Table 3 Surgical staging in advanced cervical cancer: experience

Childers et al. [12]

10

Complete surgical staging including para-aortic lymphadenectomy prior to radiation therapy is feasible

Recio et al. [13]

12

Staging laparoscopy including para-aortic lymph node dissection prior to radiation therapy is associated with minimal morbidity and adds valuable information regarding treatment planning

Goff et al. [14]

86

Staging was performed retroperitoneally in 61 patients, laparoscopically in 18 patients, and by laparotomy in 7. Surgical staging resulted in modification of the standard pelvic radiation field for 43% of the patients

Chu et al. [15]

67

Laparoscopic pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is an efficient and feasible pretreatment staging procedure

Vidaurreta et al. [16]

84

Out of 49 pelvic CT scans, 38 were reported to be normal but 18 of these 38 had positive nodes which were detected laparoscopically. In summary: feasible method

Querleu et al. [17]

53

Extraperitoneal endosurgical aortic and common iliac dissection: tool to identify lymph node positive patients requiring extended field radiation therapy

Hertel et al. [8]

109

Laparoscopic staging is accurate, associated with low morbidity and provides information for treatment adjustment

Vergote et al. [9]

42

Feasible method with low morbidity. 18% of patients without suspicion of para-aortic metastases on CT were found to have para-aortic metastases