Cervical Squamous Cell Carcinoma versus Adenocarcinoma
Case Report with Diagnostic Discrepancies Between Cytology and Histology
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26537/citotech.vi9.6909Keywords:
Cervical cancer, Immunohistochemistry, ScreeningAbstract
Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women worldwide, with two
predominant histological subtypes: squamous cell carcinoma and the adenocarcinoma.
This paper aims to address a case with a cytological diagnosis of adenocarcinoma that, following
histological analysis, was classified as squamous cell carcinoma.
The cytological diagnosis was based on the presence of several three-dimensional cell groups with
cells of glandular morphology at the periphery, pseudo stratification and occasionally appearing to form
lumens. However, the histological examination revealed a neoplasia constituted by squamous cells
extending into the glandular recesses. Complementary histochemical and immunohistochemical studies
confirmed the squamous origin of the neoplasm.
A review of the cytological slide, performed after the histological diagnosis, allowed the
identification of cellular aggregates composed of cells with dense cytoplasm and angular borders, with
hyperchromatic nuclei and marked pleomorphism, findings consistent with the histological diagnosis of
squamous cell carcinoma.
This study highlights the importance of cytology in the early detection of cervical neoplasms, as
well as the relevance of cyto-histological correlation and ancillary diagnostic techniques for the accurate
characterization of cervical neoplasms.
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