title: Histopathologic spectrum of benign proliferative and intraepithelial neoplastic reactions of the uterine cervix.
abstract: A working model for the histogenesis of carcinoma of the uterine cervix is summarized in Table I. The inclusion of squamous metaplasia in this chart does not imply that this reaction falls into the spectrum of cervical neoplasia or is necessarily an antecedent to neoplasia. It does simply imply that the carcinogenic event or events apparently occur in or involve an epithelium that is indistinguishable from squamous metaplasia. The chart intentionally implies that the lesions mentioned are not separate diseases but arbitrary points in the spectrum of cervical neoplasia. It must be emphasized that one stage does not necessarily progress to the next and that at any stage up to indisputable cancer the changes may regress, persist or progress. The careful evaluation of histologic material from the uterine cervix will permit the pathologist to exclude those epithelial abnormalities which are not a part of the spectrum of cervical neoplasia and allow him or her to place the patient with cervical neoplasia at the proper stage in the development of the process. With this information the clinician can then intelligently plan appropriate therapy.
mesh_terms: D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007642:Keratosis / Q000473:pathology; D008679:Metaplasia; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*