Prognostic factors in adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix

Objective. To determine the behaviour of adenocarcinomas of the uterine cervix during the last 10 years in the southwest region of the Netherlands, and to determine prognostic factors. Methods. Three hundred and five cases of primary cervical adenocarcinomas (ACs) diagnosed between 1989 and 1999 in the region of Rotterdam, The Netherlands, were retrieved. Clinical and pathological data were reviewed and analysed. Results. Mean age at presentation was 52 years. The mean follow-up time for surviving patients was 61 months. The overall survival was 60% at 5 years. The 5-year survival rates for stages I and II were, respectively, 79% and 37%. The 5-year survival rates for stages III and IV were less than 9%. Using univariate analysis stage, grade, age < 35 years and histological type were significant prognostic factors. In the group of patients who underwent surgery ( n = 200), stages I–IIA, lymph node metastases, lymph-vascular-space-invasion (LVSI) and depth of stromal invasion were significant for survival. For patients with stages I and II-A disease, survival was significantly better where the primary treatment was surgical as opposed to primary radiotherapy ( P = 0.002). Using multivariate analysis, only stage, grade and lymph node metastases remained significant independent predictors for survival. Conclusions. This report about cervical adenocarcinoma in the southwest region of The Netherlands shows similar results for survival to previous reports. Longest survival was for patients with early stage disease, younger patients and after primary surgery. We found FIGO stage, grade and lymph node metastases of significant prognostic value for survival in cervical adenocarcinoma.