A Comparison of Adenosquamous Carcinoma and Adenocarcinoma of the Cervix after Radical Hysterectomy

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The aim of this study was to compare the survival outcomes of adenocarcinoma and adenosquamous carcinoma in early-stage cervical cancer patients after radical hysterectomy.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed of stage IB-IIA cervical cancer patients with adenocarcinoma or adenosquamous carcinoma who underwent radical hysterectomy at Seoul National University Hospital between 1998 and 2008.

RESULTS: A total of 166 patients with adenosquamous carcinoma (ASC) (n = 38) and adenocarcinoma (AC) (n = 128) were identified. In terms of baseline characteristics, the ASC group had higher rates of lymph node metastasis, deep stromal invasion, and lymphovascular space invasion than the AC group. However, there was no significant difference between the two histological subtypes in terms of recurrence-free survival (p = 0.396) and overall survival (p = 0.223). Patients with ASC showed similar outcomes to those with AC when limiting to either an intermediate/high-risk group or patients who underwent adjuvant concurrent chemoradiotherapy.

CONCLUSION: Although the ASC group presented poorer pathologic findings after radical hysterectomy compared with the AC group, there was no significant difference in survival outcomes. This suggests that intermediate/high-risk patients with ASC may be successfully treated with postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy.