Incidence of cervical carcinoma in a high-risk, non-screened area results of a retrospective analysis on the Dutch Caribbean Antilles from 1983 to 1998.

Cancer of the uterine cervix is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The average annual incidence of cervical cancer varies widely per geographical area. Some of the highest rates have been reported in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Previous research into the frequency of cervical carcinoma in Curaçao, the main island of the Dutch Caribbean, has reported predominantly far-advanced stages of the disease. The objectives of this study were to determine: whether there are indications of changes in the incidence of cervical carcinoma, whether these changes are a result of increased clinical attention paid by general practioners (GPs) and gynaecologists, and whether less advanced stages of cervical cancer were found, indicating earlier diagnosis. Data on patients with cervical carcinoma, obtained from records kept in the Department of Pathological Anatomy at the St Elisabeth Hospital in Curaçao were retrospectively analyzed for the period 1983 to 1998. To study the incidence rate over time, cumulative and incidence rates, standardized to the World Standard Population, were calculated and compared to the rates in other Latin American and Caribbean countries. The age-standardized incidence rate for Curaçao was 14.3 per 100 000 women. The cumulative rate up to 74-years-of-age was 1.6%. Sub-division into the three groups showed a trend towards a decrease in the incidence and cumulative rates. A comparison of clinical staging International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO) showed a trend towards an increase in time of almost 48% to 59% in stage IA (ie less severe cases). A significant increase (p < 0.0001) was found in the numbers of smears performed in the complete period of 1983-1998, compared to a previously examined period of 1972-1982. The incidence of cervical cancer in Curaçao appears to be decreasing, and is lower than in other areas in the region. The number of smears GPs performed over time increased However the incidence is still relatively high compared to western countries and cases are still presenting in relatively advanced stages of the disease. Although the introduction of a screening programme might not influence the actual incidence of cervical cancer dramatically, nonetheless it may contribute to earlier diagnosis of cervical carcinoma.

Incidence of cervical carcinoma in a high-risk, non-screened area results of a retrospective analysis on the Dutch Caribbean Antilles from 1983 to 1998

Cancer of the uterine cervix is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. The average annual incidence of cervical cancer varies widely per geographical area. Some of the highest rates have been reported in Latin American and Caribbean countries. Previous research into the frequency of cervical carcinoma in Curaçao, the main island of the Dutch Caribbean, has reported predominantly far-advanced stages of the disease. The objectives of this study were to determine: whether there are indications of changes in the incidence of cervical carcinoma, whether these changes are a result of increased clinical attention paid by general practioners (GPs) and gynaecologists, and whether less advanced stages of cervical cancer were found, indicating earlier diagnosis. Data on patients with cervical carcinoma, obtained from records kept in the Department of Pathological Anatomy at the St Elisabeth Hospital in Curaçao were retrospectively analyzed for the period 1983 to 1998. To study the incidence rate over time, cumulative and incidence rates, standardized to the World Standard Population, were calculated and compared to the rates in other Latin American and Caribbean countries. The age-standardized incidence rate for Curaçao was 14.3 per 100 000 women. The cumulative rate up to 74-years-of-age was 1.6. Sub-division into the three groups showed a trend towards a decrease in the incidence and cumulative rates. A comparison of clinical staging International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (FIGO) showed a trend towards an increase in time of almost 48 to 59 in stage IA (ie less severe cases). A significant increase (p < 0.0001) was found in the numbers of smears performed in the complete period of 1983-1998, compared to a previously examined period of 1972-1982. The incidence of cervical cancer in Curaçao appears to be decreasing, and is lower than in other areas in the region. The number of smears GPs performed over time increased However the incidence is still relatively high compared to western countries and cases are still presenting in relatively advanced stages of the disease. Although the introduction of a screening programme might not influence the actual incidence of cervical cancer dramatically, nonetheless it may contribute to earlier diagnosis of cervical carcinoma

Serum human chorionic gonadotropin clearance curves in patients with interstitial pregnancy treated with systemic methotrexate.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate short-term effectiveness of systemic methotrexate (MTX) in interstitial pregnancy. DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Two Dutch teaching hospitals. PATIENT(S): Eight consecutive patients with an unruptured interstitial pregnancy. INTERVENTION(S): Four doses of 1.0 mg/kg IM MTX alternated with 0.1 mg/kg oral folinic acid. Serum hCG concentrations were determined before the first MTX injection and followed until levels were undetectable. A second MTX course was started on day 14, if by then serum hCG concentrations were > 40% of the initial value. Serum hCG clearance curves of all patients in the present study were compared with those from our earlier studies, in which a different folinic acid regimen (15 mg orally) was used. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Serum hCG clearance curves. RESULT(S): All patients were treated successfully: five with one course and three with two courses. Serum hCG clearance curves of these patients tended to decline more rapidly than those successfully treated with the 15 mg folinic acid regimen. CONCLUSION(S): Systemic MTX is an attractive therapeutic option in the conservative treatment of unruptured interstitial pregnancy. The regimen of four doses of 1.0 mg/kg IM MTX alternated with 0.1 mg/kg folinic acid is effective. Serum hCG clearance curves may serve as a guideline for monitoring MTX treatment, thus enabling a timely detection of impending treatment failure.

Treatment of interstitial pregnancy with methotrexate: report of an unsuccessful case.

Until now, the traditional management of interstitial pregnancy has been surgical. Lately, we have advocated conservative treatment with methotrexate as an option for infertility patients. This is the first publication of a rupture with abundant intra-abdominal bleeding during systemic treatment with methotrexate of a patient with an interstitial pregnancy. Signs of therapy failure are discussed.