title: Pelvic exenteration for primary and recurrent gynaecological malignancies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Analyse the outcome of pelvic exenteration for gynaecological malignancies in a tertiary referral center. Post-operative in-hospital morbidity, long-term morbidity, disease free and overall survival rates were studied.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1991 and 2004, 42 patients underwent an anterior, total or posterior exenteration for gynaecological malignancies. Follow-up was obtained from patient files; disease free and overall survival were calculated and prognostic factors were studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A pelvic exenteration was performed in 14 patients for primary and 28 patients for recurrent gynaecological cancers. In-hospital complications occurred in 19 patients (45%) of whom seven patients needed a reoperation (17%). Late complications occurred in 31 patients (75%); 21 reinterventions were performed (50%). Five-year disease free and overall survival was, respectively, 48 and 52%. Age, type of surgery, histology, localisation of the tumour, lateral wall involvement, completeness of resection and primary versus recurrent cancer were not identified as prognostic factors for recurrence or survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Long-term survival is possible in about 50% of patients after pelvic exenteration for gynaecological cancers, but is associated with significant post-operative morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Erasmus MC-Daniel den Hoed Cancer Center, P.O. Box 5201, 3008 AE Rotterdam, The Netherlands. j.h.w.dewilt@erasmusmc.nl
authors.forename: Johannes H W
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: de Wilt
authors.forename: Diederik H-J
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: van Leeuwen
authors.forename: Adriaan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Logmans
authors.forename: Cornelis
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Verhoef
authors.forename: Wim J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kirkels
authors.forename: Maarten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vermaas
authors.forename: Anca C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ansink
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000601:surgery*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D010385:Pelvic Exenteration / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies