SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA ANTIGEN - PRETREATMENT LEVELS AS AN INDICATOROF ADVANCED OR METASTATIC DISEASE

Pretreatment values of squamous cell carcinoma antigen (SCC) were obta ined in 100 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the c ervix presenting to the Regional Gynaecological Oncology Centre in Gat eshead, UK. Nine patients deemed to have locally advanced disease not suitable for primary surgery had elevated levels. Ninety-one patients were suitable for primary surgery. Sixty-seven had normal SCC levels, two of which had lymph node metastases. Twenty-four had elevated SCC l evels, 14 of which had lymph node metastases. Two early recurrences ha ve been detected in the raised SCC group where no lymph node metastase s were present. Elevated levels of SCC in the pretreatment assessment indicate a high risk of lymph node metastases and of developing recurr ent disease after primary surgery.