Gastric-type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma: Comprehensive Cytopathological Analysis and Comparison With Usual-type Endocervical Adenocarcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (GEA) is a rare but distinct histological type of gynecological malignancy. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the cytological features of GEA.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We reviewed 18 cytological samples obtained from 14 patients with GEA. All cytology slides were prepared using conventional smear and liquid-based preparations. We examined the differences between the cytological features of GEA and usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (UEA).

RESULTS

The cytological samples of GEA exhibited flat, honeycomb-like cellular sheets (p=0.035), vesicular nuclei (p=0.037) with prominent nucleoli (p=0.037), and vacuolated cytoplasm (p<0.001) more frequently than those of UEA, irrespective of the sampling site and preparation method. UEA showed three-dimensional cellular clusters (p<0.001), peripheral nuclear feathering (p<0.001), and nuclear hyperchromasia (p=0.014) more frequently than GEA.

CONCLUSION

GEA can be identified cytologically based on the presence of flat, honeycomb-like sheets of tumor cells possessing vesicular nuclei, prominent nucleoli, and abundant vacuolated cytoplasm.