title: Aggressive characteristics of cervical cancer in young women in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the characteristics and prognosis of cervical cancer in young women (under 30 years) with those of older women (over 30 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of 2443 patients diagnosed with FIGO stage IA-IIA cervical cancer who underwent surgical procedures between January 1983 and December 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty patients (1.2%) were 30 years or younger. The proportion of non-squamous cell carcinoma was higher in patients 30 years or younger compared with in patients over 30 years (14/30, 46.7% vs 10/30, 33.3%; P=0.001). A higher rate of parametrial involvement was found in the younger group of patients compared with those over 30 years (10/30, 33.3% vs 289/2413, 12.0%; P=0.001). Patients under 30 years had a higher rate of distant metastases compared with older patients (60% vs 49.7%; P=0.036).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Non-squamous histology, parametrial involvement, a higher rate of distant metastases, and poorer prognosis are more common in women aged 30 or younger with cervical cancer than in older women with the disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Hei-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Chi-Mou
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Juang
authors.forename: Yi-Jen
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Nae-Fang
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Twu
authors.forename: Ming-Shyen
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Kuan-Chong
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Chao
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013624:Taiwan; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult