title: [Glassy cell carcinoma of cervix: a clinicopathologic analysis of 5 cases].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the clinicopathological characteristics, histological diagnosis, immunohistochemistry and prognosis of cervical glassy cell carcinoma (GCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The clinical characteristics, cytology, histology and immunohistochemistry were analyzed in 5 cases of GCC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average age of the five patients was 34.4 years (31 - 41 years). Abnormal vaginal bleeding and/or watery discharge were clinical presentations. One case was complicated with pregnancy and another one had a seven-year history of using contraceptives. All patients had an obvious mass in the cervix. Characteristic morphological features of GCC were present in 2 cases. Morphologically, the tumors consisted of clusters of tumor cells with distinct cell bounders, a large amount of eosinophilic granules in the cytoplasm imparting ground glass appearance, and thin nuclear membrane and prominent nucleoli. Nuclear enlargement and multinucleation were frequently noted. Mitosis and apoptosis were common. Numerous eosinophils and plasma cells were present in the stroma. Immunohistochemically, GCC expressed markers for both squamous cell carcinoma (p63 and CK34βE12) and adenocarcinoma (CAM5.2, MUC1, MUC2 and CEA). Ki-67 proliferation index was high (≥ 70%). All the five patients were treated with radical hysterectomy, followed by radiation and chemotherapy. The tumor-free survival time ranged from 25 days to 33 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  GCC is a distinct variant of adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervix with high proliferation index and expression of markers of both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. The tumor has characteristic cytological and histological features.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. zhu-huiting@sohu.com
authors.forename: Hui-ting
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Shu-xia
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D018196:Carcinoma, Adenosquamous / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000379:methods; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D018396:Mucin-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D011252:Pregnancy Complications, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C400901:CAM 5.2 antigen; C121278:CK-34 beta E12; C081876:CKAP4 protein, human; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; C060192:MUC1 protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D018396:Mucin-1; D007633:Keratins