Adenoid cystic carcinoma of cervix in younger women: report of two new cases

Abstract

Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a malignant epithelial neoplasm derived from the salivary glands. Primary adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix is extremely rare, accounting for less than 1% of all cervical carcinomas. Its origin is debatable. It generally presents in elderly age group, however only twenty three cases have been reported in women less than age 45 years old. In this paper we report two new cases of primary adenoid cystic carcinoma in younger women and include the  cytopathology and histopathology findings. A 36, 41 year-old  women were admitted with signs and symptoms suggestive of a cervical cancer. Speculum  examination  showed a firm mass in the uterine cervix. The diagnosis of adenoid cystic carcinoma was confirmed by the  histopathology examination of the biopsy  specimen in the two patients, which characteristically revealed the presence of a cribriform pattern and cylindromatous structures of the tumor cells, adhered  around hyaline  stoma. They were managed successfully by concurrent radiotherapy. Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix is a rare disease. It usually occurs in  an elderly age group. We report these two cases because of its rarity in young patients, with description of illustrative pathology and discussion on the histological  diagnosis.

Key words: Adenoid cystic carcinoma, cervix, radiotherapy