Pelvic exenteration in gynecologic oncology: Experience at the Mount Sinai Center, 1975-1992

Thirty-nine patients underwent pelvic exenteration for gynecologic malignancies at The Mount Sinai Medical Center between 1975 and 1992. Surgical techniques, morbidity, survival, and other variables for patients so treated in two periods, 1975-1984 and 1985-1992, were compared. The primary cancer included squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, 27; adenocarcinoma of the cervix, 1; squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina, 4; adenocarcinoma of the endometrium, 4; squamous cell carcinoma of the vulva, 2; and adenocarcinoma of the rectum, 1. Median survival was 23.1 months, with a median follow-up of 18 months. Survival was significantly related to status of the lymph nodes (p 0.0004) and surgical margins (p 0.0038). There were two postoperative mortalities, one due to pulmonary embolus and another to myocardial infarction. The ability in the second period analyzed, 1985-1992, to integrate a continent urinary reservoir and supralevator exenteration without colostomy yet not induce increased morbidity or decreased survival, has not been previously reported.