of 1127 results. After duplicate removal, 452 remained, and each title and abstract was reviewed by 2 reviewers. Subsequently, 56 full texts were selected for full review and an additional 20 excluded, leaving 36 studies that were included in the final review. Based on the data gathered we reached the conclusion that R-LESS surgery is feasible, safe and has equivalent surgical outcomes as conventional LESS surgery; in addition to shorter recovery times, less postoperative pain and better cosmetic outcomes than robotic multi-port surgery. To conclude, R-LESS is a feasible approach with low complication rates, minimal blood loss and postsurgical pain, fast recovery, and virtually scar-free results. However, the lack of large comparative prospective randomized controlled studies prevents drawing absolute conclusions.

Isolated port site recurrence of node-negative clinical stage IB1 cervical adenocarcinoma

Introduction

Port site metastasis after laparoscopic surgery for cervical cancer is a rare phenomenon.

Methods

We present a case report of isolated port site recurrence 4 years following laparoscopic surgery in a patient with node-negative, clinical stage IB1 cervical adenocarcinoma.

Results

A 44 year-old woman presented with a necrotic cervical lesion. A biopsy of the mass revealed invasive endocervical adenocarcinoma. She underwent a robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, and pelvic lymph node dissection with bilateral oophoropexy. All lymph nodes were placed in an Endocatch bag prior to removal via the 12 mm assistant port. There was no clinical evidence of metastatic disease and final pathology revealed negative surgical margins and lymph nodes. Four years later, she re-presented with a soft tissue mass in her abdominal wall underlying the site of the prior laparoscopic assistant port. This was confirmed by transcutaneous biopsy to be metastatic adenocarcinoma of endocervical origin. Further work-up revealed no other evidence of metastatic disease. The recurrence was excised and all margins were negative.

Conclusion

This is the first case report describing an isolated port site recurrence in a patient who underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for early-stage cervical adenocarcinoma with negative margins and negative lymph nodes. The mechanism underlying this isolated recurrence remains unknown.

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Port-site metastasis is a rare complication after laparoscopic surgery.

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Port-site recurrence can occur in early stage, node-negative cervical cancer.

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Surveillance of port sites at post-operative follow-up visits is imperative.

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The mechanism underlying this isolated recurrence remains unknown.

Port-site metastases after robotic surgery for gynecologic malignancy

The rate of port site metastasis in patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic malignancy is similar to the rate of port site metastasis for traditional laparoscopic surgery.

Background and Objectives:

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery is increasingly used for the management of patients with gynecologic malignancies. The rate of port-site metastases in patients undergoing these procedures is unknown.

Methods:

We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of a prospective database. A total of 220 women underwent robotic-assisted surgery from 2007 through 2011. Malignancy was detected in 145 cases, and 142 met the inclusion criteria with histologically proven cancer and robotically completed surgery. All women who underwent surgical treatment for their malignancies were followed up at the study site for oncology treatments.

Results:

There were 710 potential port sites for metastasis. We found that 2 of 142 patients each had a single port-site metastasis, for an overall rate of 1.41%, or 0.28% per trocar site. Recurrent disease was not isolated in the two patients found to have port-site metastases because both had concurrent sites of pelvic recurrence.

Conclusion:

The rate of port-site metastases in patients undergoing robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery for gynecologic malignancies is similar to the published rate in the literature for traditional laparoscopic oncology.

Robotic surgery for gynaecologic cancer: an overview

After decades of reluctance to change surgical approaches, new technologies have created new perspectives for surgery. Initially, the laparoscopic approach was considered to be only one useful for relatively simple procedures as the design of the instruments and the limited access hampered free movements to perform complicated surgery. Robotic systems overcame this problem and boosted the use of minimally invasive techniques also for radical gynaecological surgery. Robot-assisted laparoscopy can now routinely be used for the surgical treatment of early or downstaged cervical carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma and staging of early ovarian carcinoma. Robot-assisted laparoscopy has proven to be feasible, although the benefits for the patient are less clear than those for the surgeon. The main advantage of robot-assisted laparoscopy over conventional laparoscopy is probably not that it is safer or better, but that it allows more types of radical surgery to be performed and that it prevents the surgeon from developing complaints and muscular conditions that interfere with the ability to perform surgery. New applications have emerged with the introduction of new devices to be used in conjunction with the robotic system as well as with totally new robotic systems. Training in these new tools should be more systematic and structured to allow their safe introduction and use.

