[Effectiveness of programme for early detection of recurrence of cervical carcinoma (author's transl)]

Various diagnostic methods, generally suitable for early diagnosis of carcinoma recurrence, were used in a systematic localised search programme on 799 patients with invasive cervical carcinoma. The practicability of a concept for early detection of recurrence was verified and established by shortening of latency from first manifestation to recurrence and by more frequent detection of recurrent processes even without symptoms. Reported are methods selected from the programme for their suitability for early recurrence detection. These were necessarily restricted to detection of localised recurrence, following radiological or combined treatment, whereas early detection of parametrial and pelvic wall recurrences seemed to be purposeful, too, when preceded exclusively by primary surgical therapy. Rates of survival, following at least one year of recurrence observation, were encouraging and the support of the view that early detection of recurrence might help to improve the chance of healing.