TREATMENT OF MICROINVASIVE SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINE CERVIX

Between 1947 and 1971 254 cases of microinvasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix were treated in this institution. Cervical cytology was used to detect the cervical abnormality and the diagnosis of microinvasion was established by cone biopsy. During this time period microinvasion was defined as the breakthrough of the basement membrane and the penetration of neoplastic epithelium into the stroma to a depth of no greater than 5 mm, and excluded those cases which had lymph or blood vessel involvement, a dentritic or staghorn pattern, many epithelial cells in clusters in the stroma, or the presence of confluence. Of the 254 cases, 250 were followed for 5 years or more. Treatment methods for microinvasive cervical cancer over this time period included surgery alone, radiotherapy alone, or a combined approach using both surgery and radiotherapy. None of the 125 cases treated by surgery alone have died of cervical cancer. It is concluded that microinvasive carcinoma, as defined in this study, can be cured by conservative surgical means. © 1979.