Invasive carcinoma of the cervix in young women

One hundred and seventy-six cases of cancer of the cervix in women age 35 years or less from 1959 to 1980 were compared with 65 cases occurring in the 5-year period from 1982 to 1986. The incidence of the disease in this age group changed little over this time, increasing from 9% to 11%. However, the incidence of adenocarcinoma cell types increased from 10% in the first period to 25% in the more recent cases. A change in management resulted in increased surgical emphasis in treatment; only 24% were treated surgically in the earlier group compared to 80% in the recent group. There has not been an increase in advanced cases or mortality in those young patients in recent years.