title: Significance of cytologic smears in the diagnosis of small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide improved identification of small cell carcinoma (SMCC) and reevaluate the significance of cervical cytologic smears in its diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analyses of histocytologic morphology and clinical data were performed by reviewing clinical records, histopathology and cervical cytology smears from 18 SMCC cases of the uterine cervix (including one recurrent case and three SMCC cases with adenocarcinoma) between 1986 and 2001.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most cases showed minimal cytoplasm, finely stippled ("salt and pepper") chromatin, prominent nuclear molding and smearing effect. Cytologic smears diagnosed or suggested 79% of SMCC cases before histologic confirmation. Of the cases, 89% displayed moderate to high cellularity. The tumor cells were arranged mostly in clusters of varying sizes with no typical architectural pattern. In addition, the tumors often exhibited very pleomorphic cells and recognizable nucleoli.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cytologic features of SMCC cells are characteristics enough for specific diagnosis or at least an early indication of it. Timely detection by cervical cytologic smears will allow clinicians to initiate prompt treatment of these aggressive tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Gongneung-Dong 215-4, Nowon-Ku, Seoul 139-706, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoonjung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hwa-jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Jung-soon
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jin Haeng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jae Soo
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Koh
authors.forename: Sunhoo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seung-Sook
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D003584:Cytological Techniques / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology*; D014626:Vaginal Smears / Q000592:standards*