Objective: Review of literature concerning pelvic exenterative procedures. Design: Review article. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Charles University, Prague. Methods: Review and critical assessment of published data. Conclusion: Pelvic exenterations are standard procedures in oncogynecology which have no alternative in certain indications. The most frequent indications are recurrences or progressions of cervical, vulva or vaginal cancers. Exenterative procedures might be used in primary treatment in some cases of locally advanced tumors. Mortality of current procedures reaches 5% to 10%, early and late postoperative morbidity is frequent (40–60%). Recently explorative laparoscopy is used in preoperative staging to decrease the number of aborted procedures due to distant metastasis or pelvic tumor inoperability. The procedure with high morbidity, causing impairment of quality of life, is justified due to good follow-up results – 5-years overall survival is about 50–60%. It should be emphasized that with no treatment in these patients median of survival reaches about 6 months.

        Key words: pelvic exenteration, cervical cancer