Korean J Cytopathol.  1990 Jun;1(1):111-120.

Composite Tumor of Adenocarcinoma and Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: A Case Report

• Park HR
• Lee YW
• Park YE

Abstract

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix is a distinct subtype of cervical cancer that appears analogous to oat cell carcinoma and carcinoid tumors of the lung. It has been assumed to be derived from the neural crest via argyrophilic cells in the normal endocervix. We have recently encountered a case of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the uterine cervix coexisting with adenocarcinoma which was argyrophil negative. A 66-year-old multiparous woman was admitted because of vaginal bleeding for 2 months. Cervicovaginal smear revealed several scattered clusters and sheets of monotonous small cells with some peripheral palisading in the background of hemorrhage and necrosis. Radical hysterectomy specimen revealed and ulcerofungating tumor on endocervical canal which was composed of two components. Major component of the tumor was made up of monomorphic population of small oval-shaped tumor cells arranged in sheets and partly in acinar structeres or trabecular fashion. Other component was adenocarcinoma, endocervical well-differentiated type. Argyropilia was present on the Grimelius stain and immunohistochemical studies revealed diffuse positivity to neuron-specific enolase and carcinoembryonic antigen. Electron microscopic examination showed clusters of small round to oval cells, which had a few well-formed desmosomes and several membrane-bound, dense-core neurosectetory granules.

Keyword

Uterine cervix; Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma; Composite tumor

MeSH Terms

Adenocarcinoma*
Aged
Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Carcinoid Tumor
Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine*
Carcinoma, Small Cell
Cervix Uteri*
Desmosomes
Female
Hemorrhage
Humans
Hysterectomy
Lung
Necrosis
Neural Crest
Phosphopyruvate Hydratase
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
Uterine Hemorrhage
Carcinoembryonic Antigen
Phosphopyruvate Hydratase