THE NEUROENDOCRINE CARCINOMA OF THE CERVI X UTERI - AN EXCEPTIONALLY AGGRESSIVE FORM OF CANCER WITH CLINICAL, DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC FEATURES

The compilation of neuroendocrine carcinomas of the cervix uteri compr ises a rare group of carcinomas characterised by particularly aggressi ve behaviour. These carcinomas can be described and differentiated fro m similar carcinomas with different biological behaviour by light micr oscopy and immunohistochemical investigations. We present three patien ts with neuroendocrine carcinoma of the cervix, stage I b, all of them operated according to Wertheim's operation with pelvic lymphadenectom y and in one case paraaortal lymphadenectomy. In all three cases we fo und a clinical manifestation of haematogenic metastases. Since we are not aware of any reports on this form of carcinoma in German literatur e, we would emphasise the importance of diagnostic differentiation bet ween neuroendocrine carcinomas of the cervix and other similar carcino mas of this localisation, in particular since this form of carcinoma r equires specific therapeutic procedures.