Glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Eighteen cases of glassy cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix are presented. Glassy cell carcinoma is an uncommon, aggressive type of adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix, which is considered to originate from the subcylindrical reserve cells of the cervix. The patients with this tumor are younger than those with other types of invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix, and all but three in this study were 34 years or younger. The tumors were frequently large, endophytic and growing rapidly. Metastases were found on presentation in two cases. The larger tumors did not respond well to treatment. Seven of the patients died within 20 month of diagnosis. Histologically glassy cell carcinoma is composed of nests of large cells with ground glass cytoplasm and large vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. There is marked cellular and nuclear pleomorphism and tumor giant cells are frequently seen. Mitotic activity is brisk. Infiltration by eosinophils and plasma cells with admixture of lymphocytes is a characteristic feature. Focal squamous or glandular differentiation may be seen. Ultrastructural studies showed a wide spectrum of appearances. These findings lend further support to the view that glassy cell carcinoma is a distinctive type of poorly differentiated adenosquamous carcinoma of the uterine cervix.