Prevalence of precancerous gynecological lesions and gynecological cancer in patients undergoing vaginal hysterectomy for pelvic organ prolapse

Objectives This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the prevalence of precancerous or malignant lesions of the cervix and/or endometrium among patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy.Materials and methods Medical record of patients who had been diagnosed with pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and undergone vaginal hysterectomy from January 2009 to September 2018 in tertiary hospital was reviewed. The exclusion criteria included individuals who had previously received a diagnosis of gynecologic precancerous lesions or cancer, had abnormal preoperative findings, presented abnormal cervical cancer screening test results or abnormal results from preoperative endometrial biopsy, and had incomplete operative notes or pathological results.Results The electronic medical records of 530 patients were reviewed and included in the analysis. Nine of the 530 patients (1.7%) had precancerous or malignant lesions of the cervix and/or endometrium. The prevalence of atypical endometrial hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma were 0.19% and 0.57%, respectively. All of the patients with endometrial cancer subsequently underwent complete surgical staging. Precancerous cervical lesions were found in five patients (0.95%): CIN II 0.38% and CIN III 0.57%. No cases of cervical cancer were identified.Conclusions It is possible to detect a minor prevalence of precancerous and malignant lesions following post-operative procedures in POP. The assessment of the elderly through the use of risk-based evaluation merits attention for the purpose of early identification. This study offers valuable insights that can be utilized in preoperative counseling and enhancing the preoperative evaluation process.

Automated summary

This retrospective cohort study examined the prevalence of precancerous or malignant lesions of the cervix and/or endometrium in patients who underwent vaginal hysterectomy. The study found a low prevalence of these lesions in patients with pelvic organ prolapse, and highlights the importance of risk-based evaluation for early detection, especially in elderly individuals.