Recurrent cancer of the cervix following radical hysterectomy and pelvic node dissection.
Forty patients with recurrence following radical surgery for early invasive cancer of the cervix were studied. Fifty-eight percent of the recurrences were observed within the first 12 months after surgery and 83% within the first 2 years. The site of recurrence was found to influence diagnosis, symptomatology, clinical findings, prognosis, cause of death, and therapy. The prognosis for patients with recurrent cervical cancer was poor, with only 5 patients (13%) surviving free of disease after 5 years. One patient is presently alive and without disease for more than 2 years. Patients who did not receive a potentially curative course of radiation therapy at the time of diagnosis of the recurrence had a poor prognosis. None of the patients managed by exenterative procedures or chemotherapy survived. Guidelines are suggested for follow-up after primary radical hysterectomy and pelvic node dissection.
D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008197:Lymph Node Excision; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*