Glassy cell cervical carcinoma

Abstract

Glassy cell cervical carcinoma is a poorly differentiated variety of adenosquamous tumor comprising 1.2% of cervical cancers. It is clinically significant because its biologic behavior is different from that of other cervical cancers, being extremely malignant and poorly responsive to both radiation and surgery. There appears to be a close temporal relationship of this tumor to pregnancy. The clinical-pathological features of seven cases of glassy cell cervical carinoma are reviewed. The development of invasive glassy cell carcinoma through a state of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia has not been noted in our series by cytohistologic evidence. This may depict extreme virulence of this tumor with rapid progression to invasion. Cytology of these lesions, at the time of diagnosis of invasion, is strikingly similar to their histologic appearance. Its biologic behavior suggests that treatment should be more aggressive, possibly including radical surgery, and postoperative irradiation.