Clinical aspects and prognosis of pelvic recurrence of cervical carcinoma

Objective To identify which patients with locally recurrent cervical carcinoma are potentially curable. Method A total of 664 stage IB‐IVA patients were examined following surgery or radiotherapy. Result Among the 664 patients, 193 (29%) developed recurrence. Sixty‐seven (35%) of these recurrences were located in the pelvis alone. Among these 67 recurrences, 24 (35%) were central recurrences and the remaining 43 (65%) were pelvic side‐wall recurrences. Of the 24 patients with central recurrences, 8 were salvaged. Of these 8 patients, 3 underwent pelvic exenteration, and 5 received optimal radiotherapy. The recurrent tumor in these 5 survivors who received radiotherapy had consisted of a small (<2 cm) tumor. All 43 patients with pelvic wall recurrence developed progressive disease. Conclusion The following patients are potentially curable: patients with a resectable, centrally located tumor who are candidates for pelvic exenteration, and patients with a small central recurrence for whom complete radiation therapy is feasible.