Effect of a T0 radical hysterectomy specimen on survival for early stage cervical cancer

Objective.: Radical hysterectomy with regional lymphadenectomy is the surgical procedure of choice for stage IA-IIA cervical carcinoma. The goal of this study was to evaluate the outcome of patients with no residual tumor (T0) in their hysterectomy specimens. Methods.: An analysis of all women who underwent type II or III hysterectomy for invasive cervical cancer from 1989 to 2005 was performed. The pathologic data and clinical outcome of each patient was documented. T0 subjects were compared to the remainder of the cohort. Survival was evaluated with the Kaplan-Meier method. Results.: A total of 594 patients were identified. No residual tumor was noted in the hysterectomy specimens of 171 (29%). T0 patients had earlier stage tumors than the controls (IA 32%, IB 68%) (p < 0.0001). Lymphadenectomy was performed in 89% of the T0 subjects. No T0 patients had lymphatic or parametrial disease. The median node yield was similar between the T0 group and those with residual tumors (24 vs. 25) (p = 0.34). Adjuvant therapy was not administered to any of the T0 subjects. There were no recurrences and no cancer-related deaths in the T0 patients. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed an improved disease free (p < 0.0001) and overall survival (p < 0.0001) for the T0 subjects compared to women with residual tumors. The results were similar when the analysis was restricted to stage IB1 patients (p = 0.0004 and 0.002). Conclusions.: A T0 radical hysterectomy specimen indicates a curative therapy. This subgroup of patients has a favorable prognosis with minimal risk of recurrence. Patients with T0 tumors may be candidates for less intensive, abbreviated follow-up.