Are recommendations from carcinoma of the cervix Patterns of Care Studies (PCS) in the United States of America (USA) applicable to centers in developing countries?
OBJECTIVE
To compare patient demographics, treatment resources, practice patterns, and outcome results for squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (SCC) between the 1978 and 1983 Patterns of Care studies (PCS) in the United States of America (USA) and a nonacademic center within a developing country.


METHODS
Patient details (race, age, stage, and number per year), treatment used, and treatment outcome were retrieved from the charts of the 1160 cases registered at this center with SCC of the cervix between 1976 and 1985. Demographic variables and Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were calculated and compared with results from published PCS reviews.


RESULTS
There is a significant difference in the racial group presentation of cervix cancer at this center compared with the PCS reviews (p < 0.005), and median ages are significantly lower at this center (t = p < 0.001). The proportion of patients with Stage III or more was significantly higher at this center than the PCS centers (24 vs. 47%, p < 0.001). There were also vast differences in facility resources. Fewer cases at this center underwent intracavitary insertions than at PCS centers. Mean Point A doses were significantly reduced for this center compared with the PCS reviews. Kaplan-Meier estimates were similar for Stage I and II in PCS centers and this center, but were inferior for this center in Stage III patients (p < 0.05 for OS and p < 0.01 for LC). Late morbidity rates were similar for both PCS centers and this center.


CONCLUSIONS
PCS recommendations may be applicable to nonacademic centers within developing countries, if the latter use staging techniques that are consistent with the PCS staging guidelines.
Craighead
P S
PS
Department of Radiotherapy, Provincial Hospital, Port Elizabeth, South Africa.
Smulian
H G
HG
de Groot
H J
HJ
du Toit
P F
PF
D001918:Brachytherapy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*