Prognostic Factors for Malignant Mixed Mullerian Tumors of the Uterus

Abstract

This study examined factors affecting the survival of 28 consecutive patients with malignant mixed Mullerian tumors diagnosed at New York University Medical Center (New York, New York, USA) from 1971 through 1985. The cumulative 5-year survival for all patients was 38%. Patients with pedunculated tumors (18/25) had a significantly improved 5-year survival of 53% compared with patients having a tumor with a broad-based attachment (7/25), all of whom died within 1 year (p < 0.01). Eleven patients whose tumors demonstrated vascular invasion had a worse prognosis compared with 14 patients without demonstrable vascular invasion (18% versus 53% 5-year survival; p < 0.05). Interestingly, patients with pedunculated tumors persisted in having an improved survival even after correcting for vascular invasion, compared with patients having broad-based tumor attachment. Small tumor size (.ltoreq.7 cm) also proved to be a significant and independent prognostic indicator for improved survival. Advanced stage, heterologous sarcomatous elements, and deep myometrial invasion (greater than one-third invasion) tended to be associated with decreased survival, but not with statistical significance. Patient age and grade of the carcinoma element did not appear to affect survival.