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Although open (i.e., abdominal) radical hysterectomy has been the standard for early-stage invasive cervical cancer, minimally invasive surgery (MIS; laparoscopic or robotic radical hysterectomy) has largely replaced the open approach. But do the benefits extend to survival?
In a randomized trial, investigators at 33 centers worldwide with proficiency in MIS assigned 631 women (mean age, 46) with early-stage cervical cancer to open or MIS radical hysterectomy. Among the MIS group, 84.4% and 15.6% underwent laparoscopic and robotic surgery, respectively. Disease-free survival rates at 4.5 years were 96.5% (open) and 86.0% (MIS). Results were similar regardless of laparoscopic or robotic MIS. Open surgery was also associated with a higher rate…