The Center for Gynecologic Oncology
The Center for Gynecologic Oncology offers a comprehensive consultation, diagnosis and treatment service for pre-malignant and malignant disease of the female reproductive system.
This multi-specialty approach includes expertise in the most complicated surgical procedures, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, pathology, cytopathology, diagnostic radiology and genetic counseling. It also offers the support of expert ancillary services such as anesthesiology, intensive care medicine, infections, coagulation disorders, pulmonary medicine, pain management, enterostomal therapy and social services, among others.
Surgical procedures offered by the
Center for Gynecologic Oncology
Laparoscopic (minimally invasive) Surgery
Use of the laparoscope for diagnosis, staging and treatment of gynecological cancers when feasible. This technology shortens the patient’s hospital stay and allows for faster recovery.
Surgical Staging for Endometrial, Cervical and Ovarian Cancer
Hysterectomy, ovariectomy and removal of the lymph node tissue in the pelvic and para-aortic regions for endometrial and ovarian cancer, pre-radiation for retroperitoneal aortic and pelvic node removal for staging and debulking in cervical cancer.
Radical Hysterectomy
Abdominal hysterectomy combines the removal of the tissues surrounding the cervix along with the uterus. This surgery is used to treat selected cases of cervical and uterine cancer. The radicalness is adjusted to the extent of the cancer being treated; e.g. a Class II radical hysterectomy is often more appropriate therapy than the traditional Class II (Meigs’) procedure.
Advanced Ovarian Cancer Tumor Reductive Surgery
Removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries are standard procedures. In addition, tumor-reductive surgery to optimize chemotherapy may necessitate removal of the peritoneum, omentum, bowel segments, and retroperitoneal nodal disease. The use of the stapling techniques for low-rectal anastomosis typically avoids the need for colostomy. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, the CUSA and the Argon beam coagulator are adjuvants to surgery for patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma.
Second-look Surgery
The examination of the abdomen and the pelvis, with multiple biopsies and removal of aortic and pelvic lymph nodes. Second-look surgery is typically performed for ovarian cancer at the end of chemotherapy, to assess the status of the cancer and the response to treatment. This information is used to determine whether to stop, continue or change therapy. The procedure can be done laparoscopically or by laparotomy.
Vulvar Cancer Surgery
Removal of the vulvar skin and tissues surrounding and deep to the cancer. The emphasis is on conservation, such as partial vulvectomy rather than total vulvectomy. The removal of more than half the vulva is seldom necessary and conservative surgery usually spares the clitoris. The regional (inguinal) lymph node dissection, when necessary, can often be limited to one side. Even this can sometimes be avoided by use of lymphatic mapping (lymphocintigraphy). For more advanced cancers, chemoradiation is employed to reduce the extent of the surgical resection.
LEEP Cone Biopsy
A procedure performed under local anesthesia for diagnosis and treatment of cervical dysplasia.
The information on these pages is provided for general information only and should not be used for diagnosis or treatment, or as a substitute for consultation with a physician or healthcare professional. If you have specific questions or concerns about your health, you should consult your healthcare professional.
To make an appointment, call 866-884-4HUH (4484)
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