Cervical sarcoma botryoides. A case report.
BACKGROUND
Sarcoma botryoides is a rare gynecologic malignancy. Reported treatment protocols range from localized resection of the tumor to radical surgery and adjuvant chemotherapy. Recently, limited excisional surgery combined with chemotherapy has contributed to excellent survival rates and preserved bladder and rectal function.


METHODS
We report a case of cervical sarcoma botryoides with minimal invasion. The patient had primary surgical treatment with complete resection of the tumor without adjuvant chemotherapy. Four months after surgery she presented with extensive metastatic retroperitoneal disease and died two weeks later.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical course of this patient suggests that complete surgical resection in cases of localized disease is not adequate therapy for sarcoma botryoides. Adjuvant chemotherapy should always be used, even at a very early stage.
Vlahos
N P
NP
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-1247, USA.
Matthews
R
R
Veridiano
N P
NP
D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary*; D018233:Rhabdomyosarcoma, Embryonal / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery