Glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix

Glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix
Other names	Glassy cell carcinoma
Micrograph of a glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix. H&E stain.
Specialty	Oncology

Glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix, also glassy cell carcinoma, is a rare aggressive malignant tumour of the uterine cervix.^[1] The tumour gets its name from its microscopic appearance; its cytoplasm has a glass-like appearance.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms are similar to other cervical cancers and may include post-coital bleeding and/or pain during intercourse (dyspareunia). Early lesions may be completely asymptomatic.^{[citation needed]}

Cause

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on tissue examination, e.g. biopsy.^{[citation needed]}

Under the microscope, glassy cell carcinoma tumours are composed of cells with a glass-like cytoplasm, typically associated with an inflammatory infiltrate abundant in eosinophils and very mitotically active. PAS staining highlights the plasma membrane.^[2]

Treatment

The treatment is dependent on the stage. Advanced tumours are treated with surgery (radical hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-opherectomy), radiation therapy and chemotherapy.^[2]

See also

• Cervix
• Cervical cancer
• Villoglandular adenocarcinoma

Additional images

• 
  Low mag.
• 
  High mag.

References

Further reading

• Greer, Benjamin E.; Koh, Wui-Jin; Abu-Rustum, Nadeem; Bookman, Michael A.; Bristow, Robert E.; Campos, Susana M.; Cho, Kathleen R.; Copeland, Larry; Crispens, Marta Ann; Eifel, Patricia J.; Huh, Warner K.; Jaggernauth, Wainwright; Kapp, Daniel S.; Kavanagh, John J.; Lurain, John R.; Morgan, Mark; Morgan, Robert J.; Powell, C. Bethan; Remmenga, Steven W.; Reynolds, R. Kevin; Secord, Angeles Alvarez; Small, William; Teng, Nelson (1 May 2009). "Uterine Neoplasms". Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. 7 (5): 498–531. doi:10.6004/jnccn.2009.0035. ISSN 1540-1405. PMID 19460278. Retrieved 19 July 2017.

External links

This page was last edited on 3 December 2023, at 16:36