Cervical cancer: balancing obstetrical and oncological outcomes.

摘要

We appreciate the Review on fertility-preserving surgery in patients with cervical cancer in The Lancet Oncology1 and would like to pointtotwo aspects that need further clarification.When assessing the benefits of treating an organ affected by cancer versus preserving its function, balance is needed between functional impairment and tumour control. Dysfunctions of the uterine cervix are infertility, miscarriage, and premature birth. However, there are further clinical consequences of these dysfunctions, which vary widely. Whereas cervical infertility can be successfully treated by use of assisted reproduction, infants with extremely low birthweight (<1000 g) born before 28 weeks of gestation remain at risk of developing severe morbidity and lifelong disability.