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Cáncer de cuello uterino

Last reviewed: 17 Jul 2025
Last updated: 14 Feb 2025

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presencia de factores de riesgo
  • sangrado vaginal anormal
  • sangrado poscoital
  • dolor pélvico o de espalda
  • dispareunia
  • masa en el cuello uterino
  • sangrado en el cuello uterino
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • flujo vaginal mucoide o purulento
  • obstrucción renal, intestinal o de vejiga
  • dolor óseo
Full details

Risk factors

  • infección por el virus del papiloma humano (VPH)
  • grupo etario
  • Infección por VIH
  • inicio precoz de la actividad sexual (menores de 18 años)
  • múltiples parejas sexuales
  • tabaquismo
  • inmunosupresión
  • antecedentes de enfermedades de transmisión sexual (ETS)
  • uso de píldora anticonceptiva oral
  • elevada cantidad de partos
  • pareja masculina no circuncidada
  • desnutrición por carencia de micronutrientes
  • niveles bajos de folato sérico
  • niveles bajos de vitaminas C y E
  • consumo de alcohol
  • bajo nivel socioeconómico
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • examen vaginal o con espéculo
  • colposcopia
  • biopsia
  • pruebas del virus del papiloma humano (VPH)
Full details

Tests to consider

  • hemograma completo (HC)
  • prueba de función renal
  • pruebas de función hepática
  • radiografía de tórax
  • pielograma intravenoso
  • ultrasonido renal
  • enema de bario
  • sigmoidoscopia
  • cistoscopia
  • resonancia magnética (IRM) de pelvis
  • tomografía por emisión de positrones (TEP) de cuerpo entero
  • tomografía por emisión de positrones/tomografía computarizada (TEP-TC) de cuerpo entero
  • exploración por tomografía computarizada (TC) de tórax/ abdomen/pelvis con contraste por vía intravenosa y oral
  • pruebas moleculares
Full details

Emerging tests

  • Expresión de biomarcadores p16 y Ki67

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

no embarazada en etapa IA1 sin LVSI: con deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada en etapa IA1 sin LVSI: sin deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada en etapa IA1 con LVSI: con deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada, etapa IA1 con LVSI: sin deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada, etapa IA2: con deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada, etapa IA2: sin deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada, etapa IB1: con deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada, etapa IB1: sin deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada, etapa IB2: con deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada, etapa IB2: sin deseo de fertilidad

no embarazada, etapa IA1:

no embarazada, etapa IB3 o IIA2

no embarazada, etapa IIB a IVA

no embarazada, etapa IVB (enfermedad metastásica)

no embarazada, enfermedad recurrente local o regional

embarazadas

Contributors

Authors

Richard T. Penson, MD, MRCP
Richard T. Penson

Clinical Director

Medical Gynecologic Oncology

Division of Hematology Oncology

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston

MA

Disclosures

RTP reports serving on scientific advisory boards for AstraZeneca, Eisai, GSK Inc., ImmunoGen Inc., Merck & Co., Mersana, Novocure, Roche Pharma, Sutro Biopharma, Vascular Biogenics Ltd; data and safety monitoring boards for AstraZeneca and Roche Pharma; institutional research funding (as Principal Investigator) for Array BioPharma Inc., AstraZeneca, Eisai Inc., Genentech Inc., Regeneron, Sanofi-Aventis US LLC, Tesaro Inc., Vascular Biogenics Ltd; and royalties from BMJ Publishing, UptoDate, Elsevier Ltd, Wolters Kluwer Health, and Wiley-Blackwell.

Andrea L. Russo, MD

Director

Gynecologic Radiation Oncology

Associate Clinical Director

Department of Radiation Oncology

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston

MA

Disclosures

ALR declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

Dr Richard T. Penson and Dr Andrea L. Russo would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Larissa J. Lee, their co-contributor who is sadly deceased, and to acknowledge Dr Neil S. Horowitz and Dr Anthony H. Russell, previous contributors to this topic.

Disclosures

NSH and AHR declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Tracilyn Hall, MD

Assistant Professor of Gynecologic Oncology

Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Baylor College of Medicine Houston

Houston

TX

Disclosures

TH declares that she has no competing interests.

Linda Yang, MD

Fellow

Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery

Magee Women's Hospital

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

PA

Disclosures

LY declares that she has no competing interests.

Deirdre Lyons, MB, BCh, BAO, MRCOG

Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Lead Clinician in Colposcopy

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

DL declares that she has no competing interests.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Marth C, Landoni F, Mahner S, et al. Cervical cancer: ESMO clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2017 Jul 1;28(suppl 4):iv72-83.Full text  Abstract

Fontham ETH, Wolf AMD, Church TR, et al. Cervical cancer screening for individuals at average risk: 2020 guideline update from the American Cancer Society CA Cancer J Clin. 2020 Sep;70(5):321-46.Full text  Abstract

Bhatla N, Aoki D, Sharma DN, et al. Cancer of the cervix uteri: 2021 update. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2021 Oct;155 Suppl 1(suppl 1):28-44.Full text  Abstract

National Comprehensive Cancer Network. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology: cervical cancer [internet publication].Full text

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.
  • Cáncer de cuello uterino images
  • Differentials

    • Infección por el virus del papiloma humano (VPH)
    • Infección pélvica
    • Huevo de Naboth
    More Differentials
  • Guidelines

    • Suspected cancer: recognition and referral
    • Guidelines for the prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections in adults and adolescents with HIV
    More Guidelines
  • Patient information

    Vacuna contra el VPH (virus del papiloma humano)

    More Patient information
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