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R a d i u m 145
" 1 he principal objections urged against the radical operation are
the postoperative sequelae, as well as the high mortality and the limited
number of five-year survivals. Among the sequelae should be especially
noted, cystitis, peritonitis, and fistulae of various types. Since some of
these sequelae result also from the use of radium in expert hands, since
we are by no means as yet assured of a radical cure by the means of
radium alone, since without operation the suffering of the patient with
carcinoma of the fundus is progressive and the outcome certain, it would
seem that since surgery in combination with postoperative employment
of radium and x-ray gives the assurance of saving a large majority of
the patients who present themselves in the operative stage, and of palliating
suffering and prolonging the life with a fair prospect of ultimate
cure in doubtful cases, we should hesitate to abandon such certainties
for the uncertainties still presented by the use of radium and the x-ray
without surgery in cases of carcinoma of the fundus, and should consider
the advisability of abandoning surgery in cases of carcinoma of
the cervix as still sub judice."
"Our own operative mortality following radical operation alone, or
followed by radium, has been 6.7 per cent in 60 radical operations for
carcinoma of the cervix, 8.6 per cent in 70 radical operations for carcinoma
of the fundus. Lincoln Davis gives a mortality rate of 9.3 per
cent for radical operations for carcinoma of the cervix. Mortality rates
published by other operators vary from 6 to 18 per cent, the latter figure
being given by Janeway's figures for the Wertheim operation."
Table* IV
Various Statistics Regarding Operation and Operative
Mortality of Carcinoma of Cervix
Cullen
Lincoln Davis
Graves
Janeway (Collected Statistics)
Cobb
('rile
Operative
Mortality
IS-I %
9-3 7o
5.0 %
18.2370
11.167*0
6.7