Pseudoneoplastic glandular lesions of the uterine cervix

Diverse nonneoplastic glandular lesions of the uterine cervix may occasionally be misinterpreted as premalignant or malignant. These processes include papillary endocervicitis, tunnel clusters, deep glands and deep nabothian cysts, microglandular hyperplasia, mesonephric hyperplasia, diffuse laminar endocervical glandular hyperplasia, glandular hyperplasia not otherwise specified, tubal metaplasia, intestinal metaplasia, endometriosis, Arias-Stella reaction, changes secondary to extravasation of mucin, and various infectious and reactive atypias. Although these lesions may have abnormal architectural and/or cytologic features, their appearances differ from those of any of the various adenocarcinomas of the cervix or their precursors. Familiarity with the histologic features of these lesions is essential to avoid a misdiagnosis and potential mismanagement of a benign condition.