Abstract
PURPOSE: Patterns of recurrence in cervical cancer may be useful as prognostic indicators. The aim of the present study was to determine the value of patterns of recurrence for predicting prognosis of early-stage cervical cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of the 1934 patients diagnosed with primary cervical cancer between August 2008 and July 2013, 167 experienced recurrence after radical hysterectomy, including pelvic lymphadenectomy, and adjuvant postoperative treatment. The patterns of recurrence were classified into four groups: central, pelvic, distant only, and combined metastases, and the relationship between patterns of recurrence and prognosis was evaluated. RESULTS: The patterns of lung only (21.6%), central (21.0%), and pelvic recurrence (17.4%) were the most common sites, followed by distant lymph nodes and lung with other sites. The longest 5-year survival period occurred in patients with central recurrence (70.5%), followed by distant lymph nodes (58.4%), peritoneum (58.3%), and lung only (36.8%). Late recurrence was detected in 28 patients (1.4%), who showed a better prognosis than those with early recurrence (p = 0.003). CONCLUSION: The patterns of recurrence help to predict prognosis. A central pattern of recurrence, distant lymph node recurrence, and peritoneal recurrence were associated with favorable outcomes after salvage therapy; however, patients who suffered other recurrent patterns, along with early recurrence, require more effective therapeutic strategies to improve survival.