Association of Hemoglobin Levels Before and During Radiotherapy with Prognosis in Uterine Cervix Cancer

Abstract

To determine the effect of low hemoglobin levels on the five-year survival rate, 700 patients with Stage I or II carcinoma of the cervix were studied. In 398 cases, primary radiotherapy was used; 181 had surgery alone, and 121 had surgery plus some irradiation. Initial hemoglobin levels were classed as ≤ 10, 10–13, and 13 g∕100 ml. A definite correlation exists between low initial hemoglobin levels and survival rate. Also, the larger the lesion, the lower the survival rate. Since correction of low initial hemoglobin levels did not significantly improve prognosis, tissue-induced anoxia as the ultimate single or major cause of poorer results is questioned.