BACTERIOLOGICAL STUDIES ON PELVIC LYMPH NODES AND TISSUES IN SURGERY OF CANCER OF THE UTERINE CERVIX

Abstract

Aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were isolated from pelvic lymph nodes and parametric tissues extirpated in the surgery of uterine cancer and the susceptibilities to antibiotics were also investigated.
In 71 cases of of uterine cancer, consisting of 4 cases of cancer of the corpus, one c ase of vaginal cancer, one case of ovarian cancer and 65 cases of cervical cancer, aerobes were found in 53. 9% of the pelvic lymph nodes and 48. 9% in the parametric tissues and anaerobes were seen in 20. 1% in the lymph nodes and 11. 3% in the parametric tissues. The bacteria positive cases were increasingly observed with the advancing of stages, but in the parametric tissues the percentages of bacteria positive cases were almost of the same except in stage I. The aerobes positive nodes were seen in the following order; the obturator nodes, external iliac nodes, external suprainguinal nodes, internal suprainguinal nodes, sacral nodes, internal iliac nodes, common iliac nodes, paraaortic nodes and cardinal ligament nodes. which was also applicable for anaerobes.
Aerobes were less frequently observed in nodes smaller than a grain of rice and almost in same percentage in nodes larger than azuki beans. There was no specific relation between the percentage of anaerobes positive nodes and the sizes. The bacteria positive nodes were more often observed in nodes with necrosis and apparently less in nodes without necrosis.
Isolated specimens were represented by Escherichia coli f or aerobes and by streptococci for anaerobes.
The aerobes isolated were relatively well susceptible to antibiotics and the isolated anaerobes' susceptibilities were well maintained to other antibiotics except. kanamycin, colistin and streptomycin.