Microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix.

The depth and pattern of invasion were compared in 115 cases of microinvasive carcinoma. The 71 invading 1 mm. or less were focal (96 per cent) rather than confluent (4 per cent) and were cured by simple hysterectomy(one vaginal vault recurrence). The 44 invading 2 to 5 mm. showed a confluent pattern in 39 per cent; a need for treating pelvic lymphatics was demonstrated by one with a positive hypogastric lymph node and by two pelvic recurrences. An additional 26 cases assessed as beyond microinvasive (6 to 10 mm. in depth) included five of 16 without radical treatment who died from cancer, while all treated radically survived, including five with lymphatic involvement.