title: Secondary malignancies of the uterine cervix: a potential diagnostic pitfall.
abstract: The occurrence of a secondary malignancy in the uterine cervix is a very rare event. In the vast majority of cases, this secondary involvement concerns direct spread of a uterine malignancy to the cervix. However, cancer of the ovary, breast, stomach, gallbladder, pancreas and lung has been reported to metastasize to the uterine cervix by hematogenous route. In this context, secondary lesions of the uterine cervix, in particular those of non-epithelial and extra-genital origin, are sufficiently rare to be overlooked, which might result in inappropriate diagnosis with disappointing consequences in terms of treatment planning. We report a single-institution consecutive series of 144 cases of secondary malignancy of the uterine cervix, emphasizing the morphological and immunohistochemical criteria required to arrive at a correct final diagnosis. Secondary malignancies of the uterine cervix have a protean appearance and can present with a wide spectrum of symptoms. Almost invariably metastases to the cervix signal devastating spread to many different organs. Histopathology, as well as immunohistochemical features and close collaboration between clinicians and pathologists, is essential to arrive at a correct final diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy. gfzannoni@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Gian Franco
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Zannoni
authors.forename: Valerio Gaetano
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Vellone
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrillo
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fadda
authors.forename: Esther Diana
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scambia
authors.forename: Arnaldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carbone
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005770:Gastrointestinal Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000556:secondary*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology