New prognostic factors in squamous cell carcinoma of cervix uteri

The prognostic importance of a detailed histopathological grading system and the ploidy level as determined by flow cytometry were investigated in squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The study included 79 patients, Stages Ib-III. A multiple regression analysis of different prognostic variables identified stage and size as highly correlated. Stage was a significant prognostic variable when size was excluded. The histopathological degree of differentiation held no significant prognostic information, but the ploidy level was highly significant in that respect and should be used for a rational planning of new treatment schedules.