Renal Status of Patients with Cervical Cancer Prior to Treatment Commencement

Abstract

The renal system is one of the body organs that are affected in advanced carcinoma of the cervix uteri. The aim of this study is to see the pattern and the prevalence of renal impairments seen in patients with cervical cancer presenting in our clinic prior to treatment. One hundred and ninety-nine consecutive patients with histologically proven carcinoma of the uterine cervix who were referred to the Radiotherapy Department were enrolled in the study. All the patients had FIGO staging. Measurements of blood urea and creatinine and abdominopelvic ultrasound scan were done to assess their renal status. Most of the patients (71.9%) were aged 50yrs and above. 116 (54%) presented at stages 3 and 4. In addition, 53 patients (26.9%) and 61 (26.2%) have raised blood urea and creatinine levels above normal respectively, whereas ultrasound scan abnormalities i.e. hydronephrosis and or hydrocalycosis were seen in 66 (33.2%), 26 (13.1%) had hydroureters and evidence of renal parenchymal disease were seen only in 19(9.5%). Renal impairment was seen in more than a quarter of patients presenting with cancer of the cervix prior to treatment commencement. Renal assessment should therefore, be an important pretreatment workup for all patients with cancer of the uterine cervix.