Adenocarcinoma of the cervix: histopathologic and clinical features.

Primary adenocarcinoma of the cervix and endocervix is an unusual lesion. It is cytologically evasive, diagnostically challenging, histologically variable, and therapeutically perplexing. During the period 1954 through 1971, 53 cases were diagnosed at the Medical College of Virginia, representing 3% of all invasive cervical carcinomas. Clinical material, therapy, and five-year survival statistics have been complied for each histologic type of adenocarcinoma. The average age of the patients was 53.8 years, and the most frequent complaint was abnormal uterine bleeding. Histologically, the majority had adenocarcinomas of the endocervical type. Others, in order of descending frequency, had endometrioid, clear cell, colloid, and adenoid cystic carcinomas. Patients treated for endometrioid carcinomas had the best five-year survival rates. Standardization of the diagnostic process and the use of modern radiation therapy have significantly improved survival. All patients having radiation plus operation or operation alone lived five years or more.