Endocervical carcinoma

Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix with Massive Signet-Ring Cell Differentiation

Primary signetring cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix is very rare and less common than metastatic signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma. To the best of the authors' knowldge only one genuine case has been reported to date. Tvvo cases of primary signeting cell adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix in patients aged 68 and 74 years are presented. The tumors were in stage IB. The light microscopic findings were conirmed by histochemical and immunohistochemical study. DNA nuclear analysis by flow cytometry of the neoplasms revealed an aneuploid (tetraploid) pattern. The paients had no evidence of recurrent or metastatic disease 35 and 25 months after a radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and lymph node dissecion respectively. Primary signet-ring cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix should be diferentiated from metastatic adenocarcinoma, endocervical involvement by signeting cell carcinoma of the endometrium, benign mucinfilled signet-ring cell aggregates that may accumulate in mucosal folds, microglandular hyperplasia, muciarminophilic histiocytosis, and other malignant neoplasms that may have signet ringlike cells and deserve consideration such as squamous cell carcinoma, maligant lymphoma, myeloma, and malignant melanoma. Although very rare, signeting cell adenocarcinoma of the cervix can exist as a primary tumor. Distinction beween a primary neoplasm and a metastasis to the cervix is decisive for treatment and prognosis.

MN Protein Immunolocalization in Uterine Cervix Carcinoma With Glandular Differentiation: A Clinicopathologic Study of a New Cancer-specific Biomarker

MN protein is the product of the newly described endogenous MN gene that is expressed in the tumorigenic phenotype of HeLa X fibroblast somatic cell hybrids. MN protein has carbonic anhydrase and putative DNA binding activity. With the exception of gastric mucosa, MN protein is expressed in neoplasia, particularly uterine cervix carcinoma, but not in benign tissue. This investigation examined the pathogenetic and prognostic significance of MN-protein immunoreactivity in uterine cervix carcinoma with glandular differentiation. Paraffin sections from 77 cervix carcinomas with glandular differentiations including 36 pure adenocarcinomas and 41 adenosquamous carcinomas were immunostained with anti-MN-protein (M-75 monoclonal proprietary; Ciba Corning Diagnostics, Alameda, CA). A total of 64.9% of cervix carcinomas with glandular differentiation exhibit MN-protein immunoreactivity localized to plasma membranes, cytoplasm, and some nuclei of neoplastic cells only, but not in adjacent benign tissue. The MN-protein staining intensity and distribution was as follows: 37.7% strong diffuse (≥ 50% cells positive), 19.5% strong focal (< 50% cells positive), and weak (7.8%). Immunoreactivity occurred in both squamous and glandular areas of adenosquamous carcinomas and was unrelated to histopathologic features. Follow-up information was available on 67 patients: 31 exhibited recurrent disease (7 pelvic, 14 distant, and 10 both) at 1–144 months (mean 37, median 14), and 36 were disease-free at 12–216 months (mean 67, median 44.5). MN-protein immunoreactivity (all positives, both standard diffuse and strong focal, or standard diffuse only) exhibited no association with clinical outcome. Recurrent disease was associated with nuclear grade ( P < .001), lymphatic invasion ( P < .005), size on clinical examination or pathologic evaluation ( P < .005), pelvic lymph node involvement ( P < .05), and clinical stage ( P < .05). MN-protein immunoreactivity did not correlate with these features and did not help predict which patients would develop recurrence in the good prognosis groups. Our data show that expression of MN-protein is associated with cervix carcinoma with glandular differentiation carcinogenesis. MN-protein immunolocalization may have a diagnostic role in confirming cervix carcinoma with glandular differentiation in histologically challenging cases.

Pathology of Cervical Cancer

Squamous cell carcinoma is the most common malignant cervical tumor, but the incidence of adenocarcinomas has been rising during the past few decades. This article discusses the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the squamous cell carcinoma, its clinical and histologic features, including microinvasive carcinoma, its histologic grade, and variant tumors. The prognostic impact of these features and the differential diagnosis are also covered. The second portion of this article is devoted to the glandular tumors of the cervix, including adenocarcinoma in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma and its variants. The differential diagnosis of these tumors with tumor like glandular lesions is given special attention. Finally, less common malignant cervical tumors are covered, with an emphasis being placed on their significance.

