David Cibula

David Cibula is Professor and Head of the Gynecologic Oncology Center at Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Czech Republic. He is a world-recognized authority on the surgical management of cervical cancer, with particular expertise in sentinel lymph node (SLN) biopsy and radical hysterectomy. His contributions to SLN mapping in cervical cancer have been central to the global adoption of this technique as an alternative to complete pelvic lymphadenectomy, reducing surgical morbidity without compromising staging accuracy. Cibula led the SENTIX prospective multicenter trial, one of the largest and most rigorously designed studies evaluating the oncologic safety of SLN biopsy as the sole surgical staging procedure in early-stage cervical cancer. His research has addressed critical questions regarding detection rates, false-negative rates, and pathologic ultrastaging of sentinel nodes, providing the evidence base for international surgical guidelines. He has also made important contributions to understanding parametrial involvement in cervical cancer and criteria for less radical surgical approaches. In addition to cervical cancer surgery, Cibula has contributed to research on ovarian cancer surgical staging, fertility-preserving approaches in gynecologic oncology, and the integration of minimally invasive techniques. He is an active participant in European cooperative groups, holds leadership roles in ESGO (European Society of Gynaecological Oncology), and is a frequent invited educator at international surgical training programs.