Korean J Obstet Gynecol.  2012 Oct;55(10):791-794.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the cervix: A case report

• Kim SH
• Kim HJ
• Lee JW
• Kim BG
• Bae DS

Abstract

Primary mucoepidermoid carcinoma (MEC) is a very uncommon tumor in uterine cervix. Most has been introduced in the salivary gland, but this tumor can arise from other organs. Primary MEC in the cervix is morphologically similar to that of the salivary gland. We experienced one case of primary cervical MEC of 44-year-old women. The cancerous mass was found in the anterior lip of the cervix without any extension. The radical hysterectomy, right salpingoophorectomy and pelvic lymphadenectomy by laparoscopic method were performed. On pathologic reports, tumor was suggested to be MEC of the cervix, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IB1 without risk factors. We had decided to observe closely without adjuvant therapy. But multiple metastases including local and distant sites were noted 4 months after the primary surgery. We decided to start concurrent chemoradiation with paclitaxel-carboplatin. But she expired after 19 months of primary surgical treatment. We report this case with the brief review.

Keyword

Uterine cervix; Mucoepiodermoid carcinoma; Cervical cancer

MeSH Terms

Adult
Carcinoma, Mucoepidermoid
Cervix Uteri
Female
Gynecology
Humans
Hysterectomy
Lip
Lymph Node Excision
Neoplasm Metastasis
Obstetrics
Risk Factors
Salivary Glands
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Abdomen-pelvis magnetic resonance imaging showed 2.6×1.8×0.9 cm-sized cervix cancer (white arrow) arising from anterior lip of uterine cervix with possible invasion to upper vagina.

• 

  Fig. 2 Pathology finding. (A) On longitudinal section of uterine cervix, there was a relatively well demarcated mass within lower cervix, measuring 2×1.7×1.5 cm. (B) Tumor was composed of squamous, intermediate and mucin secreting cells that together formed a variety of patterns with necrotic background (H&E, ×100). (C) Mucin secreting cells show clear vacuolated cytoplasm forming solid sheet pattern. The malignant cells have prominent nucleoli and pleomorphic nuclei suggestive of high grade tumor (H&E, ×400).

Reference

1. Stewart FW, Foote FW, Becker WF. Muco-epidermoid tumors of salivary glands. Ann Surg. 1945. 122:820–844.

2. Ellis GL, Auclair PL. Atlas of tumor pathology. 1996. Washington, DC: Armed Forces Institute of Pathology;3rd series, fascicle 17.

3. Liu X, Adams AL. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the bronchus: a review. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2007. 131:1400–1404.

4. Dinges HP, Werner R, Waidecker F. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the cervix uteri. Zentralbl Gynakol. 1977. 99:396–403.

5. Thelmo WL, Nicastri AD, Fruchter R, Spring H, DiMaio T, Boyce J. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of uterine cervix stage IB. Long-term follow-up, histochemical and immunohistochemical study. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 1990. 9:316–324.

6. Tavassoli F. Tavassoli FA, Devilee P, editors. Adenosquamous carcinoma. World Health Organization Classification of Tumours: pathology and genetics of tumours of the breast and female genital organs. 2003. Lyon: IARC Press;39–40.

7. Lennerz JK, Perry A, Mills JC, Huettner PC, Pfeifer JD. Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the cervix: another tumor with the t(11;19)-associated CRTC1-MAML2 gene fusion. Am J Surg Pathol. 2009. 33:835–843.

8. Tsukahara Y, Kato J, Sakai Y, Ishii J, Fukuta T. Clinicopathologic study of adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi. 1983. 35:2387–2394.