Cervical carcinoma in women aged 34 and younger.

This presentation addresses three questions concerning invasive cervical carcinoma in women 34 years of age and younger. Is there an increase in the incidence of the disease? Is it more or less susceptible to prevention by cervical screening? Is the clinical behavior different for this age group? Three separate studies are reported: (1) Incidence data in the younger age group have been reviewed at the national, provincial, and local levels. (2) Cytologic screening histories of 125 patients who subsequently developed cervical carcinoma were reviewed. (3) The clinical histories of 121 women 34 years of age and younger, with invasive cervical carcinoma, were reviewed and compared with those of 242 control women 35 years of age and older. Results indicate an increase in incidence in the younger age groups in the three prairie provinces only. Cytologic histories are similar except for an increase in false negative reports in the younger age group. Clinical behavior of the disease is similar for both age groups.