Microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix. The significance of lymphatic invasion and confluent patterns of stromal growth.

Thirty examples of microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix were studied to determine the presence or absence of lymphatic invasion. Invasion of spaces resembling lymphatic spaces was demonstrated by step sections in more than half of the cases (57%). The pattern of invasion within the stroma, whether confluent or finger-like, did not correlate with the presence or absence of invasion of these spaces. All of the patients had been treated with a pelvic lymphadenectomy, and all of the lymph nodes were negative for metastasis. Thus, neither invasion of what have been considered to be lymphatics nor a confluent pattern of stromal invasion should be a criterion for excluding either the diagnosis of microinvasion or treatment by simple hysterectomy.