A CASE OF UTERINE CERVICAL ADENOID CYSTIC CARCINOMA - IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL STUDY FOR BASEMENT-MEMBRANE MATERIAL

Background: Adenoid cystic carcinoma is a rare neoplasm of the cervix. Only two reports of immunohistochemical studies for basement membrane material in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the cervix have been reported . Case: An 80-year-old Japanese woman complained of atypical vaginal b leeding and underwent removal of a cervical polyp; the biopsy specimen revealed a solid variant of adenoid cystic carcinoma. The tumor was c omposed of nests and nodules of small carcinoma cells, and there were few characteristic cribriform patterns. Immunohistochemical findings f or type IV collagen and laminin revealed intercellular cylinders compo sed of basement membrane material in the solid area without a cribrifo rm pattern. Conclusion: The immunohistochemical finding of intercellul ar cylinders that reacted for type IV collagen was useful for the diag nosis of a solid variant of adenoid cystic carcinoma.