Intestinal damage and malabsorption after treatment for cervical carcinoma.

Sixty-two patients with cervical carcinoma were treated in 1966 to 1968. Thirty-two patients who were alive in 1982 were reevaluated concerning intestinal function. An initial low folate value associated with the disease did not correlate with prognosis. A late low folate value indicated malabsorption and not recurrence of the carcinoma. Malabsorption was found in 5/23 patients (22%) and 3 of these (13%) had vitamin B12 deficiency. Intestinal damage in tumour free patients occurred in 2/62 (3%) patients. It is suggested that late silent complications such as malabsorption should be looked for in the preventive care of these patients.