To evaluate epidemiological, prognostic factors and survival of adenocarcinoma of the cervix. DESIGN: Retrospective study of 648 patients diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the cervix at the Institute of Neoplastic Diseases from 1985 to 1994. RESULTS: adenocarcinoma accounted for 6.5% of all cervical cancers. The mean age was 49 years (range 19-89 years). Multiparity occurred in 89%. It was associated with pregnancy in 1.6% of cases. The most common symptom was abnormal vaginal bleeding in 94%. The proportion of EC-I was 11%, 50% EC-II, EC-III 36% and 5% EC-IV. The most common histological subtype was squamous cell carcinoma (47.5%). The main treatment modality was radiation therapy (90%) and surgery (4.8%), especially for the early stages; the combination of surgery plus radiation therapy was used in 3.9% of patients. The overall life of 5 years was 68.5% and 62.6% 10 years, similar to pa...