title: Prognostic parameters in carcinosarcomas of the uterus: a clinico-pathologic study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Carcinosarcomas of the uterus are highly aggressive malignant neoplasms with early lymphatic and hematogenous spread. The most important prognostic factor in carcinosarcoma is the extent of the tumor at the time of diagnosis. The prognostic impact of other factors such as myometrial invasion, menopausal age, age, parity and adjuvant therapy is still being discussed controversially.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nineteen patients with histologically proven carcinosarcoma were included in the analysis. The patients were staged according to a modification of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system for endometrial cancer. For each patient, the histological material was reviewed by an experienced pathologist. Carcinosarcoma was defined histologically as any tumor of uterine origin composed of carcinomatous and sarcomatous components.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median follow-up time was 91 months (25% quartile, 47 months; 75% quartile, 145 months). The median overall survival of the 19 patients was 59 months, resulting in a 5-year overall survival rate of 43%. Three out of the nineteen (16%) patients demonstrated progressive disease while 6 out of 10 (32%) patients developed recurrent disease with a median disease free survival of 16 months (range 8-54). Eleven out of nineteen (58%) patients died of the disease. A univariate model revealed that early tumor stage (stage 1) (p<0.023), low myometrial invasion (p<0.017) and late onset of the menopause (p<0.050) were significantly associated with a lengthened overall survival in patients with carcinosarcoma. Age (p=0.34), parity (p=0.16) and adjuvant radiotherapy (p=0.45) did not influence overall survival of patients with carcinosarcoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Early tumor stage, low myometrial invasion and late onset of the menopause are associated with a lengthened overall survival in patients with carcinosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, University of Vienna Medical School, Austria.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bodner-Adler
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bodner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obermair
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Czerwenka
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petru
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Leodolter
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mayerhofer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001918:Brachytherapy; D002296:Carcinosarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D009215:Myometrium / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010298:Parity; D011379:Prognosis; D011867:Radioisotope Teletherapy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D016019:Survival Analysis; D015996:Survival Rate; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery