Survival of in situ carcinoma of cervix uteri: a 50-year follow-up in Finland.

Preinvasive lesions of cervix uteri are regarded a curable disease despite some progression to invasive cancer. The ultimate outcome is not known. We estimated the 45-year survival of 12,655 patients with carcinoma in situ lesions diagnosed in 1953-2000 and reported to the Finnish Cancer Registry. Up to 30 years of follow-up there was about 1% decrease in cumulative relative survival per 5 years of follow-up. After that the excess mortality increased and the survival at 45 years was 84%. The 15-year survival was 100% in the patients under 30 at diagnosis and became the poorer the older the patient. Survival was 89% in the patients 60-74 at diagnosis. Women with carcinoma in situ are at substantial increased risk of death (>10%) only at high ages and independent of age at diagnosis. (c) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.