Symposium part I: adenocarcinoma in situ, glandular dysplasia, and early invasive adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix

A relative and an absolute increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix has occurred in the United States since 1970. Currently, most pathologists recognize the histologic and cytologic features of invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix, but there is confusion surrounding the histologic features and biologic behavior of adenocarcinoma in situ, endocervical glandular dysplasia, and the definition of microinvasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Similarly, the distinction of in situ adenocarcinoma from an early invasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix may be problematic. This article focuses on the histologic criteria, biologic behavior, and some approaches to therapy for these challenging lesions. General conclusions based largely on published studies include the following: 1) adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) is a recognizable precursor to invasive adenocarcinoma and can be divided according to distinct histologic subtypes; 2) AIS is multifocal or involves multiple quadrants of the cervix in about half of cases; 3) AIS can be cured by simple hysterectomy and in many cases may be treated effectively by cone biopsy; 4) endocervical glandular dysplasia is not a reproducibly recognizable lesion, and its behavior and existence are undefined; 5) criteria exist to permit the distinction of early invasive adenocarcinoma from AIS in about 80% of cases; 6) microinvasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix is complicated by the presence of multiple definitions; clinical decision making is best guided by assessment and reporting of the depth, horizontal extent, and presence of lymphatic or vascular invasion.

Glandular lesions of the uterine cervix

During the past 20 years, pathologists have more carefully examined and more precisely classified glandular lesions of the endocervix, largely reflecting increased concerns about the diagnosis and pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma of the cervix. This review of glandular lesions of the cervix focuses on the following six issues surrounding the histologic diagnosis of the more common types of adenocarcinoma of the endocervix and their mimics: (1) the classification and recognition of preinvasive glandular lesions, (2) the distinction of invasive from preinvasive adenocarcinoma, (3) the definition and significance of microinvasive adenocarcinoma, (4) the epidemiology and pathogenesis of adenocarcinoma, (5) the identification and behavior of the more common subtypes of invasive adenocarcinoma, and (6) the recognition of benign lesions that mimic adenocarcinoma It is the author's opinion that most in situ and invasive adenocarcinomas of the cervix can be recognized and distinguished from benign mimics. In contrast, glandular dysplasia and microinvasive adenocarcinoma of the cervix are currently ill-defined and irreproducible terms that should not be used for diagnostic purposes. Although only brief descriptions of the biologic behavior of the various lesions and their therapy are included in this review, certain variants of endocervical adenocarcinoma have distinctive behaviors and should be classified appropriately to provide prognostication and help to guide therapy.

Adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix associated with pregnancy: a retrospective 10-year investigative study

We conducted chart reviews on 56 women of childbearing age (up to age 40) diagnosed with adenocarcinoma of the cervix. Of these, 16 (30%) were identified as having pregnancy-associated disease. Eleven of the 16 were diagnosed with invasive adenocarcinoma (i.a.) and 5 with adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS). Prior cervicovaginal smears were available on 12 of the 16 women; of these, only one was reported as showing cancer. Mean age at time of diagnosis of AIS and IA in the pregnant women was 33 and 30.3 yr and in the nonpregnant women, 30.6 and 32.8 yr, respectively. We found an absolute increase in the number of cases of adenocarcinoma of the cervix over the past decade in both pregnant and age-matched nonpregnant women of childbearing age (1984-1988: 6, pregnant; 12, nonpregnant; 1989-1994: 10, pregnant; 28, nonpregnant) but no significant difference in the percentages of the disease in pregnant vs. nonpregnant populations (Z = 0.95). We also found an overall increase in the number of diagnosed cases of adenocarcinoma of the cervix (especially in situ) in both study groups over the same time period (1984-1988: 3, AIS; 14, IA; 1989-1994: 15, AIS; 24, IA).

