Argyrophil cell carcinomas (apudomas) of the uterine cervix. Light and electron microscopic observations of 5 cases.

Of a series of 97 invasive carcinomas of the cervix, 5 were found to have argyrophil tumor cells, and 3 of these 5 tumors were studied by electron microscopy. The ages of the 5 patients ranged from 36 to 49 years, with a mean age of 42.4 years. The morphologic features of these five tumors were well consistent with those described on a variety of endocrine polypeptide neoplasms such as thyroid medullary carcinomas, carcinoids, pancreatic islet-cell tumors, and oat cell carcinomas of the lung. Microscopically, the 5 tumors were characterized by the formation of solid-sheets, ribbons, streams, and rosettes. They were characterized electron microscopically by the presence of neurosecretory-type granules, the abundance of intracytoplasmic microfilaments, the absence of tonofibrils, and the paucity of desmosomal attachments. On the basis of the microscopic, electron microscopic and cytochemical characteristics, it is suggested that the tumors are a specific type of cervical carcinoma derived from the argyrophil cells, normally found among the linings of the endocervical glands and the cervical squamous epithelium. We believe these 5 tumors should be regarded as an endocrine tumor, another member of apudomas.