Adenocarcinoma of the cervix
Adenocarcinoma in-situs of the cervix
While most cancer of the cervix comes from the squamous cells making up the exterior skin, there is an occasional cancer that arises from the mucous-producing cells which line the endocervical canal leading up into the uterus. This glandular-type is called "adenocarcinoma" as opposed to "squamous cell carcinoma."
Adenocarcinoma can be difficult to detect. Unlike squamous cell cancer:
- Adenocarcinoma precursers, when present, can be difficult to identify on Pap smears
- The slow progression of squamous cell dysplasia into squamous cell cancer of the cervix is not as uniform in adenocarcinoma.
- Early exfoliation of cancer cells externally, although a common feature of squamous cell cancer, is much less common among adenocarcinomas.
Consequently, adenocarcinoma of the cervix is frequently detected at a more advanced stage than squamous cell carcinoma.
Treatment is similar to that of the more common squamous cell cancer, but because it is more often found at a more advanced stage, more aggressive treatment is often needed.