To the Editor: With regard to the articles on alternative techniques of hysterectomy by Dorsey et al. and Weber and Lee and the accompanying editorial by Stovall and Summitt (Aug. 15 issue), 1 – 3 the terms “laparoscopic hysterectomy” and “laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy” require clarification. Laparoscopic hysterectomy entails the complete separation of the uterus from its vascular, vaginal, and connective-tissue attachments, which is accomplished entirely by means of laparoscopic manipulation. Laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy may be no more than a laparoscopic visualization of the pelvic viscera followed by a standard vaginal hysterectomy. In between these two procedures are those that involve . . .