Incisional site metastasis in a patient with cervical carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Abdominal wall metastasis either incisional, drain, or port is rather rare in patients treated for cervical carcinoma. We present a case of a patient who underwent an abdominal radical hysterectomy for a moderately differentiated cervical adenocarcinoma stage Ib1 and presented an incisional site metastasis 36 months after her operation. Moreover, we performed a literature search for abdominal wall metastases after radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer, and we present a table of the relative case reports. After our literature search, we clarified that the median time of recurrence was 14 months (range 1.5 month to 45 months). Thirty-three out of 42, 8/42, and 1/42 were squamous, adeno-, and adenosquamous carcinomas, respectively. Wide excision was performed in 30/37 cases of which we have information regarding the treatment option, while 11/37 and 13/37 underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy, respectively. The possible mechanism of such a metastasis as well as the treatment options is discussed.

Port-site recurrence in a patient undergoing robot-assisted gynecologic cancer surgery for endometrial cancer - A case report

► First case of port-site metastasis after robotic staging surgery for uterine cancer. ► Changes to robotic surgical technique to reduce risk of port-site recurrence. ► Further areas of investigation worth examining in this aspect of robotic surgery.

Port-site metastasis following robotic-assisted radical hysterectomy for squamous cell cervical cancer

► Port-site metastases can occur following treatment for cervical cancer. ► Port-site metastases can occur following robotic assisted laparoscopic surgery. ► The pathogenesis of port-site metastases is poorly understood.

Robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy: a pilot study

Objective

To evaluate the feasibility of robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy using a home-made surgical glove port system.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy between January 2010 and July 2010. All surgical procedures were performed through a single 3-4-cm umbilical incision, with a multi-channel system consisting of a wound retractor, a surgical glove, and two 10/12-mm and two 8 mm trocars.

Results

Seven patients were treated with robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy. Procedures included total hysterectomy due to benign gynecological disease (n=5), extra-fascial hysterectomy due to carcinoma in situ of the cervix (n=1), and radical hysterectomy due to cervical cancer IB1 (n=1). The median total operative time was 109 minutes (range, 105 to 311 minutes), the median blood loss was 100 mL (range, 10 to 750 mL), and the median weight of the resected uteri was 200 g (range, 40 to 310 g). One benign case was converted to 3-port robotic surgery due to severe pelvic adhesions, and no post-operative complications occurred.

Conclusion

Robotic single-port transumbilical total hysterectomy is technically feasible in selected patients with gynecological disease. Robotics may enhance surgical skills during single-port transumbilical hysterectomy, especially in patients with gynecologic cancers.

Rate of port-site metastasis is uncommon in patients undergoing robotic surgery for gynecological malignancies

OBJECTIVE

To describe the rate of port-site metastasis in patients who underwent robotic surgery for suspected gynecological malignancy.

METHODS

Using a prospective database, we identified all patients who underwent robotic surgery performed by the Gynecologic Oncology service at 1 institution between December 2006 and March 2010. Records of patients with confirmed malignancy were reviewed for clinicopathological data and information about port-site metastasis.

RESULTS

One hundred eighty-one patients met the inclusion criteria. The median age was 55.4 years (range, 19-82 years), and the median body mass index was 29.6 kg/m² (range, 17.9-70.7 kg/m²). Port-site metastases were detected in 2 patients (1.1%) at 3 weeks (patient 1) and 11 months (patient 2) after surgery. Patient 1 underwent surgery for an adnexal mass, and pathological examination revealed gallbladder adenocarcinoma metastatic to the ovary. She had a recurrence in the right lateral abdominal wall robotic trocar site with concurrent metastases in the gallbladder fossa and liver. Patient 2 was diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of unclear (cervical vs endometrial) origin. Imaging showed metastases in pelvic and para-aortic lymph nodes. She underwent laparoscopy and was found intraoperatively to have gross disease on the right ovary. The patient underwent right salpingo-oophorectomy and chemoradiation. She had residual disease in the cervix and subsequently underwent robotic hysterectomy and left salpingo-oophorectomy. Pathological examination revealed endometrial cancer. She had a recurrence at the transumbilical trocar site concurrent with retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy and carcinomatosis. There were no cases of isolated port-site metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of port-site metastasis after robotic surgery in women with gynecological cancer is low and similar to the rate for laparoscopic procedures.