Clinical implications of tumor volume measurement in stage I adenocarcinoma of the cervix.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the prognostic significance of three-dimensional determination of tumor size in stage I cervical adenocarcinoma.

METHODS

Tumor volume was measured using hematoxylin and eosin-stained sections of cone biopsy and hysterectomy specimens from 36 patients with stage I adenocarcinoma of the cervix. The volume was then correlated with pelvic lymphatic spread and clinical outcome.

RESULTS

The subjects were followed for a mean (+/- SEM) of 63 +/- 8 months. No recurrence or lymphatic seeding was encountered in the 22 tumors measuring no more than 500 mm3. Two of 25 tumors (8%) having up to 5 mm depth of stromal invasion had lymph node metastasis, one of which was 1.5 mm, compared with four of 11 (36%) in the group with deeper than 5 mm invasion (P < .02). The depth of stromal invasion predicted recurrence less significantly. Among the 25 tumors with up to 5 mm stromal invasion, two recurred, compared with three of 11 with more than 5 mm invasion (P < .1). Two women who had tumor volumes below 500 mm3 and depths of stromal invasion up to 8.5 mm were disease-free at 52 and 96 months of follow-up. On the other hand, tumors with 2.6 and 3.8 mm stromal invasion, but with volumes exceeding 500 mm3, recurred.

CONCLUSION

Tumor volume is a better predictor of pelvic lymph node metastasis and recurrence than is the depth of stromal invasion in stage I cervical adenocarcinoma.