[Lymph node metastasis as a prognostic factor in cervical carcinoma].

MATERIAL AND METHODS: 499 patients with cervical carcinoma at stage I and IIa after radical hysterectomy were included in the study. Diagnosis was based on gynecological examinations and cervical biopsies. Clinical staging was determined by FIGO classification. Pelvic lymph nodes were routinely removed on hysterectomy. RESULTS: Metastatic nodes were observed in 26.3% (131 patients). We found no metastatic nodes at stage Ia. In the group of 410 patients with stage Ib cervical cancer metastases in lymph nodes were found in 24.6% (101 patients). In the group of 78 patients with stage IIa cervical cancer metastatic nodes were observed in 38.5% (30 patients). In our finding metastases were located in one group of lymph nodes in 64.4% (64 patients) with stage Ib and 43.3% (13 patients) with stage IIa. Metastatic involvement of more than one group of lymph nodes was observed in 36.6% (37 patients) of stage Ib and 56.7% (17 patients) of stage IIa. The most frequent pattern of lymph nodes metastatic involvement comprised common iliac and obturatorious nodes. 5 year survival in the group without metastases in lymph nodes was estimated at 82.2%, and in the group with nodal metastases--50.8% (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: 1. Metastases to pelvic lymph nodes are significant prognostic factor of long-term survival in patients with cervical cancer. 2. Patients with metastases in lymph nodes and no subsequent postoperative radiotherapy had significantly worse long-term survival.