Patients with squamous cell versus adeno(squamous) carcinoma of the cervix, what factors determine the prognosis?

Patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix FIGO stages IB to IV (n = 306) were compared to patients with adeno(squamous) carcinoma (n = 70). There was no difference between the mean ages of the groups. In the patients who underwent radical surgical treatment, whether or not in combination with radiotherapy (n = 209), stepwise regression analysis showed that a positive lymph node status was the most unfavorable prognostic factor, followed by the histologic type (adeno(squamous) carcinoma) and the tumor diameter (> 3 cm). Vascular-space invasion had no additional prognostic value. Patient's age did not affect the prognosis. Distant metastases were not found to be more prevalent in the patients with adeno(squamous) carcinoma. In patients with adeno(squamous) carcinoma and positive lymph nodes, it is worth considering more intensive locoregional treatment than is usually prescribed for these patients and/or adjunctive chemotherapy, because there is a high risk of tumor recurrence.