Radical hysterectomy morbidity in relation to age

Article Abstract:

Women are living longer than they did in the past, and the trend for even longer life spans is continuing. This increase in life span is accompanied by an increased risk for cancer. It is important that the quality of life be preserved as well as its length. Cervical cancer in its early stages can be treated by surgery (radical hysterectomy) or by radiation, with both achieving similar results. The side effects of radiation can, however, have a greater impact on the quality of life. Despite this, many physicians recommend radiation treatment instead of surgery for older women. They fear that surgery is too dangerous for these women. This study examined the morbidity (complications) associated with radical hysterectomy in older women and younger women, and compared the results. The major and minor complications of radical hysterectomies performed on 159 women were assessed. The women were divided into two groups, those 65 and over and those younger than 65 years. Twenty-four women were in the older group and 135 were in the younger group. Prior to surgery, 13 women in the older group (54 percent) and 19 in the younger group (14 percent) had medical problems. No complications occurred following surgery in 13 (54 percent) of the older and 56 (41 percent) of the younger patients. Minor complications occurred in 8 (33 percent) of the older and 73 (54 percent) of the younger patients. Major complications occurred in 3 older women (13 percent) and 6 younger women (4 percent). Radiation therapy was required after surgery in 4 older (17 percent) and 5 younger patients (4 percent). There were no significant differences in blood loss or the duration (time) of surgery between the groups. These result indicate that radical hysterectomy is a safe and effective treatment for selected older women with cervical cancer and should be considered as an alternative to radiation therapy. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Care and treatment, Aged, Elderly, Complications and side effects, Demographic aspects, Cervical cancer, Hysterectomy

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Modified posterior exenteration for ovarian cancer

Article Abstract:

In epithelial ovarian cancer, malignant tumors grow on the ovaries. The survival of patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer can be prolonged with surgery and chemotherapy. The surgery usually employed is referred to as cytoreductive because its goal is to remove tumor cells from the body. It is not uncommon for patients with advanced-stage ovarian cancer to have tumors that have spread to the reproductive organs, large intestine, vagina and uterus. In these cases, a surgical procedure called posterior exenteration is performed to remove all of the internal organs in the abdominal and pelvic region that have become cancerous. This article describes the outcome of 47 patients with advanced stage epithelial ovarian cancer who underwent posterior exenteration surgery. Thirty-seven of the patients were having this operation for the first time, and 10 were having a second operation to remove tumors that had recurred. The patients were between the ages of 34 and 86. Forty-five of the patients had tumors in the pelvic region that were larger than 10 centimeters, and 30 patients had tumors of equal or greater size that had spread to body parts outside of the pelvic region. Thirteen months after surgery, 19 of the patients were still alive, at least 16 had died, and the rest had relocated and were unavailable for further study. Forty-one percent of the patients who were having surgery for the first time had no evidence of cancer 13 months after the operation, while 11 percent still had cancer. It is concluded that posterior exenteration surgery is an effective method for treating advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Methods, Ovarian cancer

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