ADENOID CYSTIC (CYLINDROMATOUS) CARCINOMA-ASSOCIATED WITH SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX UTERI - CYTOLOGIC PRESENTATION OF A CASE WITH HISTOLOGIC AND ULTRASTRUCTURAL CORRELATIONS

BACKGROUND: Adenoid cystic (cylindromatous) carcinoma is a rare tumor. It accounts for approximately < 1-3% of primary adenocarcinomas of th e cervix uteri. Its origin is debatable. It has a higher incidence in postmenopausal women but can develop in patients under 40. An associat ion of adenoid cystic carcinoma with squamous cell carcinoma has been reported. CASE: A case of invasive adenoid cystic (cylindromatous) car cinoma assoceated with an in situ squamous cell carcinoma of the cervi x detected on Papanicolaou smears is reported. Ultrastructural studies provided findings that confirmed that the hyaline material correspond ed to the remnants of the lamina densa of the basement membrane of mal ignant cells. CONCLUSION: The concurrence of these two tumors supports the hypothesis that adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix may develo p from multipotent reserve cells.