Distant metastasis in patients with cervical cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of incidence rates and common sites.
Yun Yang, Meiping Yu, Minli Zeng
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In 30 seconds
This systematic review and random-effects meta-analysis pooled observational studies of non-lymphatic distant organ metastases in patients with cervical cancer, excluding studies limited to patients presenting with stage IVB/M1 disease. Across 42 studies and 238 387 patients, the pooled incidence was 2.91 per 100 patients (95% CI: 2.84-2.97). Bone was the most commonly reported site, followed by lung, brain, and liver. The authors note substantial heterogeneity and present the estimates as descriptive trends rather than precise rates.
Key findings
- Pooled distant metastasis incidence was 2.91 per 100 cervical cancer patients (95% CI: 2.84-2.97).
- Bone metastases had a pooled incidence of 3.67 per 100 patients (95% CI: 2.37-5.06), the highest among the reported sites.
- Pooled incidence was 3.00 per 100 patients for lung, 1.83 for brain, and 1.70 for liver metastases.
- The Western Pacific region had the highest regional pooled incidence: 4.66 per 100 patients (95% CI: 4.52-4.79).
Why it matters
The review summarizes where non-lymphatic distant metastases are reported in cervical cancer and indicates that bone and lung are prominent sites. This can inform clinical awareness of metastatic patterns, while the substantial heterogeneity cautions against treating pooled estimates as precise predictions for individual patients or populations.
What to keep in mind
The authors report large heterogeneity, so pooled estimates should be interpreted as descriptive trends rather than precise rates. The evidence comes from observational studies.