The impact of lymph node status on survival in cervical carcinoma

Four hundred and sixty three patients with Stage IB through IIIB primary squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix were treated at the M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute between 1968 and 1971. Lymphangiography was performed in 215 patients with tumors in Stages III to IIIB. Data on these 215 patients were reviewed and survival was correlated with lymphangiogram (LAG) status, tumor volume (stage) and selected patient characteristics. Three risk categories were identified using clinical staging and LAG criteria. These risk categories differed in median survival as follows: good risk (Stage IIA and B, LAG negative - 92+ months); intermediate risk (Stage 1111, LAG positive, Stage IIIA and B, LAG negative - 31 months) and poor risk (Stage IIIA and B, LAG positive - 11 months). Frequency of persistent disease and two year failure rates were both positively correlated with stage among LAG negative and LAG positive patients.