Can pelvic lymphadenectomy be omitted in patients with stage IA2, IB1, and IIA1 squamous cell cervical cancer?

PURPOSE This study aimed to identify the surgical-pathologic risk factors of lymph node metastasis (LNM) in patients with early stage squamous cell cervical cancer and to evaluate the potential efficacy of omitting pelvic lymphadenectomy. METHODS A total of 276 patients with stage IA2, IB1, and IIA1 squamous cell cervical cancer receiving primary radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy were included in this study. RESULTS The incidences of LNM in patients with stage IA2, IB1, and IIA1 squamous cell cervical cancer were 0 % (0/8), 17.4 % (36/207), and 29.5 % (18/61), respectively. The most common location of LNM was the obturator lymph node. Human papilloma virus 16 subtype was the most common infection in early stage squamous cell cervical cancer. Univariate analysis revealed that squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCCAg) greater than 1.5 μg/L (p < 0.001), tumor size greater than 2 cm (p < 0.001), tumor size greater than 3 cm (p < 0.001), depth of stromal invasion (p < 0.001) and lymphovascular invasion (p < 0.001) were associated with LNM. Logistic regression analysis revealed that depth of stromal invasion {model 1 [p = 0.006; odds ratio (OR) 2.161; 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.251-3.734], model 2 [p = 0.002; OR 2.344; 95 % CI 1.337-3.989]}, lymphovascular invasion [model 1 (p = 0.004; OR 2.967; 95 % CI 1.411-6.237), model 2 (p = 0.004; OR 2.978; 95 % CI 1.421-6.243)], and SCCAg greater than 1.5 μg/L [model 1 (p = 0.023; OR 2.431; 95 % CI 1.129-5.235), model 2 (p = 0.024; OR 2.418; 95 % CI 1.125-5.194)] were independently associated with LNM. CONCLUSIONS Pelvic lymphadenectomy may be omitted in patients with SCCAg lower than 1.5 μg/L, superficial stromal invasion and without lymphovascular invasion in stage IA2, IB1, IIA1 squamous cell cervical cancer.