Pelvic lymphadenoscopy. A simple reliable method for the staging of pelvic cancers.

The staging of pelvic cancers using imaging techniques is not very precise, even with the most recent methods. However, optimal treatment depends on the results of this staging. In our experiment, we carried out a pelvioscopy prior to any curative treatment on all our patients who had had pelvic cancer for at least three years. Seventy-eight pelvioscopies were performed with 48 patients, entailing minimum morbidity and no mortality. For 23 patients, the lymph nodes were metastasized even though the C.T. were considered normal. With this simple method, staging of pelvic cancers can be improved and this extensive, unnecessary surgery can be avoided in many cases.