Characteristic Cytological Findings of Lobular Endocervical Glandular Hyperplasia Associated with Adenocarcinoma of the Uterine Cervix

Abstract

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> To investigate the cytological findings of lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia (LEGH) associated with adenocarcinoma and to clarify its characteristics and the coexisting adenocarcinoma using histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Eighteen surgical cases of LEGH of the uterine cervix were retrospectively reviewed and classified into 3 groups: pure (pure type), atypical (atypical type), and LEGH with adenocarcinoma (mixed type). The mixed type is defined as LEGH or atypical LEGH with in situ or invasive adenocarcinoma. Cytological findings of conventional endocervical smear specimens (Papanicolaou stain) were analyzed. Histochemistry (periodic acid-Schiff reaction) and immunohistochemistry (M-GGMC-1, Muc-6 glycoprotein, and Ki-67) were performed using tissue specimens. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Cytologically, the pure type (7 cases) is characterized by glandular cell clusters that tended to form monolayered sheets with uniformly small nuclei and contain golden-yellowish mucin, whereas atypical (5 cases) and mixed (6 cases) types are characterized by glandular cell clusters similar to those of the pure type, but with complex glandular structures and mucin localization on the surface of glandular cell clusters. Ki-67 labeling index was significantly higher in atypical and mixed types than that in the pure type. Gastric-type mucinous carcinoma (MC-G) was observed in 2 out of 6 cases with mixed type. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> LEGH is found to be associated with adenocarcinoma types other than MC-G. Complex glandular structures or mucin localization on the surface of glandular cell clusters may be useful cytological findings to detect atypical and mixed types of LEGH.