Cancer of the cervix--old and young, now and then.

A study of two 5-year periods, 1960-1964 and 1982-1986, in Queensland is made. Changing patterns of preinvasive and invasive cervical carcinoma in the world literature are discussed. The age of presentation, stage, histology, and results in Queensland for cervical carcinoma are analyzed. There are over 500 patients in each quinquennium. While the total female population has increased 86%, the maximum increase is in patients under 35 years and over 65. There has been a 50% decrease in the incidence of cervical carcinoma, but a doubling under the age of 30. The stage at diagnosis has markedly improved with 88% stage Ib in the young as opposed to 50% formerly. Late-stage disease remains a problem of the aged. The mortality in both time spans increases with age. Histologic patterns show an increase in nonsquamous patterns and increased mortality in the rare patterns. We have no evidence of the emergence of a rapidly progressive carcinoma in the young. Papanicolaou smear and education programs appear to be preventing cervical carcinoma and allowing diagnosis of the disease at an earlier stage and age. This is reflected in a decrease in mortality from 9.6 per 100,000 (1960-1964) to 4 per 100,000 (1982-1986).