Vaginal semiradical hysterectomy: a new operative procedure for microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix.

Thirty-five patients with stage Ia epidermoid microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix were treated surgically by vaginal semiradical hysterectomy. The primary features of this new surgical procedure are the removal of an approximately 1-cm portion of vaginal cuff, partial resection of the vesico-uterine ligament for isolation of the ureter, and resection of approximately 2 cm of parametrial tissue. The extent of resection is almost the same as that of the abdominal modified radical hysterectomy. Operation time and blood loss were almost the same as those for simple hysterectomy. No postoperative complications were observed. From these results it is concluded that the method is an adequate, safe, and low-risk operative therapy for patients with microinvasive carcinoma of the cervix.