Carcinoma cervix ranks fourth in women worldwide and second in women in India. Malnutrition negatively affects the patient's prognosis. Scored PG-SGA is validated nutritional assessment tool for cancer patients.

Purpose: Nutritional assessment of carcinoma cervix patients using PGSGA and its correlation with treatment outcome.

Methodology: 60 patients of carcinoma cervix assessed for nutritional status using Scored Patient-Generated Subjective global assessment at time of presentation, at the end of treatment and three months after completion of treatment.

Results: Before treatment, 55% patients were well nourished, 45% patients were moderately malnourished. At the end of treatment, 52% patients were moderately malnourished and 45% patients were severely malnourished. At 3rd month of follow up, 67% patients were well nourished, 28% were moderately malnourished and 5% were severely malnourished. Mean PGSGA scores before, at end of chemoradiation and at 3rd month follow up were 8.08, 14.50 and 8.15 respectively (p-value <0.001). Complete response was seen in 90% of PGSGA stage A and 67% of PGSGA stage B patients and progressive disease developed in 3% of PGSGA stage A and 19% of PGSGA stage B. patients.

Conclusion: The study has noted a higher incidence of treatment related toxicities and treatment interruptions in malnourished patients. Treatment was better tolerated in well nourished patients and tumor control was better in well nourished patients. Degree of malnutrition increased shortly after treatment. Subsequently, degree of malnutrition decreased during the first three months after treatment.

Keywords: carcinoma cervix; PGSGA; nutritional assessment; chemoradiation.

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Dr Anjali Bhola

Junior resident, PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana, India