Key clinical point: When cervical cancer recurs after radical hysterectomy, the likelihood of recurrence at certain sites and the timing of recurrence may be associated with the surgical approach.

Major finding: Patients who underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy had a median progression-free survival of 8 months, whereas patients who underwent open abdominal procedures had a median progression-free survival of 15.8 months. Although vaginal, lymphatic, and distant recurrences were similar between the groups, a greater percentage of patients in the laparoscopic hysterectomy group had recurrence in the pelvic cavity (74% vs. 34%) and peritoneal carcinomatosis (17% vs. 1.5%).

Study details: A retrospective, propensity-matched analysis of data from 105 patients with recurrence.

Disclosures: The researchers had no relevant financial disclosures.