Cervical carcinoma with glandular differentiation: histological evaluation predicts disease recurrence in clinical stage I or II patients

Pathologists confront questions concerning the clinical implications of the more complex, evolving histopathologic classification in cervical carcinoma with glandular differentiation (CCGD) and the associated precursor intraepithelial lesions. Pseudoneoplastic pitfalls, such as microglandular hyperplasia, constitute the subject of recent reports, but the extent of misinterpretation for CCGD is unknown. To address these issues, we retrospectively reviewed all the histopathologic material for 67 patients treated for early clinical stage (I or II) CCGD. Two patients (3%) had pseudoneoplastic glandular lesions (two microglandular hyperplasias). The remaining 65 CCGDs included 35 pure adenocarcinomas (18 mucinous, six serous, five endometrioid, five clear cell, and one adenoid cystic), 26 adenosquamous carcinomas (17 showed > or = 50% and nine showed > 10% but < 50% squamous differentiation-all nonkeratinizing; four were predominantly glassy cell type, and the others showed the following adenocarcinoma component differentiation: 11 mucinous, eight serous, and three endometrioid) and four villoglandular papillary adenocarcinomas (all four were mucinous). In situ carcinoma was identified in 54%. The two patients with pseudoneoplastic lesions were disease free (after 96 and 108 months). Twenty-one patients with CCGD had recurrent disease at 4 to 144 months (mean, 45; median, 18) including three local recurrences, 10 with distant metastasis, and eight with both. Thirty-five patients with CCGD were disease free at 12 to 216 months follow-up (mean, 80.6; median, 65). Adenosquamous (P < .0002, predictive value [PV] = .68) and serous differentiation (P < .05, PV = .61) were the only histological types associated with disease recurrence. Vascular space invasion (P < .0002, PV = .7), deeper invasion (P < .0005), nuclear grade (P = .002, PV = .51), larger tumors on clinical exam (P < .01) or pathological evaluation (P < .01), and presence of pelvic lymph node metastasis at surgery (P < .05, PV = .7) are additional features associated with recurrent disease. A combination of adenosquamous or serous differentiation and vascular space invasion maximized PV for recurrent disease at a level of .75. Mucinous, endometrioid, or clear cell histological types, architectural grade, or the distinction between clinical stages I and II were not associated with recurrent disease. None of the four patients with villoglandular papillary adenocarcinoma exhibited recurrent disease, but confirmation of this histological subtype's prognostic value was hindered by the small number of cases identified (P = .16). Adenosquamous and serous differentiation, nuclear grading, pathological evaluation of vascular space and lymph node involvement, and recognition of pseudoneoplastic glandular lesions helped predict recurrent disease in low clinical stage CCGD in this retrospective study.

The human papillomavirus status of invasive cervical adenocarcinoma: a clinicopathological and outcome analysis

Accumulating evidence highlights the human papillomavirus (HPV) as a risk factor for cervical adenocarcinoma. However, the part played by the HPV in predicting tumor outcome or the increasing frequency of cervical adenocarcinoma is incompletely studied. In a retrospective study the association between HPV status and the clinicopathological characteristics of 77 cases of cervical adenocarcinoma was investigated. The data were then analyzed for temporal differences in HPV status and to identify outcome predictors. Human papillomavirus status was determined by dot blot hybridization using probes for HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, and 35, followed by polymerase chain reaction amplification of the dot blot negative cases. Seven type-specific and consensus HPV primers were used. Human papillomavirus type 16, 18, or 33 was present in 53 (70%) cases. Human papillomavirus status did not correlate with disease outcome or any clinicopathological variable, except that tumors presenting in and after 1981 were more frequently HPV positive than those presenting before 1981 (P = .014). In a multivariate analysis only clinical stage at presentation was predictive of disease outcome. Because temporal differences in clinicopathological characteristics were not identified, the increasing frequency of cervical adenocarcinoma may relate to a more important oncogenic role for the HPV in tumors presenting after 1980.

