In a woman with Stage IB cervical carcinoma treated primarily by radical hysterectomy, which finding is the single strongest predictor of survival outcome?
- A Histological grade of the tumour
- B Status of the pelvic lymph nodes ✓
- C Patient age at diagnosis
- D Squamous versus adenocarcinoma histological subtype
Correct answer: B. Status of the pelvic lymph nodes
Explanation
Pelvic lymph node metastasis is the most powerful prognostic factor in surgically treated early cervical cancer; 5-year survival falls sharply, roughly halving, when nodes are positive, and it drives the decision for adjuvant therapy. Tumour size and depth of stromal invasion matter mainly because they correlate with nodal spread. Grade, age and histological subtype influence prognosis modestly but none approaches the discriminatory power of nodal status.
Reference: Berek and Novak's Gynecology, 16th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.