Objective Extended-field chemoradiation is typically used for the management of patients with locally advanced cervical cancer. Given the low rate of skipped metastases above the inferior mesenteric artery, ilioinframesenteric dissection seems to be an acceptable pattern of paraaortic lymph node dissection (LND). Our objective is to compare the surgical morbidity of inframesenteric LND (IM-LND) with infrarenal LND (IR-LND).

Methods In our center, all of the patients with locally advanced cervical cancer and negative magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography–computed tomography imaging at the paraaortic level were offered laparoscopic staging including a diagnostic laparoscopy followed, if negative, by an extraperitoneal paraaortic lymphadenectomy. From January 2011 to September 2015, we included patients who had paraaortic LND from both common iliac bifurcations and divided them into 2 groups according to dissection pattern: to the inferior mesenteric artery (IM-LND) level or to the left renal vein (IR-LND) level. The perioperative and postoperative data were retrospectively recorded.

Results A total of 119 women were included in our study: 56 in the IM-LND group and 63 in the IR-LND group. There was no difference in the patients' characteristics between groups. Regarding the surgical procedure, the operating time was shorter in the IM-LND group than the IR-LND group, 174 ± 50 minutes versus 209 ± 61 minutes (P = 0.001), respectively. There was no significant difference in intra- and postoperative complications, overall survival, or progression-free survival.

Conclusions In our series, exclusive IM-LND surgery is faster than IR-LND and results in similar morbidity and survival rates. These results confirm the feasibility and the applicability of IM-LND to simplify the surgical procedure without impacting survival. More patients should be included in the study to demonstrate the lower rate of morbidity.