Postoperative TNM classification of cervical cancer (1989-1995)

Abstract

The aim of this study is to present and analyze the results of the application of postoperative TNM classification of cervical cancer. For this purpose we have reviewed the clinical and histopathological data of 464 patients with cervical intraepithelial (74) and invasive cancer (390) who underwent abdominal hysterectomy or radical hysterectomy with regional lymphadenectomy from March 1989 to December 1995. There were 74 (16.0%) cases of Stage 0, 211 (45.5%) of Stage I, 88 (18.9%) of Stage II, 84 (18.1%) of Stage III and 7 (1.5) cases of Stage IV. In our case series (399) we have found significant rate of discordance between clinical FIGO and postoperative stadium. The incidence of error increases progressively as the stage grows more advanced, with prevalent understaging. Cross relationships of tumor extent, incidence of lymph node metastasis, grade of tumor differentiation, histological type, and age of the patients were also studied and are discussed. These data indicate that postoperative TNM classification staging system should be applied regularly, systematically and universally.