Evaluation of radical hysterectomu for treatment of stage IB cancer of the cervix, at Hospital San Vicente, Medellín, Colombia, 1980-1990

Abstract

A review was made of clinical charts of 139 patients with cancer of the cervix stage IB, treated by Wertheim-Meigs radical hysterectomy, at Hospital San Vicente, Medellín, Colombia, between 1980 and 1990, in order to evaluate results concerning complications derived from surgery, recurrences and residual cervicallesions. Average age was 39.3 ::!: 9.4 years. Follow-up period fluctuated between 0 and 181 months. One hundred and twenty two tumors (87.8%) were epidermoid and 17 (12.2%) adenocarcinomas. The degree of differentiation was determined in 101 cases: 43 (42.6%) were well differentiated, 29 (28.7%) moderately differentiated and 29 (28.7%) poorly differentiated. Metastatic pelvic Iymphnodes involvement was present in 13 patients (9.4%): In 11 of them involvement was unilateral. Residual cervicallesion was left in 6 patients (4.3%) of which 4 received additional treatment with radiotherapy. Recurrences appeared in 12 of the 100 patients followed for 2 or more years; in seven of these the recurrence ocurred in the first two years; there was a recurrence 13 years after surgery. Recurrences happened more often when tumors were poorly or moderately differentiated. Complications, mostly infectious, occurred in 43 patients (30.9%): Urinary tract infections (17 cases), wound infection (15 cases) and infection of the vaginal dome (14 cases) were the most frequently found.