20 year follow-up on microinvasive squamous carcinoma of the cervix

MISC of the cervix is a potentially fatal disease if not properly classified and treated. Strict criteria for diagnosis are required to provide appropriate therapy. It is recommended that a radical approach be considered for those patients in whom the depth of invasion of the carcinoma is greater than 3 mm on cone biopsy and in all cases where vascular invasion is demonstrated. Confluency may not of itself be a reason for more radical therapy but is an indicator of the aggressiveness of the tumor. Vascular invasion is seen more frequently with increased depth of invasion but may be found with minimal infiltration and has a serious connotation. Further refinement of the definition of MISC of the cervix appears to be needed.