Simple hysterectomy in the presence of invasive cervical cancer.

During the years 1956-69, 74 cases of invasive cervical carcinoma treated by simple hysterectomy were referred to the Norwegian Radium Hospital. The 5 year survival for those with free operative borders was 77.1% as compared with 30.7% for those cases in which the tumour was transected during operation. Before operation for a supposed benign condition, cancer should always be ruled out. If simple hysterectomy is performed and cervical cancer found in the specimen, immediate postoperative megavoltage radiotherapy affords the best chance of cure.