Similar Survival Seen With Simple Versus Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Cancer

WEDNESDAY, May 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — For patients with low-risk cervical cancer, survival is similar following simple hysterectomy (SH) versus modified radical hysterectomy (MRH) or radical hysterectomy (RH), according to a study published online May 15 in JAMA Network Open.

Christopher M. Tarney, M.D., from the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues examined long-term survival in low-risk early-stage cervical cancer following SH versus MRH or RH in a cohort study involving women with stage IA2 or IB1 squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, or adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix (≤2 cm) and clinically negative lymph nodes. The analyses included 2,636 women: 982 with SH, 300 with MRH, 927 with traditional RH, and 427 with unspecified MRH or RH.

The researchers found that survival was similar following SH versus MRH or RH (seven-year survival rate: 93.9 versus 95.3 percent) and following SH versus MRH versus RH (seven-year survival rate, 93.9 versus 94.2 versus 95.4 percent). After adjustment for baseline covariates alone or baseline covariates plus clinical factors, the risk of death remained similar following either SH versus MRH or RH; SH versus RH; or MRH versus RH. Within subsets by age, comorbidity score, race and ethnicity, facility type, stage, histologic subtype, tumor grade, surgical approach, and diagnosis year, survival remained similar. After propensity score balancing for baseline covariates, adjusted survival remained similar in patients with SH versus MRH or RH, with similar three-, five-, seven-, and 10-year survival rates.

“Our large observational study adds long-term survival to the mounting data supporting the use and safety of conservative surgery for low-risk, early-stage cervical carcinoma,” the authors write.

Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text