Primary adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix. A clinical study.

In a retrospective clinical study, 67 matched cases of primary adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix were compared. The mean age, weight, and menopausal age of women with adenocarcinoma of the cervix were in excess of the corresponding figures for squamous cell carcinoma. There was a significantly (P less than 0.05) larger number of diabetics and nulliparous women amongst the patients with adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Blood group A was significantly (P less than 0.05) more frequent in patients with cervix cancer. Treatment choice was independent of the tumors histological type. The five-year survival rates for adenocarcinoma of the cervix were 83.3% (Stage IB), 60.0% (Stage IIA), and 45.5% (Stage IIB). The corresponding five-year survival rates for squamous cell carcinoma were 90.0%, 73.3%, and 40.9%. There were indications that adenocarcinoma of the cervix was less radiosensitive than squamous cell carcinoma. Estrogen substitution following treatment of adenocarcinoma of the cervix did not adversely affect the outcome.