Introduction: Cancer of uterine cervix, the most common cancer in Indian women where it is second most common cancer and the fifth most common cause of cancer deaths in women. Approximately 80% of cervical cancers occur in developing countries. Clear cell carcinoma of the cervix (CCCC) is a rare subset of adenocarcinomas of the cervix that constitutes 10–20% of all the cervical cancer.
Objective: To evaluate the treatment options and their clinical outcome for primary clear cell carcinoma of the cervix.
Methods: Retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes and response pattern in patients with primary clear cell carcinoma of the cervix presenting at the department of radiotherapy and oncology from January 2004 till December 2010.
Results: Five patients with primary clear cell carcinoma of the cervix with average age 49 years with none of them had a family history of cancer or history of DES exposure. One IIA FIGO stage, one IB FIGO stage and three of patients were IIB FIGO stage. Two patients (IB,IIA) underwent Wertheim’s hysterectomy. In view of histopathological revelation of the parametrium involvement, two postoperative patients received adjuvant radiotherapy while three patients received radical concurrent chemo-radiotherapy along with weekly cisplatin. On a follow up of 5 years, one patient showed progressive disease and died after 27 month, one patient defaulted follow up and the remaining three patients had no relapse or metastasis and are on routine follow up.
Conclusion: Primary clear cell carcinoma of uterine cervix is a rare disease where patients with low risk early stage may be managed with radical surgery alone, with or without the need for adjuvant chemotherapy or radiation. Advanced stage CCCC should be treated with a combination of platinum based chemo-radiotherapy