Histopathologic classification of cervical carcinomas and recognition of mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas.
Recently, cervical mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas have been reported to be more common in younger women than in older women, leading some to conclude that any histologic classification of cervical carcinoma should include a specific category of this tumor type. One hundred and ninety-six invasive cervical carcinomas were classified using two histologic classification systems--the World Health Organization (WHO) and a system that recognized mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas (Fox). Analyses were performed to determine whether there was an association between age and glandular tumor types in either system. In the WHO System, 72% were classified as squamous carcinoma, 22% adenocarcinoma, and 6% adenosquamous. In the Fox System, 54% were squamous carcinoma, 22% adenocarcinoma, 4% adenosquamous, and 20% squamous carcinoma with mucin secretion. Specimen type did not significantly affect the classification of a carcinoma. No association was established between age and a diagnosis of adeno- and adenosquamous carcinomas in the WHO System, or age and adeno-, adenosquamous, and mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas in the Fox System. We conclude that use of the WHO Classification System does not obscure significant epidemiologic trends that are evident in a classification system that identifies mucin-secreting squamous carcinomas.
Department of Pathology, Toronto Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
T J
TJ
Colgan
M
M
Auger
J R
JR
McLaughlin
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D002288:Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000145:classification* / Q000473:pathology