Cytologic Features of Glassy Cell Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: Three Cases Report

Jeon, Seok Hoon; Paik, Seung Sam; Lee, Won Mi; Jang, Se Jin; Park, Yong Wook; Park, Moon Hyang; Lee, Jung Dal

Abstract

Glassy cell carcinoma is an unusual neoplasm of the uterine cervix that accounts for 1~2% of all cervical malignancy. It is a rapidly progressive and biologically aggressive disease with poor response to therapy. This tumor is considered to be a poorly differentiated mixed adenosquamous carcinoma. The cytologic findings are characterized by tumor cells arranged predominantly in syncytial like aggregates and an inflammatory background. The tumor cells have moderate amounts of eosinophilic or amphophilic cytoplasm, which is often finely granular. The nuclei are relatively large and have fine chromatin with prominent eosinophilic nucleoli. Cytologically, glassy cell carcinoma is most likely to be confused with large cell nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma and with atypical reparative cells. Herein, we report three cases of glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix diagnosed by cervicovaginal smear and confirmed by histologic section with review of literatures.