The indications for hemicorporectomy are few. However, with improvemen
ts in surgical techniques, anaesthesia and post-operative surgical car
e, hemicorporectomy may again become a reasonable treatment for certai
n patients with malignancies of the pelvis. A 2-stage procedure is des
cribed which consists of an initial staging celiotomy with urinary and
faecal diversions. A nonrefluxing colon conduit is the preferred form
of urinary diversion. The hemicorporectomy is performed approximately
2 weeks later. No complications were encountered in the post-operativ
e period. Our experience and a review of the literature suggest that h
emicorporectomy is a reasonable salvage procedure for certain patients
with pelvic malignancies.