Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix: Measuring, Staging, and Synoptic Reporting

Abstract

Abstract Adenocarcinoma of the cervix is increasing in incidence in relative and real terms given the reduction in cervical squamous carcinomas in many developed countries. In this review, various aspects relating to the pathological staging of cervical carcinomas are discussed with emphasis on adenocarcinomas. These include the distinction between adenocarcinoma in situ and invasive lesions and the measurement of invasive adenocarcinomas; both of these issues are often more difficult than with the corresponding squamous lesions. The measurement of multifocal cervical carcinomas is covered with discussion of the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting recommendations, although these were chiefly proposed for multifocal squamous carcinomas. The issue of adnexal involvement in cervical adenocarcinoma is discussed. A checklist of parameters that should be included on the pathology report of resection specimens of cervical carcinomas is presented, again with particular reference to the International Collaboration on Cancer Reporting recommendations. The advantages of synoptic reporting, in comparison to free text reporting, are discussed.