Adenoma malignum of the uterine cervix: imaging features with clinicopathologic correlation

Adenoma malignum, also known as minimal deviation adenocarcinoma, is a subtype of mucinous adenocarcinoma of the cervix.

To evaluate the clinical, pathologic, and imaging features of the adenoma malignum of the uterine cervix.

We retrospectively analyzed the CT and MRI findings in 13 patients: size, endoluminal fluid, appearance of the solid and cystic component, margin, enhancement, characteristics of locules of the cystic lesion, tumor spread, and associated ovarian lesion. Clinical and pathologic features were determined in 24 patients.

The mean of the major tumor diameter was 4.1 cm (range, 2.2-6.5 cm). In the imaging features, 77% of 13 tumors demonstrated endoluminal fluid. All tumors showed enhancing solid components; 62% were multicystic and 38% had solid lesions. Most solid lesions exhibited an irregular margin (80%). The locules of the multicystic lesions tended to have smooth margins (75%), to have an average major diameter of ≤1 cm (88%), and to be 11-20 in number (75%). The solid lesions were associated with invasion and metastases (60%). Clinically, 38% of 24 patients had watery discharge and 13% had Peutz-Jeghers syndrome, while pathologically, most patients were low stage (I or II) (83%). Over the 2-year follow-up of 17 patients, 82% was free from disease. The patients with more aggressive tumors or an unfavorable prognosis that manifested as tumor recurrence or metastasis tended to have invasion, watery discharges, high stages (III or IV) (100%) and solid lesions, metastases, and associated ovarian lesions (67%).

Awareness of imaging features as well as clinicopathologic manifestations of adenoma malignum can aid in accurate diagnosis, treatment, and prediction of prognosis.