Lymphocele following lymph node dissection in cervical and endometrial cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the proportion and risk factors of lymphoceles and symptomatic lymphoceles after PLND in early-stage cervical and early-stage high or high-intermediate risk endometrial cancer.

METHODS

Studies reporting on the proportion of lymphocele after PLND were conducted in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library. Retrieved studies were screened on title/abstract and full text by two reviewers independently. Quality assessment was conducted using the Newcastle Ottowa Scale and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Proportion of lymphocele and possible risk factors were pooled through random-effects meta-analyses.

RESULTS

From the 233 studies retrieved, 24 studies were included. The pooled proportion of lymphocele was 14% and of symptomatic lymphocele was 3%. Routinely performing diagnostics was associated with a significantly higher proportion of lymphocele compared to diagnostics performed on indication (21% versus 4%, p < 0.01). Laparotomic surgical approach led to a significantly higher proportion of lymphoceles than laparoscopic surgical approach (18% versus 7%, p = 0.05). The proportion of lymphocele was significantly higher when >15% of the study population underwent additional paraaortic lymph node dissection (PAOLND) opposed to <15% (15% versus 3%, p < 0.01). A mean number of lymph nodes dissected of <21 resulted in a significantly higher pooled proportion of lymphoceles opposed to when the mean number was 21 or higher (19% versus 5%, p = 0.02). Other risk factors analysed were BMI, lymph node metastasis, adjuvant radiotherapy and follow up. There was no sufficient data to detect significant risk factors for the development of symptomatic lymphoceles.

CONCLUSION

The pooled proportion of lymphocele was 14% of which symptomatic lymphoceles occurred in 3%. Significant risk factors for the total proportion of lymphoceles were laparotomic approach, decreased number of lymph nodes dissected and additional PAOLND.