Invasive cervical cancer during pregnancy: laparoscopic nodal evaluation before oncologic treatment delay

Introduction. Cervical cancer is the most frequently encountered malignancy during pregnancy. Presence of nodal metastasis is the most important negative prognostic factor and its assessment represents a crucial parameter to decide if pregnancy can safely continue. We describe the results of 18 pregnant patients with cervical cancer who had their nodal status proved by means of laparoscopy. Material and methods. Eighteen patients with cervical cancer who underwent laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy during pregnancy at Charit-University Berlin and Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena between 1999 and 2010 were analyzed retrospectively. Results. The mean age at diagnosis was 32 years (26-40) a…