title: Stage I cervix cancer and pelvic node metastasis: special reference to the implications of the new and the recently replaced FIGO classifications on Stage Ia.
abstract: The current staging system for cervix cancer of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) has been in use for less than 2 years. It is criticized by many because of a lack of quantitative features. While quantative features are important, the over-all morphology of the histologic pattern--the qualitative features--are those utilized by most pathologists in interpretating the "invasiveness" of a lesion and therefore its biologic potential. The most recent, as well as the previous FIGO Staging System was applied to 108 personal cases with particular reference to lymih node metastasis. By comparing results of the new and older staging system, the validity of the new system is suggested, and the inordinately high rate of node metastasis when using the older system appears to be at least one reason for the relatively high rate of node metastasis reported in earlier series of Stage Ia lesions reported in the literature.
mesh_terms: D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology