A 50-year-old woman with recurrent cervical carcinoma confined to the pelvis 18 months after completing primary chemoradiation is evaluated for salvage therapy. She has no distant metastases on PET-CT. Which treatment offers the best chance of cure?

• A Re-irradiation with concurrent chemotherapy
• B Pelvic exenteration ✓
• C Palliative chemotherapy with cisplatin and paclitaxel
• D Immunotherapy with pembrolizumab

Explanation

For centrally recurrent cervical cancer after prior radiation, pelvic exenteration (anterior, posterior, or total) is the only potentially curative option. Re-irradiation carries high toxicity and limited efficacy. Palliative chemotherapy and immunotherapy are used for metastatic or non-surgical candidates. Careful patient selection is essential for exenterative surgery.

Reference: Principles and Practice of Gynecologic Oncology, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.