title: Is radical hysterectomy for early stage cervical cancer an outdated operation?
abstract: Radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy is the standard surgical treatment for early stage cervical cancer. This operation is well recognised as having a higher morbidity and mortality rate than a simple hysterectomy. We studied the histology results of 131 patients who had standard surgery for cervical cancer to ascertain if a radical hysterectomy was required for adequate treatment. Of 110 (84%) patients with negative pelvic lymphadenopathy, only 9 (8%) had positive parametrial histology and all required adjuvant therapy independent of their parametrial histology. This study confirms that a less radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy provides adequate treatment and allows us to consider a more conservative, minimal access approach to the management of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Birmingham Women's Hospital, Birmingham B15 2TG, UK.
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Selman
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Luesley
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Mann
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D010388:Pelvis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*