Comparative cytologic findings of in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix

The cytologic findings in 13 cases of cervical adenocarcinoma in situ (mean age 33.9 yr) were compared with those in 9 cases of cervical invasive adenocarcinoma (mean age 45.7 yr). All diagnoses were confirmed by biopsy. The major differences found were that a necrotic background (66% invasive vs. 0% in situ) and macronucleoli (77% invasive vs. 0% in situ) were more common in invasive cases, whereas associated squamous-cell dysplasia (69% in situ vs. 0% invasive) was more common in in situ cases. Other differences included syncytial tissue fragments with irregular cell borders, frequent cell drop-off, and markedly atypical single columnar cells (or markedly atypical naked nuclei) seen more commonly in invasive cases, whereas monolayer sheets and/or syncytial tissue fragments with smooth borders and rare cell drop-off were more common in in situ cases. Although none of these features is diagnostic individually, in combination they are helpful in distinguishing between in situ and invasive adenocarcinoma. Nine of 13 of the in situ cases showed associated squamous-cell dysplasia. In all nine of these cases, the glandular dysplasia was overlooked or underestimated in severity on original cytologic diagnosis. This suggests that the presence of a squamous lesion may lead to decreased detection of glandular lesions, perhaps because the features of squamous lesions are more well known; thus they are more easily recognized, at the expense of glandular lesions. All invasive adenocarcinomas were identified as carcinoma in the original diagnosis with seven specified as invasive adenocarcinomas.

The histologic grading of cancer

BACKGROUND

The histologic grade of a tumor provides prognostic information in addition to that provided by stage of disease. Poorly differentiated tumors are known to pursue a more aggressive course than their well differentiated counterparts.

METHODS

The frequency of grading and the relationship of grade to outcome was investigated for 793,649 cases of cancer from 15 anatomic sites as recorded in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program.

RESULTS

For all cancers, the frequency of grading increased from 1973 to 1987 and varied by anatomic site and histologic type. Survival decreased with advancing grade, and within each stage, grading separated cases into at least three distinct prognostic subgroups. For some cancers, regional stage cases assigned Grade 1 or 2 had higher survival rates than did localized stage cases assigned Grade 3 or 4. Therefore, grading allowed the identification of high and low risk subgroups within each stage grouping.

CONCLUSIONS

The tumor grade was a strong prognostic indicator for cancers of the urinary bladder, endometrium, and prostate--sites most often graded by pathologists. The histologic grade was also an important determinant of outcome for cancers of the brain, soft tissue, and breast; however, only a small percentage of these tumors were graded. The results are important because no common criteria for grading were established among the many contributing pathologists. Therefore, observer variation did not alter the known relationship of histologic grade to outcome. This review demonstrates that the histologic grade is a strong predictor of outcome that refines the prognostic information provided by the stage of disease.

Human papillomavirus detection in cervical adenocarcinoma by polymerase chain reaction

Twenty-five primary cervical adenocarcinomas and five cervical infiltrates from endometrial or rectal adenocarcinomas were analyzed for human papillomavirus (HPV) DNA by polymerase chain reaction with consensus and type-specific primers. Sixty-four percent (16 of 25) of the primary carcinomas and 20% (one of five) of the secondary infiltrates were positive for HPV types 16 and/or 18 DNA. Among the primary tumors HPV DNA was found in 80% of the endocervical cell-type tumors and in 60% of the endometrioid tumors, whereas two undifferentiated scirrhous carcinomas, one clear cell carcinoma, and one serous-papillary tumor were HPV negative. Human papillomavirus-positive patients were younger than HPV-negative patients (mean ages, 49.2 v 64.2 years). Our results indicate that papillomavirus play a major role in the etiology of cervical adenocarcinomas, at least in premenopausal women. However, in contrast to other studies, HPV type 18 was not the predominant type of HPV, HPV types 16 and 18 occurring with similar frequency in our patients.