title: Factors influencing the treatment of patients with stage Ia carcinoma of the cervix.
abstract: A total of 122 patients with Stage Ia carcinoma of the cervix was followed for 5 to 25 years. Eight recurrences were found, four of which were located in the vagina, cervix or the bladder and four on the pelvic wall. Five of the recurrences were detected after 5 years of follow-up. Tumour cells were found in blood vessels or lymphatic channels in eight patients and five of them developed metastases. It is proposed that only tumours with a depth of stromal invasion of less than 5 mm should be treated conservatively. If blood vessels or lymphatic channels contain tumour, we would recommend a Wertheim's hysterectomy or treatment by intracavitary and external irradiation.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012008:Recurrence; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*