SCHAUTA-AMREICH VAGINAL HYSTERECTOMY AND WERTHEIM-MEIGS ABDOMINAL HYSTERECTOMY IN THE TREATMENT OF CERVICAL-CANCER - A RETROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the current study was to determine the effectiveness of Schauta's vaginal hysterectomy in the treatment of stage IB or IIA cervical carcinoma. STUDY DESIGN: In a retrospective analysis the results of Schauta's operation have been compared with those of Meigs' operation in 793 consecutive cases of stage IB or IIA cervical carcinoma. In 201 of them adjuvant radiotherapy was given. A total of 356 patients with stage IB and 76 with stage IIA underwent Schauta's operation, whereas 288 and 64 patients with stage IB and IIA, respectively, were operated on with Meigs' procedure. For statistical analysis the Mantel-Haenszel test was used. RESULTS: In stage IB the 5-year survival (Kaplan and Meier method) was 81% in the Schauta group and 75% in the Meigs group (p < 0.05). The results for stage IIA were 68% and 64%, respectively (difference not significant). In a separate analysis for stage IB and treatment by surgery alone, 5-year survival rates for the 283 in the Schauta group and the 175 in the Meigs group were 83% and 78%, respectively (difference not significant). CONCLUSION: Schauta's vaginal hysterectomy showed a high rate of cure for stage IB or IIA cervical cancer. Therefore we conclude that it can be used as an alternative to the Meigs operation in the presence of obesity or elevated surgical risk.