A reappraisal of the international federation of gynecology and obstetrics staging system for cervical cancer. A study of patterns of care

The Patterns of Care Study (PCS) database for squamous cell cancer of the uterine cervix has been used to evaluate the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) staging system, with particular focus on the association of tumor bulk with outcome. The 1558 patients treated in the United States in 1973 and 1978 constitute the data set, and survival and in-field pelvic control were the end point of assessment. In summary, this reappraisal of the FIGO staging system for cancer of the uterine cervix showed that the current FIGO system is not discriminating within stage. This study suggests specific indicators of progressive bulk of cancer that should be considered, because they were associated with significant differences in survival rate and in-field pelvic control within Stage II and III disease.