Abstract
Objective : The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of cytology for detecting locoregional recurrence in cervical cancer patients treated by concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT).
Study Design : This was a retrospective study of patients with stage Ib-IVa cervical cancer treated by CCRT. At our hospital, CCRT for cervical cancer failed in 14 patients. The cytologic and pathologic findings and MRI results before and after CCRT were evaluated, and the therapeutic response and status of local control were assessed on the basis of these evaluations.
Results : The evaluations could be completed in 14 patients (including 5 with squamous cell carcinoma, 5 with adenosquamous carcinoma, and 4 with adenocarcinoma), and the accuracy of cytology for the detection of recurrence was 50% (7/14). The reason for the false-negative cytological results in the remaining patients was necrotic change in the outer layer, and the presence of local residual diseases in these patients was confirmed by pathological evaluation and/or MRI.
Conclusion : Combined evaluation by cytology, pathologic examination, and MRI is useful for predicting residual disease in cervical cancer patients treated by CCRT.
