RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the clinical course and prognosis in patients with recurrent cervical cancer. METHODS: Between January 1999 and December 2003, sixty-three patients were diagnosed as recurrent cervical cancer. The data for clinical characteristics and survival were analyzed retrospectively. Survival after recurrence (SAR) according to prognostic factors was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analysis with log-rank test. Independent prognostic factors were identified by use of Cox regression model. RESULTS: The most common stage and age group of the patients were FIGO stage Ib (38.1%) and age between 40 and 49 (39.7%) respectively. Distant metastases were present in 29 patients (46.0%) and the most common site was para-aortic lymph node. Median disease-free survival before the recurrence of cervical cancer was 19 months (95% CI = 9.5 - 28.5). Median SAR was 24 months (95% CI = 17.4 - 30.6) and 5-year survival rate after recurrence was 20.0%. In univariate analysis of the prognostic factors, age, FIGO stage, primary treatment with surgery and number of recurred site were statistically significant. But, multivariate analysis showed that only FIGO stage and the number of recurrent site had prognostic significance. CONCLUSION: FIGO stage and number of recurrent site may be independent prognostic factors for the survival in patients with recurrent cervical cancer.