Examination under anaesthesia for clinical staging of invasive cervical carcinoma

Objective: (Background) Because clinical evaluation of parametrial involvement in invasive cervical carcinoma may be difficult for various reasons, we evaluated the cost/benefit ratio of examination under anaesthesia. Methods: One hundred six patients with invasive cervical carcinoma observed in the Division of Surgical Semeiotics and Ambulatory Surgery were submitted, after the first ambulatory visit, to examination under anaesthesia by two expert clinicians, a gynaecologist and a radiotherapist. Results: Twenty six (24.5%) patients had a modification of the clinical stage. In eleven patients the therapeutic indication was modified, 8 patients initially candidates for surgical treatment were judged inoperable, while 3, first considered inoperable were submitted to surgery. Conclusions: Examination under anaesthesia offers undeniable advantages.