Korean J Cytopathol.
1998 Dec;9(2):201-206.
Cytologic Features of Adenoma Malignum of the Uterine Cervix: A Case Report
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Clinical Pathology, Catholic University College of Medicine.
Abstract
-
Adenoma malignum is an extremely well-differentiated variant of cervical adeno
carcinoma in which the cells composing the tumor lack the typical cytological
features of malignancy. The prognosis of this rare tumor is poor in spite of high
degree of differentiation. The cytologic characteristics are extremely bland, so frequently
make a confusion of adenoma malignum with endocervical glandular hyperplasia.
We report a case of adenoma malignum in a 36-year-old woman who
complained of mucoid vaginal discharge and vaginal bleeding. The cervicovaginal
smear showed endocervical cells exhibiting a spectrum of atypical changes. The
cells were arranged in multilayered strips and monolayered sheets. Individual cells
ranged from cuboidal to columnar; typically the columnar cells had abundant lacy or
vacuolated cytoplasm. The smear showed the majority of only atypical cells and
small numbers of frankly malignant cells.