Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
A Model for Perineural Invasion in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: January 5, 2017
Perineural invasion in carcinoma of the cervix uteri--prognostic impact
Lars-Christian Horn1, Alexandra Meinel, Uta Fischer
1Division of Breast Gynecologic and Perinatal Pathology, Institute of Pathology, University of Leipzig, Liebigstrasse 26, 04103 Leipzig, Germany. hornl@medizin.uni-leipzig.de
Purpose:
Limited information exists about the occurrence and the impact of perineural invasion (PNI) in patients with cervical carcinoma (CX).
Methods:
The original histologic slides from patients primarily treated by radical hysterectomy and systematic pelvic lymphadenectomy were re-examined regarding the occurrence of PNI. PNI was correlated to recurrence free (RFS) and overall survival (OS).
Results:
35.1% of all patients (68/194) represented perineural invasion (=PNI). The 5-year-overall-survival-rate was significantly decreased in patients representing PNI, when they were compared with those without PNI (51.1% [95% CI 38.0-64.2] vs. 75.6% [95% CI 67.8-83.4]; p = 0.001). In a separate analysis the prognostic impact persisted in the node negative, but disappeared in the node-positive cases. In multivariate analysis, pelvic lymph node involvement and PNI were independent prognostic factors for overall survival.
Conclusions:
Perineural invasion is seen in about one-third of patients with cervical carcinoma. Patients affected by PNI represented a decreased overall survival. Further studies are required to get a deeper insight into the clinical impact and the pathogenetic mechanisms of PNI in CX.
