STAGE-IB CARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX, THE NORWEGIAN-RADIUM-HOSPITAL .2. RESULTS WHEN PELVIC NODES ARE INVOLVED

Abstract

From 1967-1972, 562 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, stage IB (FIGO) underwent radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. The patients with pelvic metastases were treated with external beam supervoltage irradiation of 4000 or 5000 rad to the pelvis. Metastases in the pelvic lymph nodes were found in 21.3%. The authors analyzed in detail which nodes were involved with metastases and the relationship with survival and with recurrence. The overall 5-yr survival for patients with pelvic lymph node metastases was 53%; for patients without metastases it was 92%. The site of recurrence in patients without demonstrable pelvic lymph node metastases was also examined. Patients with pelvic node metastases below the common iliac group have a much better prognosis than patients in whom metastases are located in the common iliac nodes; when nodal involvement is below the common iliac level, patients with disease limited to 1 node or 1 group of nodes do not have a better prognosis than patients with multiple metastatic nodes.