Undifferentiated Carcinoma of the Uterine Cervix with Evidence of Its Origin from Small-Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma

Abstract

Neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) of the uterine cervix is an uncommon aggressive tumor, comprises <5% of the cervical malignancies. Undifferentiated carcinoma of the cervix, described by the World Health Organization Classification of Tumors as a distinct entity, is extremely rare with no histologic evidence of differentiation. Immunohistochemistry with p63 and neuroendocrine markers helps in delineating the type as undifferentiated squamous cell carcinoma or NEC. NEC of the uterine cervix behaves biologically like any other cervical malignancy, has an association with human papillomavirus, and is similar to NEC of any possible site with early metastasis and poorer survival. We present a case of 45-year-old premenopausal female with undifferentiated carcinoma of the uterine cervix originating from small-cell NEC proven by the presence of differentiated component in the proximity of undifferentiated tumor and by the immunohistochemistry.

Keywords

Human papillomavirus - neuroendocrine carcinoma - undifferentiated carcinoma - uterine cervix

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