Exploratory celiotomy for cervical carcinoma: the role of histologic grading

Eighty-five patients underwent a surgical staging procedure during a 2-year period. Fifty-eight of these patients were evaluated in relation to the histologic grade of their squamous carcinoma of the cervix. An increased incidence of extrapelvic lymph node metastasis is associated with poorly differentiated tumors and with parametrial extension of the primary tumor regardless of histologic grade. Surgical staging is suggested for patients with parametrial extension of their tumor or for patients with poorly differentiated tumors.