INVASIVE CERVICAL-CARCINOMA IN YOUNG-WOMEN

Twenty-seven (24.5%) of the 110 newly diagnosed cases of invasive cervical cancer at the Boston Hospital for Women from January 1975 through June 1978 were 35 years of age or younger. Twenty-five of these young patients (93%) had Stage I cervical cancer and 2 had Stage II disease. Seven (26%) of these patients had cervical adenocarcinomas. All young patients with Stage I disease are presently clinically free of tumor. Fifteen of the young patients (55.5%) had reportedly negative cervical cytology smears prior to the detection of a symptomatic cervical malignancy. The cervical smears from 10 of the patients with reportedly negative cervical cytology were reexamined at the Boston Hospital for Women, and our review demonstrated missed cervical neoplasia in 5 cases and unsatisfactory technique for adequate interpretation in 2 cases. Abnormal cervical cytology precipitated the diagnosis of invasive cervical cancer in only 37% of the young patients. All suspicious and symptomatic cervical lesions in young women should be promptly biopsied regardless of prior reassuring cervical cytology. © 1979.