The significance of vascular invasion and lymphocytic infiltration in invasive cervical cancer

Surgical specimens from 100 patients with stage I B cervical cancer undergoing radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy were reviewed with respect to vascular invasion and lymphoplasmacytic infiltration. Lymph nodes from these patients were classified morphologically according to the criteria proposed by Cottier. Vascular invasion was associated with a significant increase in nodal metastases and tumor recurrence particularly to extrapelvic sites. A marked lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate around tumor cells was associated with decreased nodal metastases and tumor recurrence. There was no significant relationship between the degree of lymphoplasmacytic infiltration of the primary tumor and regional lymph node morphology.