Indications for Laparoscopy in Gynaecologic Oncologic Surgery

Abstract

Minimally invasive surgery has been used in obstetrics and gynecology since 1949 when culdoscopy was introduced for the first time as an exploration tool. Along with the progress of laparoscopic instruments, laparoscopic hysterectomy was first performed in 1989 by Reich et al. In 1993 Nicols used laparoscopy to perform a pelvic lymphadenectomy in patients with cervical cancer. Indications of laparoscopy in gynecological oncologic surgery widened as new retrospective studies and case studies have demonstrated efficacy, safety, and feasibility comparable to conventional surgery on increasingly more advanced stages of disease in patients of increasing age. Nowadays, minimally invasive surgery is about to be implemented routinely to treat patients with uterine cancer, cervical or ovarian cancer.