Prognostic Significance of Age in Stage I Carcinoma of the Cervix

Controversy exists as to the influence of age on the prognosis of patients with carcinoma of the cervix. We present a series of patients with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage I squamous cell carcinoma of the cervix, who were treated at a single institution with uniform radiation technics or radical surgery. A multifactorial analysis showed that age above or below 40 was not of prognostic significance after adjusting for race, substage, and treatment. Equal five-year survival was obtained by either radiation therapy or radical surgery. Complications in patients treated with radiation therapy appeared to be more serious than those in the surgical group. Theoretical reasons are advanced to favor surgical management in younger patients.