The role of cytology in the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with cervical adenocarcinoma.
A review was undertaken of the 121 patients with cervical adenocarcinoma, ranging in age from 10 to 91 years, who had cytology specimens examined in this laboratory. All but two had cervicovaginal smears. Fifty-eight patients had cervical smears taken prior to treatment; 91% of these contained malignant cells. The commonest histologic subtype was mucinous adenocarcinoma (61 patients; 52%), followed by endometrioid carcinoma (26 cases; 22%), adenosquamous carcinoma (16 cases; 14%) and clear-cell carcinoma (12 cases; 10%). The cytologic characteristics were evaluated and correlated with the histopathology. During the follow-up period after definitive treatment, 119 patients had gynecologic smears taken; 24% were positive, representing 64% of those cases with central recurrences. In two patients, the abnormal smear was the first indicator of recurrence. Nine patients had 11 nongynecologic specimens revealing metastatic disease. Notable in this study were the 18 asymptomatic women, of whom 15 also had either no visible cervical lesion or minimal changes associated with benign conditions; cytology was abnormal in all but two. Cytology was effective in detecting disease. Its usefulness continued during the follow-up period in identifying or confirming recurrent or metastatic disease.
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009077:Mucins / Q000378:metabolism; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*
D009077:Mucins