Biology of cervical carcinoma.

Cervical cancer is generally a locoregional disease. The endopelvic fascia envelops the cervix in anterior-posterior fashion and serves as a natural barrier. Thus, cervical cancer preferentially grows to the parametria and involves the ureters before it infiltrates the bladder or rectum. Disease stage, grade, cell type, tumor volume, depth of stromal invasion, vascular space invasion, and lymph node status are common prognostic indicators. Irregular vaginal bleeding and discharge are the two most frequent complaints. Although cervical cancer is still staged clinically, data continue to accumulate favoring a conversion to surgical staging to improve accuracy and treatment outcome.