[Oncological pelvic surgery from a gynecological perspective]

The established gynecological cancer operations are based on functional anatomy derived from the mature organism and on a model of radial progressive tumor permeation. Surgical treatment aims to resect the tumor with a metrically defined radial margin of tissue microscopically free of neoplastic or dysplastic disease. However, despite adequate surgical performance local tumor relapses still occur. In the presence of histopathological risk factors adjuvant radiation is therefore recommended which increases treatment-related morbidity. The Leipzig School of Radical Pelvic Surgery has developed new gynecological cancer operations from a different perspective on anatomy and local tumor spread. Tissue mapping is deduced by following the organism's development from the stage of tissue deposition to maturity (ontogenetic anatomy) to define permissive compartments for cancer permeation. The variants of mesometrial resection (TMMR, PMMR) and vulva field resection (VFR) achieve very high (>95%) local control rates in stages I and II cancer of the lower and middle female genital tract without adjuvant radiation. Laterally extended endopelvic resection (LEER) provides sustained tumor control even in locally advanced and recurrent disease as well as cancer of the distal vagina.