Villoglandular adenocarcinoma of the cervix is a rare type of cervical cancer that, in relation to other cervical cancers, is typically found in younger women and has a better prognosis. A similar lesion, ''villoglandular adenocarcinoma of the endometrium'', may arise from the inner lining of the

uterus The uterus (from Latin ''uterus'', plural ''uteri'') or womb () is the organ in the reproductive system of most female mammals, including humans that accommodates the embryonic and fetal development of one or more embryos until birth. The ...

, the endometrium.

Signs and symptoms

The signs and symptoms are similar to other cervical cancers and may include post- coital

bleeding Bleeding, hemorrhage, haemorrhage or blood loss, is blood escaping from the circulatory system from damaged blood vessels. Bleeding can occur internally, or externally either through a natural opening such as the mouth, nose, ear, urethra, vag ...

and/or pain during intercourse ( dyspareunia). Early lesions may be completely asymptomatic.

Cause

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is based on tissue examination, e.g.

biopsy A biopsy is a medical test commonly performed by a surgeon, interventional radiologist, or an interventional cardiologist. The process involves extraction of sample cells or tissues for examination to determine the presence or extent of a dise ...

. The name of the lesion describes it microscopic appearance. It has nipple-like structures with fibrovascular cores ( papillae) that are long in relation to their width ( villus-like), which are covered with a glandular

pseudostratified columnar epithelium A pseudostratified epithelium is a type of epithelium that, though comprising only a single layer of cells, has its cell nuclei positioned in a manner suggestive of stratified epithelia. As it rarely occurs as squamous or cuboidal epitheli ...

. File:Villoglandular adenocarcinoma - very low mag.jpg, Very low magnification File:Villoglandular adenocarcinoma - intermed mag.jpg, Intermediate magnification File:Villoglandular adenocarcinoma - very high mag.jpg, Very high magnification

Treatment

The treatment is dependent on the

stage Stage or stages may refer to: Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly British theatre newspaper * Sta ...

. As the prognosis of this tumour is usually good,

fertility Fertility is the capability to produce offspring through reproduction following the onset of sexual maturity. The fertility rate is the average number of children born by a female during her lifetime and is quantified demographically. Fertili ...

sparing approaches ( conization, cervicectomy) may be viable treatment options.

References

{{Genital neoplasia Gynaecological cancer Rare diseases

Signs and symptoms

Cause

Diagnosis

Treatment

See also

References