Unusual presentation of Endocervical Adenocarcinoma following hysterectomy for high grade CGIN

Abstract

Cervical carcinoma is the fourteenth most common cancer in the UK with 1 in every 142 women being diagnosed (1). Cervical carcinoma can be subdivided into numerous histological types, of which endocervical adenocarcinoma, represents 20-25% of all cancers (2). The proportion of cervical cancers diagnosed as endocervical adenocarcinomas has increased as the introduction of the cervical screening for squamous precancerous lesions has reduced the number of squamous cell cancers of the cervix. The most common subtype of endocervical adenocarcinoma is associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) type 18 (3). Often these cancers have a diffuse growth pattern and are closely associated with CGIN (adenocarcinoma in situ) making measurement of the extent of disease difficult. Cervical adenocarcinomas are staged according to the (FIGO) International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics) system. Early stage cervical cancer is usually treated increasing radicality of surgical excision whilst advanced cervical cancer is treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.