[Surgical treatment of recurrence of uterine cervix cancer]

Surgery for recurrence of malpighian epithelioma of uterine cervix was performed in 14 patients, exenteration being necessary in 10 cases (5 anterior, 4 total and 1 posterior). Possibilities of surgical excision of recurrences are limited (10 to 20% of cases) and should not be considered except after a careful general, local and regional investigation including, if necessary, and exploratory laparotomy. This recovery surgery must be preceded by high-dose irradiation. This partly explains the high incidence of exenterations, with the need for cutaneous bypass of urine and/or fecal matter, but also the high prevalence of postoperative complications and mortality. Long-term results are deceiving and a 5-year survival rate of 20% appears to be maximum obtainable. However, this surgery remains the only solution capable of providing the patients with a chance, and it very often relieves them of the painful course of a pelvic tumor.