PRIMARY ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX - A CLINICOPATHOLOGICAL STUDY OFPROGNOSTIC VARIABLES IN 55 CASES

Fifty-five primary invasive adenocarcinomas of the cervix, presenting over a 20-year period, were retrospectively studied with particular re ference to clinical and pathologic prognostic indicators, Mean age at presentation was 54.5 years (range 27-91), with an age distribution sh owing two incidence peaks of equal size in the 31-35 and 61-65 groups, respectively. Twenty-four patients died of the disease and the remain ing patients were followed up for a mean of 4.9 years (range 1-17). Th e results were analyzed using a Cox's proportional hazards survival mo del. The independent good prognostic indicators were early tumor stage (P<0.001). and young patient age (P<0.001) at presentation. The prese nce within the tumor of numerous intraepithelial lymphocytes and the c oncomitant occurrence of background in situ carcinoma were also good p rognostic indicators, although these did not operate independently of stage and age. Histologic tumor subtype and grade of tumor differentia tion were not significant prognostic factors. Treatment did not have a significant independent effect on survival. No definite conclusions c ould be drawn about the effect of oral contraceptives on the disease p rocess.