Palliative urinary diversion in patients with advanced cervical cancer.

An analysis of 25 palliative urinary diversions for advanced cervical cancer is presented. The median postoperative survival was 176 days and the mean was 329 days. Indication, methods of surgical procedure and duration of known disease did not strongly influence survival. The patients who were treated with radiation therapy after urinary diversion had a longer median survival. Renal function returned to normal in 7 of 9 azotemic patients. 41% of the patients left the hospital and this group subsequently spent 62% of their remaining survival at home. Guidelines for selection of the patients who might benefit from urinary diversion are discussed.