Surgery for gynecologic malignancies

The surgical management of invasive and preinvasive gynecologic malignancies continues to evolve at a brisk pace. Several good techniques are available for the treatment of preinvasive cervical disease, including cryotherapy, loop electrocautery excision, laser therapy, and standard knife conization. The use of radical surgery for early invasive cervical cancer has been extended to older women, and complications have been minimized. There has been a significant trend toward more conservative surgery in the management of invasive vulvar cancer. The new surgical staging system for endometrial cancer has generated much controversy. The importance of thorough surgical staging for ovarian cancer is clear, and our understanding of the role of cytoreduction has increased. The role of new techniques, including operative laparoscopy, is being defined in the management of gynecologic cancers.