THE SURGICAL TREATMENT OF CANCER OF THE CERVIX: STAGE I AND II

Abstract
1. The results of a surgical program in the treatment of cancer of the cervix in Stage I and II are reviewed. Two thirds were treated by surgery alone; one third were operated upon according to the same principles but, unavoidably, received associated radiation therapy. The over-all results showed no improvement in the combined series over the purely surgical series; the surgical procedures in the combined series were carried out in an identical manner with the purely surgical series. 2. The inaccuracies of clinical staging are documented by comparison with the Surgical Pathological Classification of the same series of patients in which it was shown that about one third of the cases showed more extensive disease than suspected upon clinical examination alone. 3. Evidence is presented to indicate that pelvic lymphadenectomy is of significance in augmenting the five year "cure" rate of cancer of the cervix.