Burak GİRAY, Dogan VATANSEVER, Muhterem Melis CANTURK, Emin Erhan DONMEZ, Oytun TURKKAN, Selim MISIRLIOGLU, Mete MANICI, Cagatay TASKIRAN
Türk Jinekolojik Onkoloji Dergisi - 2026;26(2):72-79
Background: To evaluate the feasibility, safety, and surgical outcomes of mini-laparoscopic para-aortic lymph node (PALN) dissection-with or without simultaneous ovarian transposition-in patients with locally advanced cervical cancer prior to chemoradiotherapy. Methods: This retrospective case series evaluated nine patients with FIGO 2009 stage IB2-IVA cervical cancer who underwent mini-laparoscopic PALN assessment using a 5-mm optical transumbilical trocar and 3.5-mm/5-mm ancillary trocars at a tertiary university hospital. Premenopausal patients underwent concurrent bilateral salpingectomy and lateral ovarian transposition. Demographic characteristics, operative times, intraoperative/postoperative complications, node yields, length of hospital stay, and time to chemoradiotherapy were recorded and analyzed. Results: The mean patient age was 41.25 +/- 9.50 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 205 +/- 51.4 . Five premenopausal patients successfully underwent mini-laparoscopic PALN dissection combined with ovarian transposition. The mean operative time was 205 +/- 51.4 minutes, and the mean number of removed para-aortic lymph nodes was 5 +/- 3.02 . One intraoperative external iliac vein injury occurred, which was successfully repaired intraoperatively with primary suture, followed by postoperatively managed chylous ascites. The mean hospital stay was 5 +/- 3.02 days. All nine patients successfully initiated definitive chemoradiotherapy within 20 days of surgery. Conclusion: Mini-laparoscopic PALN dissection is a technically feasible and safe procedure for staging locally advanced cervical cancer, offering adequate node yield and potential for rapid postoperative recovery without delaying primary chemoradiotherapy. Larger prospective controlled studies are warranted to confirm these findings and establish long-term clinical outcomes.
