Presentation of a patient with pT2bN1M0 small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix who obtained long-term survival with maintenance chemotherapy, and literature-based discussion

Background: Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a rare cervical carcinoma that advances early and is associated with a poor prognosis. We present a case of this disease which invaded the parametrium and metastasized to the pelvic lymph node. The patient underwent postoperative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) followed by maintenance chemotherapy and obtained long-term survival. Case: A 26-year-old patient, who had conceived on two occasions without giving birth and had smoked for ten years, underwent radical hysterectomy with a diagnosis of Stage Ibl cervical carcinoma in December 2006. The patient showed parametrial invasion, and metastasis to the left external iliac node and vaginal stump. With a diagnosis of pT2bN1M0, the patient underwent CCRT with weekly nedaplatin as postoperative therapy. For the maintenance chemotherapy, from May 2007, ten courses of PE therapy (CDDP, 15 mg/body; VP-16, 100 mg/body x 3) were performed. No recurrent signs have been observed for 39 months after the first operation. Conclusion: PE therapy may be useful as maintenance therapy, although there are no established treatments for small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.

Small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix; Maintenance chemotherapy; Combination of CDDP and VP-16; Poor prognosis

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