Chemotherapy for lymphatic metastatic gynecologic cancer via pelvic retroperitoneal cannulation: a preliminary report.

The feasibility of chemotherapy for lymphatic metastatic gynecologic cancer via pelvic retroperitoneal cannulation was preliminarily studied. In 25 patients with gynecologic cancer 5-FU was safely allocated by cannulation to the pelvic retroperitoneal space including the external iliac, internal iliac, obturator, and deep inguinal and most of the common iliac lymph nodes. The 5-FU concentration in the lymph nodes on the injection side was 2-10 times that on the control side (P < 0.01). In 4 patients with nodal metastasis on the injection side, most cancer cells showed degeneration and necrosis. No severe complications or adverse effects were observed. The results suggested that the cannulation be used to treat the lymphatic metastasis of gynecologic cancer.