These good population-based results are due, in part, to the nationwide prospective quality assurance registration.

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Study objective-The aim was to study changes in smoking habits during pregnancy and differences in characteristics between women who stop smoking and those who continue to smoke during pregnancy.Design-The study was a population based prospective study. Self administered questionnaires were completed on three occasions.Setting-The study area was Uppsala county, Sweden, in 1987. Participants There are no data on smoking habits during pregnancy or on sociodemographic determinants of smoking during pregnancy. In order to study these issues, we conducted a prospective study, which included all pregnant women registered in antenatal care in a large urban-rural area in Sweden during one year. MethodsThe study was performed at the antenatal clinics in Uppsala county, Sweden. All women with normal pregnancies, registered before 21 completed gestational weeks during 1987, were asked to complete non-anonymous questionnaires three times during pregnancy. The first questionnaire was completed at the time of registration (90% registered before the 14th gestational week). This questionnaire mainly included questions regarding sociodemographic background, previous obstetric history, previous and present smoking habits, and smoking habits among individuals in the immediate environment. Roughly 96% of the pregnant population completed the first questionnaire. The second and third questionnaires were completed in the middle of pregnancy (24-26th week) and in late pregnancy (34-36th week). These questionnaires mainly included questions on current smoking habits.Multiple regression analyses were performed in order to estimate the effects of the studied independent variables on smoking habits.'0 Initially, all independent variables were included in the analyses. However, in order to make the analyses as simple and illustrative as possible, the final models only included variables that were found to have a significant influence on changes in smoking habits during pregnancy. Data were computerised and the statistical analyses were made using the Statistical Analyses System (SAS)."1.

Lymph node micrometastases are not a useful prognostic marker in Dukes Stages A and B and do not imply different strategies for additional therapy or follow-up.

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