Evolving Surgical Paradigms in Early-Stage Cervical Cancer: De-escalation, Minimally Invasive Approaches, and Lymph Node Assessment

Purpose of Review This review examines the evolving surgical paradigms in early-stage cervical cancer, with an emphasis on the deescalation of radical surgery, the ongoing debate surrounding minimally invasive approaches, and the advancements in lymph node assessment. Recent Findings Open radical hysterectomy remains the preferred surgical approach for the treatment of early-stage cervical cancer. Simple hysterectomy and fertility-sparing conization are now validated options for low-risk patients. Summary Early-stage cervical cancer is primarily managed surgically for its comparable oncologic outcomes to primary radiotherapy with lower long-term side effects. However, in the past decade, the gynecologic oncology community has witnessed major shifts in the extent of surgery, route of surgical approach and method of lymph node assessment.