From January 1990 to December 1992, 51 cases with cervical cancer received staging laparotomy before definitive treatment. Among these patients, 38 cases were approached through extraperitoneal space. The pelvic lymph nodes were involved in 21 cases (41%) and para-aortic lymph node involved in 12 cases (23%). Five cases had intra-abdominal visceral extension (9%). All patients with para-aortic lymph nodes involvement received neoadjuvant chemotherapy with methotrexate and cisplatin for three courses, followed by extended field radiotherapy to the level of T12 with 4500 cGy. Patients with cancer cells which extended into the intra-abdominal viscera received four courses of chemotherapy and traditional radiotherapy. There was no serious complication during the treatment except one case of postoperative internal bleeding. The 2-year survival rate was 62.5% in patients with para-aortic lymph node metastasis. The worst prognosis was noted in the group of intra-abdominal visceral involvement: all five patients died within 12 months.