The value of complete lymphadenectomy in radical treatment of cancer of the cervix, Stage IB.
Two hundred ninety-three patients with Stage IB carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated by intracavitary irradiation followed by radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection in the 3-year period 1970 to 1972, inclusive. Preoperative lymphography was performed and intraoperative films were taken to obtain a lymphadenectomy that was as complete as possible. The number and location of remaining nodes were determined by postoperative films. No patients were lost to follow-up. The 5- and 10-year survival and recurrence rates were correlated to the number of remaining nodes. It is concluded that patients with four or more remaining nodes have a possible inferior prognosis compared with the rest of the patients. Meticulous and time-consuming search for a few remaining nodes was, however, not found to be justified.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008220:Lymphography; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D013997:Time Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*