According to the American Cancer Society, over 110,000 new cases of gynecologic cancers are diagnosed each year. These complex cancers include malignancies of the ovaries, uterus, vagina, vulva, fallopian tubes and cervix. The Gynecologic Cancer Center at the Tampa General Hospital (TGH) Cancer Institute is a leader in these complicated cancers, offering diagnostic, staging and treatment services. Our specialists perform complex procedures on women of all ages with an emphasis on fertility preservation techniques. As a referral center, other providers in the region often send particularly complex patients to us for advanced care. Highlights of the center include:
- One of the few gynecologic cancer research sites in the country with National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and an active tissue biorepository that participates in NIH and NCI programs
- A recognized referral center for patients who struggle with diabetes, heart disease and other complex co-morbidities
- Offers the most advanced surgical techniques including minimally invasive procedures
- One of the only medical centers in the nation to offer hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and hyperthermic intra-thoracic chemotherapy (HITeC) to treat gynecologic cancers
- Offers advanced radiation options, such as TrueBeam® and CyberKnife®
- Experts in genetic counseling and using the markers of individual cancers to inform treatments
Personalized Care for Even the Most Complex Cases
TGH’s cancer team are leaders in academic medicine, which combines clinical care, teaching, research and advanced technologies to provide some of the most advanced diagnostic and treatment options available. The TGH Cancer Institute uses a multidisciplinary approach, meaning our patients have access to world-class experts who collaborate in all facets of cancer care, from diagnosis to treatment to support services, as well as medical specialists in almost all other areas of health.
TGH is recognized as one of the nation’s best cancer hospitals, accredited by the Commission on Cancer, and is ranked among the Top 10% in the Nation for Cancer Care by U.S. News & World Report for 2025-2026.
Cancer specialists at TGH also have the expertise to care for patients with higher body mass index (BMI) values who are often turned away from other providers because of potential complications. We are a recognized referral center for patients who struggle with diabetes, heart disease and other conditions related to obesity.
Gynecologic Cancer Specialists
Tampa General is home to some of the pioneers of gynecologic cancer treatments, including Dr. Thomas Rutherford. His expertise with the breakthrough treatment, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), is nationally renowned.
Gynecologic Cancers and Conditions We Treat
Each gynecologic cancer is different, and our team is empowered with the experience and technologies to understand how these differences impact the course of treatment. These conditions include:
- Abnormal Pap Smear
- BRCA and Lynch Syndrome
- Cervical Cancer
- Cervical or Endometrial Polyps
- Endometrial Cancer
- Endometriosis
- Fallopian Tube Cancer
- Gynecologic Oncology
- Heavy Painful or Irregular Periods
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
- Menstrual Disorders
- Ovarian Cancer
- Ovarian Cysts
- Pelvic Infections and Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
- Pelvic Masses
- Pre-Cancerous and Cancerous Conditions in Women
- Pre-Invasive Diseases of the Vulva, Vagina and Cervix
- Post-Menstrual Vaginal Bleeding
- Uterine Cancer
- Uterine Fibroids
- Uterine Sarcoma
- Vaginal Cancer
- Vulvar Cancer
Testing & Diagnostics
Gynecologic cancers are different, and a thorough personalized treatment plan starts with precisely identifying the stage and type of cancer, so that your provider can prescribe the proper treatment. Genetics often plays a pivotal role in these cancers, and TGH offers a robust genetic counseling team. Genetic counselors at TGH work with patients and their families to identify risk factors and genetic markers. Using this information, the gynecologic cancer team recommends treatment options for patients to consider.
Additional common testing and diagnostics used at the TGH Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence include:
Gynecologic Cancer Treatment Options
TGH’s Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence offers our patients access to some of the most advanced surgical, medical, and radiological treatments designed to address the unique complexities of gynecologic cancers.
Our treatment options for gynecologic cancers include:
- Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy
- Brachytherapy
- Chemoembolization
- Chemotherapy
- Colposcopies
- Eternal Radiation Therapy
- HDR Brachytherapy
- Hi-Art® treatment
- Hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC)
- Hysterectomy
- Intra-thoracic chemotherapy (HITeC)
- Immunotherapy
- Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery
- Molecular targeted therapy
- Radiation therapy, including HDR brachytherapy and TomoTherapy®
- Radiosurgery
- Standard Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy
- Surgery, including minimally invasive, robotic and reconstruction
- Transarterial chemoembolization (TACE)
Renowned Surgical Expertise
The Gynecologic Cancer Center offers the most advanced surgical techniques including minimally invasive procedures. Our patients are offered Early Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) using narcotic-limited pain management, allowing patients to return to routine life activities much earlier in the recovery period. This also contributes to decreased hospitalizations and less perioperative side effects.
Surgeons at the TGH Cancer Institute operate on some of the most difficult and complex patients with extensive comorbidities in the state. In association with organ transplant, dialysis, and cardiac care teams, TGH provides comprehensive care only available at a leading academic health system.
Aggressive Chemotherapy for Metastatic Cancer
Tampa General Hospital’s Cancer Institute is one of the only medical centers in the nation to offer hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), an aggressive protocol used to treat uterine, ovarian and other types of gynecologic cancers. The procedure is performed immediately following tumor resections and involves filling the abdominal cavity with a heated, highly concentrated chemotherapy solution and circulating it to kill any remaining cancer cells that may be in the tissues. Tampa General is home to the pioneer of this procedure, Dr. Thomas Rutherford. His expertise with this breakthrough treatment is nationally renowned.
Additionally, our patients have access to chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and immunologic treatments for the cancers in which these treatments are approved.
Advanced Radiation Therapies
TrueBeam®
Our patients benefit from TGH’s Varian TrueBeam Linac treatment system which provides advanced intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with highly precise targeting and attacking of cancer cells. This treatment is available at both the TGH main hospital location as well as our outpatient facility located in Brandon.
CyberKnife®
Tampa General also has the most advanced technology for stereotactic radiosurgery (SBRT) utilizing robotic treatment delivery. This specialized treatment modality may be used to help our patients who have a recurrent disease that is unable to be treated with surgery, or which may become resistant to chemotherapy.
High-Dose-Rate (HDR) and Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy
Additionally, we are one of few centers nationally to provide highly specialized high-dose-rate brachytherapy as well as low dose rate brachytherapy, which involves specialized sub-surgical applications or intraoperative placement of either temporary or permanent applicators for positioning radioactive material inside the body in direct contact with tumors. The treatment allows specialists to safely deliver much higher doses of radiation compared to external radiation by lowering dosages to the surrounding normal tissues and organs. This highly advanced treatment can often be delivered in one to five treatments.
Gynecologic Cancer Support Services
We know there’s a lot more to cancer than just the actual treatment. With this in mind, we offer comprehensive support services to ensure that patients receive world-class care far beyond diagnosis and treatment.
Starting with our nurse navigator who will be with you every step of the way, our support services include financial assistance, genetic counseling, nutrition, oncology psychology, an outpatient rehabilitation program (including physical, occupational, speech lymphedema, and biofeedback therapy), palliative care, patient advocacy and education, patient and caregiver support groups, social work, spiritual care, a survivorship program and financial assistance.
Our goal at TGH is to provide you with unparalleled clinical care and more. To learn more, view our cancer support services.
Research & Clinical Trials
We further demonstrate our continued commitment to world-class care through active participation in clinical trials, which can provide our patients with access to advanced therapies and technologies. For more information on how we are positively impacting patients, check out our research and clinical trials page.