Evolución del tratamiento del cáncer de cérvix en Guipúzcoa, 1998-2002

purpose: beginning in 1999, the available evidence recommended a change of focus in the treatment of cervical cancer. we describe cervical tumours treated in guipúzcoa during 1998 and analyse the differences in the treatment of invasive tumours between 1998 and 2002. material and methods: cases were identified from the hospital tumour registries (htr) and, where not available, from the archives of the anatomic pathology service and hospital discharges. information was collected from the htr and the guipúzcoa population cancer registry and by review of clinical records for variables not included in these registries. results: ninety-one cases of cervical carcinoma diagnosed and/or treated in guipúzcoa in 1998 were included. the number of invasive tumours diagnosed in residents of guipúzcoa was 25 in 1998 and 20 in 2002. in 1998 the classification by stage of all such tumours treated in guipúzcoa was: stage 0, 41.8%; stage i, 17.7%; stage ii, 17.6%; stage iii, 18.7%; and stage iv, 4.4%. the proportion of tumours treated with radiation therapy and chemotherapy with or without surgery in stages ii, iii and iv increased significantly from 1998 to 2002: 21.4% versus 72.7%; p=0.01. conclusion: between 1998 and 2002 the treatment of invasive cervical cancer in guipúzcoa changed significantly, in line with the available scientific evidence.