CYTOLOGIC FEATURES OF PRIMARY ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMA OF THE UTERINECERVIX - A CASE-REPORT

BACKGROUND: Adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix is a rare, aggressi ve neoplasm generally found in postmenopausal women. CASE: A cervical cytology specimen was obtained by endocervical brush from an 80-year-o ld woman with histologically confirmed primary adenoid cystic carcinom a of the cervix. Both small cells arranged in a cribriform (cylindroma tous) pattern and moderately dysplastic squamous cells (high grade squ amous intraepithelial lesion) were evident. CONCLUSION: Although the e ndocervical brush technique may yield well-preserved cells and tissue fragments morphologically characteristic of adenoid cystic carcinoma o f the cervix, confusion with move common tumors, such as endometrial a denocarcinoma, still may create cytologic diagnostic difficulties.