Cancer of the uterine cervix in Norway by histologic type, 1970-84

A total of 6,202 patients with cancer of the uterine cervix was reported to the Cancer Registry in Norway from 1970 to 1984. Squamous cell carcinoma was reported in 86.1% of all cases, adenocarcinoma in 9.5%, and undifferentiated cancer in 3.6%; the heterogeneous group of "other malignant neoplasms" was 0.8% of all cases, most of which were sarcomas. During the 15-year period the average annual age-adjusted incidence rates for both squamous cell carcinoma and undifferentiated cancer decreased by 30 and 79%, respectively, whereas adenocarcinoma increased by 38%. The increase of adenocarcinoma was mostly confined to females 20-34 years of age. The decrease in incidence rates of undifferentiated cancer was observed in all age groups, whereas the fall in incidence rates for squamous cell carcinoma was demonstrated in females above 35 years of age only. Of all patients with squamous cell carcinoma, 55% were diagnosed in clinical stage I. Females with adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated cancer were diagnosed in stage I in 60 and 38% of the cases, respectively. The 5- and 10-year relative survival rates were highest for patients with squamous cell carcinoma at all stages, whereas a significantly less favorable prognosis was found for females with adenocarcinoma and undifferentiated cancer of the uterine cervix.