Significance of mucin stain in uterine cervical cancers

Histopathological examination of 140 cases of cervical cancer was supplemented with staining for the presence of mucin. Secretion of mucin was detected in 27 cases. Fourteen cases of large cell non-keratinizing (LCNK) squamous cell carcinoma were reclassified, 12 as squamous cell carcinoma with mucin secretion and two as adeno-squamous carcinoma. One case of undifferentiated carcinoma was labelled as adenocarcinoma on the basis of mucin stain. None of the keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas were positive for mucin. The results indicate that mucin expression should be looked for even in those carcinomas where no obvious gland formation is seen.