title: Radical parametrectomy for occult cervical carcinoma detected posthysterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There are no randomized studies of the two therapeutic alternatives (surgery or radiotherapy) for occult cervical carcinoma, and survival rates in the absence of residual cancer seem to be similar for both. This article presents our experience with radical reoperation for occult cervical carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with occult cervical cancer, primary invasive tumor >/=0.5 cm and </=3.0 cm, free margins in the hysterectomy specimen, and absence of clinically evident residual tumor were reoperated (radical parametrectomy with partial colpectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Histopathologic examination after reoperation showed no evidence of residual disease in nine cases and metastasis in lymph nodes in two cases, one of them with parametrial involvement. Survival was 100% among disease-free cases on reoperation and 0% in cases with residual disease (5-year follow-up).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radical reoperation allows disease staging, sorting of patients into risk groups, and avoidance of radiation therapy in more than two thirds of the cases of occult cervical carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Deutsches Hospital, Buenos Aires, Argentina. lprimavera@hospitalaleman.com
authors.forename: Jorge R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Gori
authors.forename: Heriberto G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Fritsches
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Castanño
authors.forename: Mariano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toziano
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Habich