Adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. An analysis of 84 cases between 1970 and 1988.

Of 1284 cases with cervical carcinoma of Stages 0-IV treated at the Gynaecological University Hospital CH-Zurich between 1970 and 1988, 84 (6.5%) were adenocarcinomas; whereas a previous study performed at our clinic between 1950 and 1970 had only revealed an incidence of 3.2%. Compared with the 1200 cases of squamous cell carcinoma during the period from 1970 to 1988 it is of interest that patients with adenocarcinomas are slightly older (median value: 48 years, squamous cell carcinoma: 44 years) and that there is a temporary postmenopausal decrease in incidence: whereas there were 29 cases in the 45- to 54-year age group and 12 in the 65- to 74-age group, only 3 cases occurred in the 55- to 64-age group. Of the 38 women undergoing radical hysterectomy, 9 (24%) showed metastases in the pelvic lymph nodes. Of 115 squamous cell carcinomas operated in the same way, 15 (13%) were metastatic, which corresponds to a value of 3.65 (p = 0.057) in the chi-square test and is just below significance different. No metastases could be evidenced in any of the 28 adnexa removed bilaterally. The general appearance of the adenocarcinoma largely corresponds to that of its squamous cell counterpart of the cervix, although there are certain indications, confirmed by some references, as to poorer prognosis, earlier formation of lymph node metastases and slightly reduced radio-sensitivity.