[Colposcopic monitoring of primary chemotherapy in patients with locally advanced cancer of the uterine cervix].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate colposcopy in the monitoring of patients affected by locally advanced cervix cancer treated with primary chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients (42-54 years old) affected by squamous cervical cancer locally advanced (stage FIGO IIa "bulky"/IIb/III) were treated with primary chemotherapy (cisplatin 50 mg/m2 vincristin 1 mg/m2 bleomicin 30 UI in 24 hours continuous infusion q 7 days for 3 cycles). Colposcopy was performed before chemotherapy, after the second cycle and at the end of chemotherapy.

RESULTS: Two pathological complete responses, 5 partial responses and one case of stable disease were observed. Patients with complete and partial response were treated with radical hysterectomy. In responding patients we observed a typical sequence of colposcopic findings. Regression of distinctive malignancy feature, reduction of atypical vessels, gradual disappearance of peripheral lesions and centripetal reepilization of the cervix were sequentially registered. At the end of treatment the cervix appeared with a colposcopy imaging as well as a centripetal squamous complete or incomplete metaplasia, open--for most part--glandular exit and weak acid-iodic positivity.

CONCLUSION: In responding patients we observed a typical sequence of colposcopy finding, useful in order to evaluate the effects of chemotherapy and to programme the surgical approach.