Histological grading and treatment failures in carcinoma of the uterine body

In a material of 777 patients with carcinoma of the uterine body, Stages I and II, 115 (15%) had poorly differentiated tumours, and 662 (85%) moderately-to-well differentiated tumours. The five-year tumour death rate was 34% and 12%, respectively. No differences in local recurrences and metastases in the pelvis were recorded in the two tumour groups. On the other hand, distant metastases occurred in 23% of patients with poorly differentiated tumours, and only in 5% among patients with moderately-to-well differentiated tumours. Whether chemotherapy integrated in the treatment-scheme would reduce the frequency of distant metastases and improve the survival rate remains an open question.