ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE CERVIX AND ADENOCARCINOMA OF THE ENDOMETRIUM - DISTINCTION WITH PCR-MEDIATED DETECTION OF HPV DNA

The differential diagnosis between primary endocervical adenocarcinoma and adenocarcinoma originating in the endometrium may in some cases b e difficult. The two cancer types have a different genesis, with human papillomavirus (HPV) as an important causal factor in the development of primary cervical carcinoma. In this study, the paraffin-embedded c ervical tissues from 23 patients with stage II endometrial carcinoma a nd from 50 patients with primary cervical adenocarcinoma were examined for HPV DNA of types 16, 18, and 33. HPV DNA was demonstrated in 70% of the primary endocervical adenocarcinomas and in none of the endomet rial carcinomas. It is concluded that HPV detection may be useful in t he differential diagnosis of some cases of cervical and endometrial ad enocarcinoma.