Radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy with and without preoperative radiotherapy for cervical cancer: A report of 265 patients followed 10 to 22 years

Abstract This report presents 265 patients with cervical cancer operated upon between the years 1944–1956 with 169 patients now surviving 10 to 22 years. Of the 96 deaths, 58 were caused by cancer and an additional 18 were treatment related, giving a corrected cancer salvage of 70 per cent. This salvage increases to 90 per cent 10 to 22 years survival when only Stage I cancers without node metastases are considered. Of the 168 patients with Stage I disease, 21 (13 per cent) had node metastases and 10 (48 per cent) have survived 10 to 22 years. Causes of deaths, methods of radiotherapy, sites of node metastases, and complications of the treatment are discussed. The radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy have a definite place in the treatment of cervical cancer, and their value will substantially increase with earlier detection of malignancy and tumor radioresistance.