Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: clinicopathologic study of 20 cases in a single center.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate clinicopathologic findings of patients with small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix (SCCUC), and evaluate their prognosis.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 20 patients with histologically confirmed SCCUC treated between October 1996 and December 2004 at Asan Medical Center, Korea. The review included demographic data, pathologic findings, treatments, and outcomes.


RESULTS
Of 1,358 invasive cervical carcinoma, the incidence of SCCUC was 1.5%. Median age was 45.5 years. The clinical stages were Ib in 11, IIa in two, IIb in one, IIIa in one, IIIb in one, IVa in three and IVb in one. Fourteen patients underwent radical hysterectomy. Ten patients are alive and nine show no evidence of disease. Median overall survival was 77.0 months and 5-year overall survival rate was 50%. There was significant difference in overall survival with FIGO stage and tumor mass size.


CONCLUSIONS
Advanced FIGO stage and tumor mass size are poor prognostic factors for overall survival in patients with SCCUC. Even though SCCUC is a highly aggressive neoplasm, early diagnosis and combined therapeutic modalities may lead to longer survival in some patients.
Kim
Y M
YM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Kyung Hee Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
Jung
M H
MH
Kim
D Y
DY
Kim
J H
JH
Kim
Y T
YT
Nam
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery