A clinicopathological study on glassy cell carcinoma of the cervix.

Abstract

From the present investigation, it was verified that glassy cell carcinoma is a clinicopathologically independent tumor. As a result, the following conclusions are drawn: 1. The frequency of glassy cell carcinoma is 1.3% of all cervical carcinomas. 2. The prognosis of this type of tumor is poor. Death occurred in 13 of 14 cases studied. The survival period was an average of 16.1 months. 3. The following factors contribute to poor prognosis of this type of tumor: rapid growth, readiness for distant metastasis, and resistance to irradiation. 4. Histologically, undifferentiated tumor cells with distinct nucleoli, including many mitotic figures, form a mantle-like layer around small blood vessels. Cells characterized by the presence of cytoplasm with a ground-glass appearance are found outside this layer. 5. The authors have proposed a form of carcinoma possessing the characteristics of both squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, and called it an intermediate group. Glassy cell carcinoma seems to be classified into a subtype of this group. Some other subtypes closely related to this carcinoma were noticed. 6. Tumors to be distinguished from glassy cell carcinoma, large cell, non-keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma and lobular type carcinoma were pointed out in this report.