Neoplasms of the Cervix

Abstract

Overview Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women worldwide and the fourth leading cause of female cancer deaths, with an estimated 529,800 new cases and 275,100 deaths in the year 2008. The incidence is declining in the United States with 13,800 new cases and 4290 deaths in 2015. Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common histology with the human papilloma virus being the most common etiology. Cervical cancer and precancer can be easily detected with pap smears and HPV testing and prevented with HPV vaccine. Early‐stage cervix cancer can be treated with surgery including now fertility‐sparing surgery and there are high cure rates. Locally advanced cervical cancer is treated with combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy with high survival rates but there is room for improvement with advancing stage. Systemic chemotherapy can be used for treatment of both recurrent and metastatic disease, but careful attention should be paid to balancing benefit and toxicity. The key to improving overall outcomes will be translating the success seen in developed countries to areas of the world where advanced‐stage invasive cervical cancer is most common.