Current concepts in cervical pathology.
BACKGROUND
The correct diagnosis and reporting of cervical in situ and invasive carcinoma are essential for the appropriate clinical management of patients with human papillomavirus-associated disease.


OBJECTIVE
To review common mistakes made in the diagnosis of cervical dysplasia and invasive carcinoma, describe variants and benign mimics of high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and adenocarcinoma in situ, and discuss available ancillary studies that can be useful in making the distinctions as well as to review important factors related to prognosis that should be included in the pathology report.


METHODS
Review of current literature.


CONCLUSIONS
There are many mimics and variants of cervical squamous and glandular lesions that can be resolved with ancillary studies and careful histologic examination. Prognostically important features, such as tumor size, presence of vascular invasion, and margin status, should always be included in the pathology report.
Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA. parkk@mskcc.org
Kay J
KJ
Park
Robert A
RA
Soslow
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D011379:Prognosis; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000821:virology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor