Exploratory Laparotomy as Routine Pretreatment Investigation in Cancer of the Cervix

Abstract

A comparison of clinical data in 25 cervical cancer patients with histologic findings following exploratory laparotomy showed an overall discrepancy of 72% in extent of disease and staging. The discrepancy in diagnosis of para-aortic node involvement was 20% and of noncarcinomatous inflammatory infiltrates 24%. Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy with generous tissue specimens taken from the parametria eliminated the major component of any coexisting pelvic inflammatory disease, and removal of gross palpable tumor perhaps facilitated eradication of malignant disease by subsequent irradiation. Metallic clips showing extent of disease were left in the pelvis and abdomen to enable accurate application of therapy.