Search

The physician population delivering obstetric care in Philadelphia between 1950 and 1970 was contacted to ascertain their use of diethylstilbesterol (DES) during pregnancy. Of the 31.8% of the physicians who responded to the questionnaire, 71.8% used DES during pregnancy and 12.7% desired assistance in review of their records. During the 6 years from the initial survey, 830 young women exposed to DES in utero were periodically screened for cervicovaginal abnormalities and clear cell adenocarcinoma. Of these 830 patients 61.7% were found to have cervicovaginal abnormalities, and 65.9% of the patients showed either adenosis or evidence of the prior existence of vaginal adenosis. Eight patients were treated for clear cell adenocarcinoma. Two cases were detected while asymptomatic. Seven of the patients are living with no evidence of cancer, and two of these have survived over 5 years.A project, designed to locate the population at risk to diethylstilbestrol (DES) exposure in utero in the greater Philadelphia area from 1950-1970, was implemented by contacting area physicians who might have used the drug in their practices on pregnant women. 216 (31.8%) physicians responded to the questionaire; 155 (71.8%) responded that they had used DES. During the 6 years from initial survey, 830 young women exposed to DES in utero were periodically screened for cervicovaginal abnormalities and clear cell adenocarcinoma. Gross structural cervicovaginal abnormalities were found in 512 (61.7%) of the individuals evaluated. In 38 patients, vaginal adenosis existing alone was documented. In another 279 patients, metaplasia alone was noted in the vagina, and in another 230 patients, both metaplasia and adenosis coexisting in varying degrees were found. Thus, 547 (65.9%) showed either adenosis or evidence of the prior existence of vaginal adenosis. 8 patients with clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina or cervix were seen; each individual was born during the decade of the 1950s. 2 cases were detected while asymptomatic; 7 of the patients are living with no evidence of cancer, and 2 of these have survived over 5 years. These results showed a much lower incidence of significant dysplastic squamous changes (1.1%) than that of earlier reports, emphasizing the subjective element of earlier, more alarming reports.