The influence of staging laparotomy for cervical cancer on patterns of recurrence and survival.
A matched paired study of surgically staged and non-surgically staged patients with stage II and III cervical carcinoma from October 1974 through August 1987 was retrospectively performed. Eight of 55 (13.8%) had para-aortic lymph node involvement. After tailored extended field radiation 2/8 (25%) remain alive without evidence of disease. Patient survival although slightly in favor of the unstaged group was similar. Patterns of recurrence were similar amongst treatment groups. Para-aortic nodal recurrence, despite tailored radiation therapy, was identical (5.4%) in the staged and unstaged groups. Only one patient (not surgically staged) had an isolated para-aortic recurrence. With the morbidity of an operative procedure and similar survival rates and para-aortic nodal recurrence rates, the value of staging laparotomy in improved patient survival is questioned. Pelvic failure and other distant metastases continue to be the major sites of recurrences.
Potter
M.E.
ME
Division of Gynecologic Oncology, Departments of Radiation Oncology and Biostatistics, The University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, USA.
Spencer
S.
S
Soong
Seng-Jaw
SJ
Hatch
K.D.
KD