FIGO Staging System Shows Superior Accuracy in PLFGT

Primary lymphoma of the female genital tract (PLFGT) is a rare type of extranodal lymphoma, making up a small fraction of cases. The study’s goal was to evaluate the accuracy of the FIGO staging system compared to the Ann Arbor system in predicting survival outcomes in these patients.

Maria Cristina Pirosa and the team aimed to analyze the prognostic utility of FIGO staging in women diagnosed with PLFGT between 1982 and 2012.

Researchers retrospectively analyzed data from 60 women diagnosed with PLFGT. The analysis included clinical data on histological subtypes, disease stage using the Ann Arbor and FIGO systems, and treatment approaches.

The treatment methods varied, with some patients receiving systemic therapy, surgery, or radiotherapy. Survival rates and disease progression were analyzed to determine the association between disease stage and outcomes.

The results demonstrated that 55% of patients were classified as limited stage by the Ann Arbor system, and 63% by the FIGO system. The most common site of lymphoma was the uterus, followed by the ovaries. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) was the most frequent histological subtype (44 patients). CNS relapse occurred in 14% of patients with DLBCL, most commonly in those with ovarian involvement and bulky disease. The FIGO system was significantly associated with overall survival (OS), cause-specific survival, and progression-free survival (PFS).

The study concluded that advanced disease classified by the FIGO staging system was a key predictor of shorter OS and PFS in patients with DLBCL.

Funding was given by Swiss Cancer Research Foundation.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39325987/

Pirosa MC, Steffanoni S, Vanazzi A, et al. (2024). “Superior prognostic accuracy of FIGO staging system in primary female genital tract lymphomas: A retrospective study (IELSG35).” Hematol Oncol. 2024;42(6):e3312. doi:10.1002/hon.3312